AP's WAN->LAN or LAN->LAN?

[RetSurfer]

Hi everyone, first post and thank you for all the knowledge you've given me in setting up my network.
I just bought 3 RT-AC68R's for my home. Two will be AP's and will have direct CAT 6 runs to the basement AC68 which is directly connected to the cable modem.
I've seen different posts on using the WAN or LAN ports on the AP but I'm still not sure which one is best. I saw one post that if you use the WAN it will create a new network???
I'l be using different SSIDs on all 3.

Thanks

Mark

 

[whsbuss]

Hi everyone, first post and thank you for all the knowledge you've given me in setting up my network.
I just bought 3 RT-AC68R's for my home. Two will be AP's and will have direct CAT 6 runs to the basement AC68 which is directly connected to the cable modem.
I've seen different posts on using the WAN or LAN ports on the AP but I'm still not sure which one is best. I saw one post that if you use the WAN it will create a new network???
I'l be using different SSIDs on all 3.

Thanks

Mark

Most Asus routers set up in AP mode turn the WAN port into another LAN port so it won't matter. Remember that APs require setup on same subnet as the main router that serves DHCP.

 

[jlake]

Retsurfer, I understand your confusion. A couple of forum members keep posting erroneous outdated information over and over and over. Every router is different. Some have AP mode, some have bridge mode, some have neither.

If you put your Asus router in to AP mode, it's ok to use the WAN port.

Here's an example on how to cascade them:

Primary router: router mode, IP address 192.168.1.1
Router2 in AP mode: ap mode, IP address 192.168.1.2
Router3 in AP mode: ap mode, IP address 192.168.1.3

 

[RetSurfer]

Thank you!
One of the posts I read said the WAN to LAN created another network and I didn't understand that.
I am planning on the .1, .2 & .3 setup with different SSIDs on different channels.
I've run inSIDDer and there are no outside networks to be concerned about.

Thanks for your insights!

Mark

 

[RetSurfer]

If you put your Asus router in to AP mode, it's ok to use the WAN port.

Here's an example on how to cascade them:

Primary router: router mode, IP address 192.168.1.1
Router2 in AP mode: ap mode, IP address 192.168.1.2
Router3 in AP mode: ap mode, IP address 192.168.1.3

Actually, that leads me to my next question.
Should I assign IP's from the main router or on the 2 APs and let the router pick them up? On that same note I've a dozen or so LAN connected IPs and was wondering whether to assign static IPs via the router (outside the DHCP range) or on the devices themselves?

Again thanks

 

[whsbuss]

Actually, that leads me to my next question.
Should I assign IP's from the main router or on the 2 APs and let the router pick them up? On that same note I've a dozen or so LAN connected IPs and was wondering whether to assign static IPs via the router (outside the DHCP range) or on the devices themselves?

Again thanks

As a rule (my rule) I always set static IPs on my APs outside the main router DHCP address range...... main router DHCP 192.168.1.50 to 1.254 and that leaves me 49 IPs to assign manually to any device I choose on the LAN. This eliminates any IP changes after reboots/power failures.

 

[PrivateJoker]

As a rule (my rule) I always set static IPs on my APs outside the main router DHCP address range...... main router DHCP 192.168.1.50 to 1.254 and that leaves me 49 IPs to assign manually to any device I choose on the LAN. This eliminates any IP changes after reboots/power failures.

I do a similar kind of thing, on the AP side, to keep my devices on consistent IPs so I can easily go to that device and adjust settings, or log into it, or VNC to it, and it'll always be at the same place. Doing it at the AP and assigning IPs per MAC address makes it easy so I can still keep each client on "DHCP auto assignment" and the router will assign it the same address every single time. So many devices that grab IP addresses on my network will go to sleep or power off after inactivity, so at least this way their IP will be persistent.

One could have a network where this provides no benefit and they never are in a situation where they need to administer or access their devices by IP, depends on what you're running and your personal preference.

 

[RetSurfer]

Thank you for all your ideas. It has given me a good start.

I do wish on the page which shows the IP's I've assigned it would show the name of the device instead of the MAC address though....

Thanks again

Mark