Using Deco X60 as Router via switches

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Using Deco X60 as Router via switches

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
Using Deco X60 as Router via switches
Using Deco X60 as Router via switches
2021-06-01 17:35:53
Model: Deco X60  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 1.5.1

I have 3 DECO X60s for my home's mesh network, but I use Verizon FiOS for internet access and it was delivered via Coax, which required me to use their Verizon G1100 router. So I've kept the WiFi turned off on that FiOS router, and used the X60s only as access points. The satellites are connected via wireless, because I couldn't get backhaul to work with everything going through switches back at the router.

 

It's actually performed very well. Generally no complaints.However, I can't use the router features of the DECO, and I haven't been able to take advantage of wired backhaul. I'm no network engineer, but it would be nice to have acces to things like application priority. 

 

NOW I've finally had Verizon replace my old ONT box with a new ONT that delivers internet via ethernet instead of Coax! So...

 

I'd love to:

  1. Stop using the FiOS router and use the Main DECO as a router instead
  2. Connect the satellites via ethernet instead of wireless.

 

However:

  1. There is only one ethernet jack at the Main DECO location, and it's connected to everything else via switches at the ONT location
  2. If I move the Main DECO to the same room as the ONT, I will lose WiFi coverage in one corner of the house

 

Diagram below. Does this preclude me from doing what I want?

 

 

 

 

 

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Re:Using Deco X60 as Router via switches
2021-06-01 23:08:30 - last edited 2021-06-01 23:09:42

@QuakerWildcat 

 

Just thinking out loud here.. but there is an option comes to mind

 

  1. Take a note of your routers IP Address and Disable the DHCP on your current router.    Lets say its IP is 192.168.1.1
  2. Disconnect everything else from network
  3. Plug in the Deco to be master, to the switch.   When going through setup for WAN choose STATIC IP and set it for same range as router.. say 192.168.1.2     That should talk to the router and bring you online
  4. Set up rest of deco devices via ethernet, they should all now be on a 192.168.68.x range provided by the only DHCP active (main deco).
  5. Plug in / connect the other unplugged devices, again will pull a DHCP from Deco as router is no longer handing out DHCP.  

 

In theory that should work :)

 

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Re:Using Deco X60 as Router via switches
2021-06-02 00:25:09

@QuakerWildcat 

 

The bigger problem I see is your Deco mesh doesn't use Ethernet backhaul when Deco X60s run in Access Point mode. From your network diagram, they should. They absolutely should.

 

Three possibilities:

 

1. Your Deco mesh is actually running in Router mode. Double check settings in Deco app.

2. The Ethernet wiring is problematic.

3. Switches you are using are not compatible with Deco. See Q4, Q5 and Q7 from the following TP-Link FAQ: General questions about Ethernet Backhaul feature on your Deco

 

I would suggest fixing backhaul issues, before switching Deco mesh to Router mode.

 

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If you are not a network engineer and what @Philbert suggested sounds alien to you, consider buying additional single Deco X20 or X60, and adding it to your WiFi mesh. That would cost you few extra dollars, but it could be simpler solution.

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Re:Using Deco X60 as Router via switches
2021-06-02 03:57:26 - last edited 2021-06-02 03:59:38

Thank you @Alexandre. and @Philbert for reading my details and for the prompt, thoughtful responses. I was also puzzled by the backhaul issue and assumed it just doesn't work in my configuration where everything is going back through another router. Thanks for that link. One of my switches is, in fact, a D-Link brand. Swapping that out will be easy.

 

Thankfully everything works well at the moment so I'll chew on these suggestions and consider on a weekend soon whether to take on the more complicated or the more expensive approach.

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