It looks like all mesh wifi APs want to have the cable modem first connected to a Master WiFi Router, then to the other meshed wifi APs.
I want to set up all APs with wired Ethernet connections, for obvious reasons. This is what I see is required:
Modem/Gateway -> Mesh Wifi AP -> Other Wireless APs.
I have a 5-bedroom wired house and I want to set up an upstairs and downstairs WiFe 6 Meshed network. All Ethernet connections terminate at a small MDF at the back of the master bedroom closet. The Modem/Gateway is located also in this location at the MDF. Now, I cannot move the Modem out of the closet and I cant' put the WiFi Router in the closet, it will be useless. I am using eero 6 Pro Mesh Routers. When I connect the Ethernet ports to their switches, eventually the eero APs create what it looks like a broadcast storm bringing the network services down. Their solution is to connect the Gateway/Modem first to one of the eero routers. Working with their tech support it seems it is a problem with their STP implementation. I have searched this all over as it seems all Mesh WiFi routers require a topology where the Gateway/Modem has to be connected first to the WiFi Mesh device.
There are over 100 relatively new homes in my hood and all of them are wired with fiber and pre-wired with Cat5e cables completely. Hence, in my years working in Networking, network devices, wired or wireless, never imposed requirements on topology. This is a first.
My question is, does this topology is absolutely required for a WiFi 6 mesh network, or is it a poor implementation from the vendors?
My second question: Is there a Mesh WiFi 6 vendor that supports wired topology without restrictions as to the location of the Gateway?
-Dorado811
I want to set up all APs with wired Ethernet connections, for obvious reasons. This is what I see is required:
Modem/Gateway -> Mesh Wifi AP -> Other Wireless APs.
I have a 5-bedroom wired house and I want to set up an upstairs and downstairs WiFe 6 Meshed network. All Ethernet connections terminate at a small MDF at the back of the master bedroom closet. The Modem/Gateway is located also in this location at the MDF. Now, I cannot move the Modem out of the closet and I cant' put the WiFi Router in the closet, it will be useless. I am using eero 6 Pro Mesh Routers. When I connect the Ethernet ports to their switches, eventually the eero APs create what it looks like a broadcast storm bringing the network services down. Their solution is to connect the Gateway/Modem first to one of the eero routers. Working with their tech support it seems it is a problem with their STP implementation. I have searched this all over as it seems all Mesh WiFi routers require a topology where the Gateway/Modem has to be connected first to the WiFi Mesh device.
There are over 100 relatively new homes in my hood and all of them are wired with fiber and pre-wired with Cat5e cables completely. Hence, in my years working in Networking, network devices, wired or wireless, never imposed requirements on topology. This is a first.
My question is, does this topology is absolutely required for a WiFi 6 mesh network, or is it a poor implementation from the vendors?
My second question: Is there a Mesh WiFi 6 vendor that supports wired topology without restrictions as to the location of the Gateway?
-Dorado811