Replacing old AiMesh Asus network - need 10G local LAN

[BJBBJB]

I am a big Asus fan and have a working but older Asus AiMesh system. What is triggering this is a new NAS with 10G and a new Asus ROG-based fast PC I built. I want to get those 2 devices connected on a local LAN on the 10G side. It looks like the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 PRO, (which I think is the newest?) has the 2 10G ports like the older one I helped a friend setup?

Should I be looking at any other router? I typically buy what is most current as I do not replace this for a very long time. I use backhaul to my nodes which I know helps the available wifi bands.

My internet is under 1Gbps so I think I can use the 2.5G WAN port on that device, is that correct? Although to be honest the instructions and port labeling is confusing. Can I use the 2.5g WAN, the one dual-labeled 10G port and the other 10G port to do what I want? I am trying to get away from also buying a 10G switch just for two devices.

I would use the other 2.5g ports for 2 backhaul connections to AiMesh routers used as nodes and connection to gig switches which is fine for the rest of my network. Any suggestions on nodes (router models) that would be appropriate for this router? My current ones are old and would not re-use. Last time I looked it made sense to still buy their standalone router and 2 nodes vs. their out-of-box mesh but if updated could look at.

Do I need to create a separate subnet on a different number to keep those 2 10G devices separate? Or because they are not sharing a switch and are both plugged into 10G perhaps I can leave as is on my main network numbering.

Lots of questions! Thanks for any input.

 

[jzchen]

I am a big Asus fan and have a working but older Asus AiMesh system. What is triggering this is a new NAS with 10G and a new Asus ROG-based fast PC I built. I want to get those 2 devices connected on a local LAN on the 10G side. It looks like the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 PRO, (which I think is the newest?) has the 2 10G ports like the older one I helped a friend setup?

While not the newest offering, (released towards the end of 2023), I believe it is still the highest spec router ASUS offers here in the United States. Yes, it has 2 10G ports as you are looking for.

Should I be looking at any other router? I typically buy what is most current as I do not replace this for a very long time. I use backhaul to my nodes which I know helps the available wifi bands.

ASUS has released newer models with lower specs. But I can't think of another ASUS model router I would recommend, with limited knowledge of what WiFi specs you are interested in.

My internet is under 1Gbps so I think I can use the 2.5G WAN port on that device, is that correct? Although to be honest the instructions and port labeling is confusing. Can I use the 2.5g WAN, the one dual-labeled 10G port and the other 10G port to do what I want? I am trying to get away from also buying a 10G switch just for two devices.

Yes, the 2.5 G WAN port should work as WAN. The 2.5 G LAN port right next to it works simultaneously as I've tried. Both 10G ports support LAN as you wish to use them.

I would use the other 2.5g ports for 2 backhaul connections to AiMesh routers used as nodes and connection to gig switches which is fine for the rest of my network. Any suggestions on nodes (router models) that would be appropriate for this router? My current ones are old and would not re-use. Last time I looked it made sense to still buy their standalone router and 2 nodes vs. their out-of-box mesh but if updated could look at.

There are many 2.5G capable ASUS router models should you consider replacing the gig switches. (I started with 1 Gig backhaul, moved to 2.5 Gig, and eventually 10 Gig, although I am not 100% confident the old in-wall wiring supports it, hopefully they are short enough runs that even though Cat 6, they do). Practically all ASUS routers support 1 Gig ethernet. WiFi 7 MLO opens a can of worms as far as I know requiring router and AiMesh nodes to be either the exact same model, or exact same WiFi specs as per my experience with the BE98 Pro and BQ16 Pro. (It allows me to create an MLO network across both).

Do I need to create a separate subnet on a different number to keep those 2 10G devices separate? Or because they are not sharing a switch and are both plugged into 10G perhaps I can leave as is on my main network numbering.

Lots of questions! Thanks for any input.

I don't keep 10G devices separate from my main network. (That said since my son moved out of the house, I am down to 1 10G ethernet capable desktop)...

 

[degrub]

If your 10G connections are only between the NAS and your PC, then just use a unmanaged 10Gb/s switch and call it done. A lan cable from each to the switch and one cable to a lan port on the existing router. Done.

If you need VLANs, just make sure the switch does not strip the VLAN tags from the packets. Or you can go with a layer 2.5 or 3 managed switch.

There are numerous threads here that discuss specific switches and their use in the \lan\router and \lan\switches and the \asus\AX and BE subforums.

 

[BJBBJB]

While not the newest offering, (released towards the end of 2023), I believe it is still the highest spec router ASUS offers here in the United States. Yes, it has 2 10G ports as you are looking for.

ASUS has released newer models with lower specs. But I can't think of another ASUS model router I would recommend, with limited knowledge of what WiFi specs you are interested in.

Yes, the 2.5 G WAN port should work as WAN. The 2.5 G LAN port right next to it works simultaneously as I've tried. Both 10G ports support LAN as you wish to use them.

There are many 2.5G capable ASUS router models should you consider replacing the gig switches. (I started with 1 Gig backhaul, moved to 2.5 Gig, and eventually 10 Gig, although I am not 100% confident the old in-wall wiring supports it, hopefully they are short enough runs that even though Cat 6, they do). Practically all ASUS routers support 1 Gig ethernet. WiFi 7 MLO opens a can of worms as far as I know requiring router and AiMesh nodes to be either the exact same model, or exact same WiFi specs as per my experience with the BE98 Pro and BQ16 Pro. (It allows me to create an MLO network across both).

I don't keep 10G devices separate from my main network. (That said since my son moved out of the house, I am down to 1 10G ethernet capable desktop)...

Thanks for that great info!
As to wifi I have no specific use case, just whatever is most current.

As to the nodes, I was hopeful things had progressed to where you didn't have to buy 3 high-end routers to have a 3 device mesh network. Maybe I should look at their mesh solution if it has 10G LAN.

My backhall would be 2.5G if I wired it this way. I will have to look around to research my node options with that router and compare it to their mesh offerings.

Thanks,
BJBBJB

 

[degrub]

Thanks for that great info!
As to wifi I have no specific use case, just whatever is most current.

As to the nodes, I was hopeful things had progressed to where you didn't have to buy 3 high-end routers to have a 3 device mesh network. Maybe I should look at their mesh solution if it has 10G LAN.

My backhall would be 2.5G if I wired it this way. I will have to look around to research my node options with that router and compare it to their mesh offerings.

Thanks,
BJBBJB

Use just APs as nodes. Forget the ASUS marketing AiMesh. Any APs meeting wifi 6 with 2x2 radios will be modern enough for a long time and most compatible with client devices. You should be able to use your existing devices, just in AP mode and be fine.

You don't need a new router with your use case. Just add the 10G switch and possibly convert the existing nodes to APs. You could also leave them alone, as is.

As long as the nodes are AC or AX based, then you won't see much if any coverage or meaningful bandwidth improvements with newer standard gear.

 

[BJBBJB]

If your 10G connections are only between the NAS and your PC, then just use a unmanaged 10Gb/s switch and call it done. A lan cable from each to the switch and one cable to a lan port on the existing router. Done.

If you need VLANs, just make sure the switch does not strip the VLAN tags from the packets. Or you can go with a layer 2.5 or 3 managed switch.

There are numerous threads here that discuss specific switches and their use in the \lan\router and \lan\switches and the \asus\AX and BE subforums.

Thanks. New to 10G so bear with me. What is the difference/advantage either way for setting it up these 2 ways:
1) Wire the 10G NAS to one of the 10G LAN ports on the router and wire the PC to the other 10G LAN port on the router.
Or
2) Wire a new 10G say 4 port switch to one of the two 10G LAN ports on the router leaving the other unused. Wire the NAS and the PC to the switch.

I don't anticipate having another device that uses 10G for a while.

Thanks,
BJBBJB

 

[degrub]

10G is no different than 1G in implementation. Cables should be CAT6 to minimize issues. Don't bother with CAT7 or higher as your distances are likely less than 100 ft.

for 1) you will have to have another port that is WAN/LAN switchable or dedicated to WAN in settings.

Otherwise no real difference between 1) and 2) if 1) has all ports on the switch portion of the router and does not involve the CPU. If use of one of the 10G WAN/LAN ports does entail using the CPU, then some loading of the CPU. Not likely to be significant for ordinary couple user residential use case. Cleanest is 2) which will not impact the router for NAS - PC traffic. Only when accessing another device on the router LAN or WAN (internet) will the CPU get traffic.

Since your ISP is limited to 1Gbit/s or less, you don' t need anything above a 1 Gb/s connection from the router to the ISP modem. Any port used on the router WAN will limit itself to whatever the link rate is from the modem. So even if you used a 10G port on the router, it would sync at 1 Gb/s with the modem port.

i wouldn't spend any funds on a new router since the routing to internet or between other nodes does not require it and you have a working system. Invest in the switch for the 10G link rate. BTW, if your NAS is based on disk drives or SATA SSDs, your transfers are not likely to be more than 1-2 Gbit/s anyway. Just curious, what is the use case for the NAS ? file storage only ? video editing ?