Wifi AiMesh - use WAN port as additional LAN port?

[pdc]

Hello,

I have two AC-86U set up in an AiMesh configuration, and the actual AiMesh node has a full complement of LAN clients (upstairs computer, printer, laptop, HDHomeRun)

The problem is I want to add a fifth LAN client (Raspberry Pi).

I would love to be able to use the "extra" WAN port which is not otherwise being used (and no chance of ethernet backhaul, so it will remain unused). I tried just plugging the client in, but it does not connect.

Is there anything I can do? I am okay doing shell commands if needed. (I saw some reference to robocfg, but the AC-86U does not seem to have this, at least not on recent F/W, 3.0.0.4.384_81049)

As a fallback I have an old RT-N16 that I can set up as a bridge, but it seems a waste when that "extra" WAN port is sitting there (taunting me ).

Thanks for any insight...

 

[Grisu]

Cant help but is there any really need to connect laptop or printer over LAN, think they both would be happy with wifi too without any traffic slowing down.

 

[L&LD]

Playing whack-a-mole with what Asus is doing via AiMesh and what you need won't bring you peace.

Get a $5 switch instead and let the WAN port (and the underlying code surrounding AiMesh) be.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Hello,

I have two AC-86U set up in an AiMesh configuration, and the actual AiMesh node has a full complement of LAN clients (upstairs computer, printer, laptop, HDHomeRun)

The problem is I want to add a fifth LAN client (Raspberry Pi).

I would love to be able to use the "extra" WAN port which is not otherwise being used (and no chance of ethernet backhaul, so it will remain unused). I tried just plugging the client in, but it does not connect.

Is there anything I can do? I am okay doing shell commands if needed. (I saw some reference to robocfg, but the AC-86U does not seem to have this, at least not on recent F/W, 3.0.0.4.384_81049)

As a fallback I have an old RT-N16 that I can set up as a bridge, but it seems a waste when that "extra" WAN port is sitting there (taunting me ).

Thanks for any insight...

Maybe you can disable the RT-N16 router and AP functions and just use its LAN ports as a 4-port switch. Or just buy a Gigabit switch... they're pretty inexpensive. I have two ASUS 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet switches GX-D1081 v3 (EOL?) on my router... one for the home office and one for the media center... they have been trouble-free. I recommend wiring whatever you can... at least until your WiFi speed and stability exceeds that of your Ethernet.

OE

 

[pdc]

Thanks everyone for the perspective, I will go look into the "cheap switch" option. My N16 is running Tomato, so I might have options to turn off wifi and whatnot. I will check that out as well.