TP-Link IoT Network
TP-Link
The Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) describes a network of everything that is connected to the Internet, from something as small as a toy or sensor, to as big as a train.
While IoT devices were a new concept just a few years ago, the concept of IoT has spread to almost every aspect of our lives, from medical services to smart home devices, even to agricultural industries across the world. Advancements in Technologies such as cloud computing, big data management, machine learning, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and mobile technologies have allowed IoT devices to offer better privacy, increased stability, and streamlined user experiences.
Why are IoT Networks Important?
IoT devices, since they are connected to the internet, are capable of communicating with devices across the entire network and with outside services, such as the TP-Link Cloud for both Kasa and Tapo devices. Connecting these devices to the internet, not only provides increased control and functionality, but the anonymous data collected can be used to optimize connections, communicate statistics (energy monitoring), or even create alerts/notifications. In industrial applications, IoT devices allow companies to better monitor, track, and predict changes that may occur on a larger scale, such as how the agricultural industry can even track the detailed humidity, solid moisture, and temperature across their property in order to provide the best growing conditions for their crops.
IoT devices, while providing invaluable experiences to our lives and smart homes, can also use a significant amount of bandwidth or crowd your home network. By placing all these devices on a separate network, you are freeing up your network for the devices where you want the best connection, such as your phone or streaming device.
Automation Efficiency
If you have ever attempted to create automation with your Smart Devices on a congested network, you will know that the overall performance, speed, and reliability at which the Automation is performed can be heavily affected or varying. By placing your Smart Devices on a designated IoT network, you can be sure that your devices can effectively communicate with each other to provide the best connections possible. This will also create additional bandwidth on your main wireless network that your streaming devices and phones can now take advantage of.
Simplified Setup
IoT networks can also simplify the setup process for your smart devices as a separate and easier-to-input password can be used to connect the devices. IoT networks also provide methods for changing the bands and security used by these devices; meaning that if your device only connects via a 2.4 GHz connection, the 5 GHz bands can be disabled for the IoT network, allowing your other devices to keep their high-speed connection from the main network.
Furthermore, if you would like to use the newest security protocols but are limited by your smart device's compatibility, the encryption method of the IoT network can be different from the method used on the main network to connect your devices.
How is TP-Link Embracing IoT Networks?
With the recent firmware release, IoT Networking is already beginning to roll out to multiple Archer routers and Deco products.
You could refer to the following IOT-supported list:
Important! This supported list might not be regularly updated. If your device is not yet supported, keep an eye out for New Beta Firmware on the official TP-Link forums, or the new firmware updates on your model’s support page.
| Archer Routers( All With the latest firmware) | Deco Whole Home Mesh( All With the latest firmware) |
| Archer C6_V4 Archer C80_V1 Archer C80_V2.2 Archer BE900 Archer BE805 Archer BE800 Archer GE800 Archer BE550 |
Deco M5_V1/V2/V3/V3.2 Deco X20/Deco X25_V2 Deco X50/Deco X55_V1/V1.2 Deco X60 V3 Deco X68 V1/V2 Deco X73 V1 Deco X75 V1/V2 Deco X90_V1 Deco XE75_V1/V2 Deco XE75 Pro_V1/V2 Deco X50-POE_V1 Deco XE200 Deco BE85 Deco BE95 |
How to configure the IoT Network?
On Archer Routers:
On Deco:
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What’s the benefit of having a separate IoT network?
It helps with your own personal management by knowing that all smart devices are on one network, and everything else on the main network.
Some legacy devices that don’t support the latest WPA3 encryption standards or 5GHz could still connect to Home Wi-Fi without interfering with the wireless settings on the main network.
2. Should I use the guest network for IoT devices?
The big drawback of a Guest Network is that devices on it can’t see or connect to other devices. For smart home products, they always need to integrate with other devices like turning on/off lights/switches via Google Assistant or live view cameras from Alexa Echo Show. While for the IoT network, the devices on it communicate freely with each other. Since the IoT Network could also communicate with devices on the main network, it would be great when you have the Phillip Hue Bridge or Other Smart Hubs wired to the main network for better stability and connection speed.
If you have any better ideas for optimizing the IoT Network to make it more intelligent and useful or want to know something more about it, please feel free to leave your comments below or start a feature request here.
Comment
I see this is now available in v1.7.0 for M4 V2. Is this IoT feature worth the extra complication in setup?
It seems all its doing is allowing you to hide the credentials for the main SSID which is good because allows you to turn off the IoT network without affecting your main devices.
But there is no network isolation which means its useless. Is it possible to provide a different DHCP subnet to the IoT devices and firewall them off from the main network? Or will they have to be given static IPs on a separate network which might work but more complexity to manage?
Cheers,
I also found this forum topic by searching the feature I found about IOT network.
This is interesting.The ideia is good, but it is still very simple. It could be better, and I hope it will.
My network has some DECOs in AP mode and a router responsible for the DHCP thing, because I have much more control about it. The IOT network could have a different ip range or vlan tagging , so I could have control to whom is able to reach it and where it can reach. Or I could have a way to identify them on my DHCP to put a dedicated POOL for them.
For me, some options on DECO seems magical, I don't know what they really do (like DHCP smart) and I'm afraid that enabling it can break something on my network.
I'll keep folliwing to see it there will be more news about this topic.
I have a separate router that manages a segregated IoT network. on this network I have both wired and wireless devices. My router is configured to allow any device on the main network to connect to the IoT network, but devices on the IoT network can only connect to the internet. This allows me to view the cameras on that network, or manage my smart home hub on the IoT network from my smartphone on my main network, but prevents any devices or vulnerabilities on the IoT network from reaching my main network.
I also have a wi-fi only guest network that can't connect to anything but the internet, no wired clients.
It is excellent that TP-Link continues to add features and have already considered a main network, guest network, and IoT network. I use my Deco X55 devices in AP mode because I have my own router. However, I would like to switch the Decos into router mode and consolidate everything there. I have three separate, uncoordinated wi-fi systems in my home, have this all managed by one system should optimize channel use.
TP-Link should look to improve the security of their IoT network. Perhaps use the VLAN tech they already use for the guest network, and put some rules to allow main net devices to access IoT net devices. This way, people that need wired IoT can get a simple managed switch like the TL-SG108E to break out the IoT VLAN to their IoT switch.
What a fantastic 'feature' this is. NOT !
And the explanation of it, and of its 'advantages', is just laughable ...
E.g. 'if your device only connects via a 2.4 GHz connection, the 5 GHz bands can be disabled for the IoT network, allowing your other devices to keep their high-speed connection from the main network'.
Really ? Give me a break ...
So it seems this IoT feature is just a separate SSID and that's it. Connecting IoT devices to the Guest network seems a better approach, but would I be able to connect to these devices from the main network? (for example to cameras). I don't mean cloud cameras, I mean regular cameras with local IP addresses. Would you recommend using Guest then?
@Diego_M
Before there was an IoT network option, I did run my cameras on my Guest network. When IoT became available, I moved them over to IoT. They run better with less hiccups on IoT as do my other Smart devices. While many are nay saying the usefulness of the IoT option, I find it to be very helpful.
Why on earth are the IoT devices not isolated from the main network? I want to protect my main network from the carppy security on IoT devices, but still let them talk to each other. Surely that's not hard to understand or implement...
I've just bought & set up 6x X55 but they're all getting returned as I asasumed that the IoT network had this most basic functionality.
And Vlan tagging not being available is also a pain, but if the IoT worked in a sensible way I could live with that...