If you buy APs and a POE switch where does the WAN/Router connect?

[Firegod]

Yes it is silly question time.

In this hypothetical example, say I wanted to buy x2 Zyxel NWA210AX APs. I'm guessing they need a switch with POE power. So they must have to connect to the Zyxel GS1915-8EP 8-Port POE switch. That bit I understand.

Now though, where does the ethernet cable that takes the internet / WAN link go from my 5G Zyxel NR7101 (POE) Router outside? Does that also just go into a port on the switch and the APs can pick up the internet? Or do I need something else inbetween that has a WAN port?

Thanks!

 

[Orcvader]

Any of the spare LAN ports on the switch will connect to any LAN port on the router. The switch is unmanaged so the only DHCP server available that can respond is on the router.

 

[Firegod]

Any of the spare LAN ports on the switch will connect to any LAN port on the router. The switch is unmanaged so the only DHCP server available that can respond is on the router.

Grand so it is just a case of the cable from the Router goes into the switch as well, along with the APs. Cool. Well that was easy, I guess what had me confused is just the Mesh units I have currently ask for the cable to go into a dedicated WAN port.

 

[Orcvader]

Grand so it is just a case of the cable from the Router goes into the switch as well, along with the APs. Cool. Well that was easy, I guess what had me confused is just the Mesh units I have currently ask for the cable to go into a dedicated WAN port.

That's usually if the mesh units are acting as a router too (router mode). Ideally you want them to be in access point mode for your setup.

 

[Firegod]

That's usually if the mesh units are acting as a router too (router mode). Ideally you want them to be in access point mode for your setup.

Yeah they are in Router mode, sorry should have said. The NR7101 is in passthrough / bridge mode.

 

[Firegod]

So if I were to get the x2 APs and switch, would I set the NR7101 back to Router mode?

 

[Orcvader]

So if I were to get the x2 APs and switch, would I set the NR7101 back to Router mode?

You might want to list out your entire network in that case. If the NR7101 is in bridge mode, is something else currently functioning as the router? I'm guessing you're using it purely as a 5G modem?

In that case the PoE switch must connect to whatever is functioning as the router, which I'm assuming is one of the mesh units. Does the main mesh unit have a second LAN port? It'll need to connect to that.

 

[Firegod]

You might want to list out your entire network in that case. If the NR7101 is in bridge mode, is something else currently functioning as the router? I'm guessing you're using it purely as a 5G modem?

In that case the PoE switch must connect to whatever is functioning as the router, which I'm assuming is one of the mesh units. Does the main mesh unit node have a second LAN port? It'll need to connect to that.

Sorry yep in the current setup the NR7101 is just purely for the 5G and the mesh units are acting as the Router. The Mesh stuff however would be sold in this new setup/scenario. So I would just have the NR7101, the x2 Zyxel APs and the POE Switch. The mesh units would be sold. So I guess I would have to put the NR7101 back into Router mode.

 

[Orcvader]

Sorry yep in the current setup the NR7101 is just purely for the 5G and the mesh units are acting as the Router. The Mesh stuff however would be sold in this new setup/scenario. So I would just have the NR7101, the x2 Zyxel APs and the POE Switch. The mesh units would be sold. So I guess I would have to put the NR7101 back into Router mode.

In that case yeah, you'll need to have the NR7101 back in router mode, switch connected to that, then the two APs.

 

[Firegod]

In that case yeah, you'll need to have the NR7101 back in router mode, switch connected to that, then the two APs.

Brill thanks for helping.