Switch capabilities of AiMesh Nodes?

[penguin22]

I don't own one so i can't answer your question but I'd be really surprised if it did considering so far they've limited that feature to Pro-series hardware.

ASUS really needs better definitions of capabilities as this is their verbiage on the product page:

Guest Network Pro SSIDs

ASUS Guest Network Pro makes it easy to manage SSIDs and VLANs, offering instant VPN access, IoT control, and a user-friendly guest portal.

 

[Seth Harman]

ASUS really needs better definitions of capabilities as this is their verbiage on the product page:

Guest Network Pro SSIDs

ASUS Guest Network Pro makes it easy to manage SSIDs and VLANs, offering instant VPN access, IoT control, and a user-friendly guest portal.

I've been complaining about this for some time now, the marketing content around Guest Network Pro is a hot mess. But keep in mind GNP specifically refers to *wireless* VLANs. This is why you see hardware that supports GNP but not wired VLANs (like my RT-BE58Us)

 

[penguin22]

I've been complaining about this for some time now, the marketing content around Guest Network Pro is a hot mess. But keep in mind GNP specifically refers to *wireless* VLANs. This is why you see hardware that supports GNP but not wired VLANs (like my RT-BE58Us)

So, that considered, I looked at the BE86U, which I know supports Wired VLAN when used as an AiMesh node and this is about the only tell that it supports it:

Advanced network configurations are made easy with Multi-WAN with auto detection, convenient Mobile Tethering backup via USB further and powerful VLAN controls.

 

[jksmurf]

I looked at the list again recently. See post below for a summary (copied here for completeness). I think the BE58 Go is an error on Asus part, Not caught up yet - but who knows!

Asus Guest Network = Prolly Other Solution

For short we'll just call the guest network title "POS" and move on. Before somebody challenges this, a few things: 1) Base setup was done with only one router that was factory reset and running latest firmware. 2) It's not like configuring it is hard, it's that it doesn't work. A...

www.snbforums.com

A. Router/Node models on “Asus VLAN List” of 3006 codebase GNP, VLAN supported routers

• EBA63, EBG15, EBG19P, EBM68, EBR63, GT-AX11000 Pro, GT-AX6000, GT-BE19000, GT-BE96, GT-BE98, GT-BE98 Pro, ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000, RT-AX57 Go, RT-AX86U Pro, RT-AX88U Pro, RT-BE86U, RT-BE88U, RT-BE96U

B. "Asus GNP List"

• GS-BE7200X, GT-AX6000, GT-BE19000, GT-BE19000AI, GT-BE96, GT-BE98, GT-BE98 Pro, RT-AX57 Go, RT-AX86U Pro, RT-AX88U Pro, RT-BE58 GO, RT-BE86U, RT-BE88U, RT-BE96U

Many (most) on the GNP list also appear on the VLAN list.

Note 1. A quick comparison between both lists I linked above suggests (currently):

• Routers that do both GNP and VLAN: Many (most?) of the high-end and newer models (like the GT-BE, RT-AX88U Pro, RT-BE series) support both features.
• GNP only: A few specific models like the GS-BE7200X and RT-BE58 Go, although the recently released RT-BE58 Go e.g., may just be an oversight as its predecessor the RT-AX57 Go is on the VLAN list too.
• VLAN only: Primarily some specific business models (EB-series) and a couple of high-end gaming routers (GT-AX11000 Pro, GT-AXE16000). I am dubious about these missing from the GNP list TBH, might just be Asus failing to update properly, hopefully others can say “model X on the VLAN list actually supports GNP as well”.

 

[Seth Harman]

So, that considered, I looked at the BE86U, which I know supports Wired VLAN when used as an AiMesh node and this is about the only tell that it supports it:

Advanced network configurations are made easy with Multi-WAN with auto detection, convenient Mobile Tethering backup via USB further and powerful VLAN controls.

This is why I ended up just putting a cheap managed switch into the mix to solve that need; the cost of the RT-BE86U is about twice the cost of what I paid for the RT-BE58U + switch.

 

[jzchen]

Thanks for the link to this thread @jksmurf. I got to page four intently reading, then burned out and jumped to the end. That means I skipped 7 pages of potentially revelation level material, and my apologies for not grinding through the rest, at least not in this one sitting.

I have moved my L3 10G switch to the central com box in the closet upstairs. Buying another one was just not happening, (I did order one on Walmart bolstered by some store credit, but after a week the order self cancelled). So I have the setup (primary) router - switch - nodes. In the midst of this I was trying to help someone figure out why he could not tether his iPhone 16 to his BQ16 Pro, so I factory reset it and double NAT verified I could. If you ask me if I can get a VLAN/GN/GNP/SDN through the switch, I have my doubts. ASUS routers do not act like normal switches. EBG15 (AP mode with AiMesh) <-> GT-BE19000AI <-> L3 switch <-> nodes/unmanaged switch(es) <-> nodes. Sorry if it doesn't make sense.

The ASUS example GN setup was enlightening. I may try again to set up a single SDN. In order to get somewhat successful passthrough I had to deselect that VLAN from Tagged, but I did not add it to the Untagged. Which might be the reason it did not work for me...

I think I'll try to add that Guest Network came before Guest Network Pro, which is probably why they are limited to 2 per (1st channel in a) band, while GNP is capped at 5.

L3 switches (at least the 10 G speed kind), need fan cooling, and can be extremely loud. (Which is why I probably was able to snag this unit as used. My den is amazingly quiet again)!

 

[jzchen]

BTW- I noticed that ASUS routers placed in the middle are not AiMesh friendly. I got lost in what I was trying to say yesterday...

The GT-BE19000Ai is my main router. To that I have an EBG15 connected solely to it set up as Access Point (with AiMesh all the other ASUS routers in the household). Since I needed to add the BQ16 Pro back to the AiMesh I attempted to do so. It did not work.

EBG15 - GT-BE19000Ai - L3 Switch - routers/non-managed switches - routers

I turned off Ethernet Backhaul Mode and it failed. I made sure the Ethernet connection from the BQ16 Pro was connected directly to the L3 switch, nope, no go. I had to run Ethernet directly from the BQ16 Pro to a LAN port on the EBG15 directly. I thought I had royally screwed up the settings on the L3 switch and then realized it is very likely due to the BE19000Ai being in the middle!

I read that AiMesh transmits it's own VLAN data through the default VLAN 1 or non-VLAN tagged packets. So that on L3 switches it is advisable to use Hybrid or All.....