Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Changing from managed switch to OpenWRT.

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved L2/Switching/VLANs
    5 Posts 2 Posters 518 Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • A
      aaronouthier
      last edited by

      Hello,

      I have 3 people here: Myself and 2 brothers. We all rent separate rooms in my Dad's spare home.

      I have the 3 of us on separate vLANs, to segregate traffic.

      I had 2 old WiFi routers go out on me recently. All 3 of the current (working) routers are Apple AirPort routers. Alas, I am in the process of selling my Apple stuff and switching to either Android or Linux-based devices. Those routers can only be programmed/setup from Apple devices...

      Without further adu, my issue is:
      Since my Netgate 1100 has 2 LAN ports, and 1 is currently unused, I would like to consolidate the various equipment sitting atop my clothes dryer into less equipment. How can I move from 3 WiFi Routers, a Managed Switch with vLANs, to 2 OpenWRT routers. One of the OpenWRTs is straightforward, and I can handle it fine, I believe. I just don't want to lock myself out trying to reconfigure everything.

      One router is for one brother, the other Brother only needs WiFi, not Wired. He and I will share the second router. Both are TP-Link Archer C7 WiFi routers, which are being delivered today.

      Current setup: LAN is unplugged, used for emergency access if locked out on OPT1 (In case of PBCK Error ;) OPT1 is set up with vLAN Tagging, and a Managed switch, and 3 vLANs. I need to carefully move to one of those being Tagged and 1 not.

      I plan to put 2 WiFi signals on the same router with different vLANs & Subnets. the 4 Ethernet ports will be on one of the vLANs.

      I realize this is not the OpenWRT support forums, I will handle configuring that aspect.

      Does anyone know how I would go about pivoting to this new setup? Perhaps a config backup and factory restore would be a prudent starting point? I can probably figure this out myself, but a small think tank wouldn't hurt. I still don't completely understand how vLANs work.

      --Aaron

      E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • E
        elvisimprsntr @aaronouthier
        last edited by elvisimprsntr

        @aaronouthier

        OpenWrt is good for what it does. Keeping otherwise unsupported/obsolete [redacted] consumer routers out of landfills.

        You can get a used enterprise class WiFi 6 access point for ~$50 which supports multiple SSIDs and put each on its own VLAN.

        eBay

        A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • A
          aaronouthier @elvisimprsntr
          last edited by

          @elvisimprsntr You mean like the 2 Archer C7 units with WiFi 6 I picked up on eBay for about $40 each?

          My question is: How do I configure the vLANs on my 1100. I did it before for my managed switch, but I forgot how. It was 2 years ago. Also need to transition from my current setup to new without locking myself out of the UI. The 1100 is a pain to figure out vLANs, since it uses them internally on its 3-port switch.

          Only OPT1 would need vLANs, and only 2 of them.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • A
            aaronouthier
            last edited by

            You know what? I'm overthinking this. I already have 4 vLANs configured on OPT1. This shouldn't be as difficult as I've convinced myself.

            Hmmm.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • A
              aaronouthier
              last edited by

              Hmm. I was under the impression that WiFi 6 was 802.11ac. Apparently, it's 802.11ax. My bad!

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • First post
                Last post
              Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.