Back haul via ethernet and mesh wifi

Hi all,

A quick and hopefully stupid question:

Should an ethernet back haul be isolated in a network of its own or is it ok to link to satellite devices via the main LAN?

I am using the Netgear Nighthawk system and linking via Cat6 cable and gigabit switches.

Thanks.

I think you probably mean “backbone” or “uplink” rather then ‘back haul’ which has a different meaning and connotation in wide area and telco networking 😀

But if I’m understanding you correctly you just want to extend you LAN to various WiFi access point via switches, which is of course fine to fo without having a separate network.

If you want to do something slightly funky though, you may wish to spell out exactly what you intend you connect to what for the avoidance of any doubt.

Thanks, and sorry about the terminology fail for starters.

Not trying to do anything particularly clever. I have a new FTTP 900 service replacing my old 3 Mbit DSL wet-string setup. The old wifi was dated so I knew I needed to start again.

I looked at options and bought a Netgear Nighthawk Mesh WiFi 6 MK63 system. This has a 'router' and 2 satellites. Connected without wires, the downstream performance is relatively poor, delivering about 70 Mbit at the furthest satellite. So I though a cable would improve things. So far it hasn't.

My new connection is via Zen so I took their Fritzbox router, disabled the wifi and patched that through to the Nighthawk 'router' on its 'internet' port. I then took the nighthawk's 'ethernet' port onto a gigabit switch. I used outdoor rated Cat6 to run a cable along the roof soffit of the house and down into my living room where the furthest satellite is. Both ends terminate in wall sockets and I've used cat 6 patch leads to take those on to the satellite and switch. I need to run another cable to the 2nd satellite but am pausing first to see if there is anything wrong in the above.

This is what I'm trying to achieve: https://kb.netgear.com/000061710/What-is-an-Ethernet...

I do need to test the cable which I'm waiting for an adapter for but other than that a bit stumped.

In reply to a post by andydauddwr:

Thanks, and sorry about the terminology fail for starters.

Not trying to do anything particularly clever. I have a new FTTP 900 service replacing my old 3 Mbit DSL wet-string setup. The old wifi was dated so I knew I needed to start again.

I looked at options and bought a Netgear Nighthawk Mesh WiFi 6 MK63 system. This has a 'router' and 2 satellites. Connected without wires, the downstream performance is relatively poor, delivering about 70 Mbit at the furthest satellite. So I though a cable would improve things. So far it hasn't.

My new connection is via Zen so I took their Fritzbox router, disabled the wifi and patched that through to the Nighthawk 'router' on its 'internet' port. I then took the nighthawk's 'ethernet' port onto a gigabit switch. I used outdoor rated Cat6 to run a cable along the roof soffit of the house and down into my living room where the furthest satellite is. Both ends terminate in wall sockets and I've used cat 6 patch leads to take those on to the satellite and switch. I need to run another cable to the 2nd satellite but am pausing first to see if there is anything wrong in the above.

This is what I'm trying to achieve: https://kb.netgear.com/000061710/What-is-an-Ethernet...

I do need to test the cable which I'm waiting for an adapter for but other than that a bit stumped.

You don't need to use the provided Zen router.
Ask them for the username and password and put this in your Netgear router and plug it directly in to the connection.
If you run a cable from the main Netgear router to the mesh nodes it should pick up the wired connection for the backhaul and improve your Wi-Fi speeds.

Thanks
Dan

Thanks for that. I did think about that but I don't think it's a router in the true sense, another mis-used term.

The setup talks about connecting to a modem but I don't think there is any authentication in the unit itself. Also no firewall.

https://kb.netgear.com/000061554/How-do-I-install-my...

It is a router and does have a firewall.

Thanks
Dan

As noted, if the Fritz is doing nothing more than connecting to the FTTP ONT you can take it out if the equation. It’s just adding complexity and by the sounds of it you are connected vja double NAT which can be a bit of a pain.

1. Connect the Nighthawk router directly to the ONT. configure the PPPoE login credentials to make sure it’s accessing the Zen FTTP service properly. Do a *wired* speed test from the back of the nighthawk to a laptop etc

2. Check that the cabling link is good. Basically connect a wired laptop to the far end where the satellites will connect. Check you are getting a full 1000BaseT (gigabit) link and do several more speed tests fir good measure

3. Once you are happy with the new router and the cabling then move on to connecting the satellites and check WiFi connectivity and run further speed tests.

Thanks both, will give it a try...

No dice unfortunately. There's nowhere in the nighthawk to add things like logon credentials. Plugged into the ONT it just sits there in error...

See page 24 in User Manual