TP-Link Deco networking problem.

[lykan_MD]

For my home networking setup,I plan to get a router, switch, and 3 TP-Link's Decos. The switch will be connected to the router and the Decos will be connected to the switch. According the the setup guide of Decos, every Deco will be connected to the next deco via ethernet, and the first deco will be connected to the switch. Problem is that my idiot electrician has laid the CAT6 cable in a way that each deco will have to be connected to the switch individually. Is this an ideal configuration ? Will it even work ?   Will this result in having 3 diff. wireless networks ? If so, then will the devices on each deco be able to communicate with the devices on other decos since they are all still connected to the same switch ? 

I am really confused here. Need help. I am new to networking and dont know much. 

[Blue4130]

21 minutes ago, lykan_MD said:

For my home networking setup,I plan to get a router, switch, and 3 TP-Link's Decos. The switch will be connected to the router and the Decos will be connected to the switch. According the the setup guide of Decos, every Deco will be connected to the next deco via ethernet, and the first deco will be connected to the switch. Problem is that my idiot electrician has laid the CAT6 cable in a way that each deco will have to be connected to the switch individually. Is this an ideal configuration ? Will it even work ?   Will this result in having 3 diff. wireless networks ? If so, then will the devices on each deco be able to communicate with the devices on other decos since they are all still connected to the same switch ? 

I am really confused here. Need help. I am new to networking and dont know much. 

The electrician doesn't sound like an idiot to me. Generally you want all of the ethernet drops to be at the switch.

[lykan_MD]

9 minutes ago, Blue4130 said:

The electrician doesn't sound like an idiot to me. Generally you want all of the ethernet drops to be at the switch.

Yes thats the general idea. But the way Decos are supposed to be connected is that only the main Deco is connected to the switch. The second Deco is then connected to the first Deco. The third Deco is then connected to the second. This is how they are supposed to be used according to TP-Link.

[DarkInspiration11]

The Decos most definitevely work in a star configuration with an ethernet backhaul.

Take a look at this article from TP-Link's support: General questions about Ethernet Backhaul feature on your Deco

 

There are some setup differences if you have the main one in Router vs AP mode, but it's possible.

[Falcon1986]

2 hours ago, lykan_MD said:

The switch will be connected to the router and the Decos will be connected to the switch.

You're complicating this.

 

In order to make the mesh work, you don't need an additional router upstream from the primary Deco. The primary Deco unit plugs directly into the modem and the other satellite Deco units plug into the primary via ethernet, either directly or through a switch.

 

Your central ethernet drop point can be where your primary Deco unit or switch receives links to the other Deco satellites from the other rooms.

[whispous]

I've used Decos for a while - first in router mode, and later when I wanted better control, in AP mode.

 

When I used them in Router mode, the first one connected directly to the modem - then, given my P9s had two ethernet ports each, I went onwards from the primary Deco to a switch for further wired ports.

 

If you have good reason to be using a dedicated router, you'll need to put the decos into Access Point (AP) mode.

 

I recommend setting them up in router mode first, and only switching them to AP mode AFTER initial wifi configuration, then setting up the new router, then plugging the primary deco into the router.

[lykan_MD]

3 hours ago, DarkInspiration11 said:

The Decos most definitevely work in a star configuration with an ethernet backhaul.

Take a look at this article from TP-Link's support: General questions about Ethernet Backhaul feature on your Deco

 

There are some setup differences if you have the main one in Router vs AP mode, but it's possible.

 

2 hours ago, Falcon1986 said:

You're complicating this.

 

In order to make the mesh work, you don't need an additional router upstream from the primary Deco. The primary Deco unit plugs directly into the modem and the other satellite Deco units plug into the primary via ethernet, either directly or through a switch.

 

Your central ethernet drop point can be where your primary Deco unit or switch receives links to the other Deco satellites from the other rooms.

 

1 hour ago, whispous said:

I've used Decos for a while - first in router mode, and later when I wanted better control, in AP mode.

 

When I used them in Router mode, the first one connected directly to the modem - then, given my P9s had two ethernet ports each, I went onwards from the primary Deco to a switch for further wired ports.

 

If you have good reason to be using a dedicated router, you'll need to put the decos into Access Point (AP) mode.

 

I recommend setting them up in router mode first, and only switching them to AP mode AFTER initial wifi configuration, then setting up the new router, then plugging the primary deco into the router.

Let me try to tell you guys exactly the problem I am facing because I am not satisfied with the answers.

 

I have 4 floors in my home. Ground floor wifi coverage will be handled by the wifi router itself. First, second and third floors' wifi coverage will be handled by Decos. This is how it has to be. The wifi router can't be eliminated. It has to stay. The fibre cable will be connected to the wifi router. 

Then, a switch will be connected to the router. Any device that can be connected via ethernet will be connected to the switch. All the mobile phones and laptops will be connected to the network via Decos. The router I have is Netgear AC1200 Dual Band Wifi Router.

 

Initially I was planning to do it the recommended way that is connect the Primary Deco to the switch, then connect the satelite deco to the primary deco. 

But now I have a problem, my electrician has not laid the wire to suit this configuration. So now, I'll have to connect the router to the switch, and each deco to the switch individually. It will basically take 3 of my switch ports. 

 

I need to know if this configuration will work flawlessly among the various devices that will be connected via both ethernet and wifi. 

 

I am attaching an image. (1) is the initial configuration that I was planning and (2) is the configuration I am having to do because of aforementioned foolery by my electrician. 

 

Thank You for you taking the time to help me. 

[whispous]

The second figure looks ideal.

[lykan_MD]

3 minutes ago, whispous said:

The second figure looks ideal.

In AP mode right ? And are you sure ? Because it will cause me a lot of problems otherwise. 

[whispous]

Just now, lykan_MD said:

In AP mode right ? And are you sure ? Because it will cause me a lot of problems otherwise. 

Can you clarify which set of Decos you've got?

[lykan_MD]

8 minutes ago, whispous said:

Can you clarify which set of Decos you've got?

XE75 Tri Band Mesh 6E.

[whispous]

26 minutes ago, lykan_MD said:

XE75 Tri Band Mesh 6E.

What makes you think that daisy chaining them with ethernet is somehow better than hub-and-spoke, which is how your electrician has wired it, and which is typically considered normal practice?

[lykan_MD]

2 minutes ago, whispous said:

What makes you think that daisy chaining them with ethernet is somehow better than hub-and-spoke, which is how your electrician has wired it, and which is typically considered normal practice?

I dont think its better. I have no opinion on whats good and what isnt. I just want to know if this is work. Daisy chaining the decos is what is recommended by the manufacturer. My question is that if I connect each deco separately to the switch, will all my devices be able to communicate to each other? 

[whispous]

7 minutes ago, lykan_MD said:

I dont think its better. I have no opinion on whats good and what isnt. I just want to know if this is work. Daisy chaining the decos is what is recommended by the manufacturer. My question is that if I connect each deco separately to the switch, will all my devices be able to communicate to each other? 

Hub-and-spoke will work fine.

 

If you have no opinion, it's quite weird that you started by calling your electrician stupid.

 

Next time you get cabling work done, you should specify very carefully exactly what you want, or they'll set it up correctly again

 

The diagrams on the TP-Link site actually show the devices using wifi as the backhaul, not cables.

[lykan_MD]

Just now, whispous said:

Hub-and-spoke will work fine.

 

If you have no opinion, it's quite weird that you started by calling your electrician stupid.

 

Next time you get cabling work done, you should specify very carefully exactly what you want, or they'll set it up correctly again

I am calling him stupid because I told him exactly how I want it done but because I wasn't there to oversee it, he messed it up. Anyway, thanks for your help. 

[vinieth]

On 9/20/2023 at 8:07 PM, lykan_MD said:

I dont think its better. I have no opinion on whats good and what isnt. I just want to know if this is work. Daisy chaining the decos is what is recommended by the manufacturer. My question is that if I connect each deco separately to the switch, will all my devices be able to communicate to each other? 

Im having exactly the same problem.  
!My question is that if I connect each deco separately to the switch, will all my devices be able to communicate to each other? 

Did it work ? / What did you do ?