Link Aggregation on Hub2

[#1]

Hi Folks,

Please bear with me asking this amateur question. I have linked my Hub2 to a mesh system (Netgear Orbi853). I have turned off the wireless & turned off the DHCP. But am thinking about improving trafffic between the Hub2 (which is now working as a modem) and the RBR850 by using link aggregation if this is possible?

I haven't been able to find any info about link aggregating two of the ethernet posts on the Hub2. The RBR850 allows this.

Any help guidance will be gratefully received.

[#2]

@mpnagar I'm assuming you are on FTTC and not Full Fibre (FTTP) ?

Is the  Hub 2 configured in bridge mode ? or are you just configuring the Orbi with a static IP (in the 192.168.1.x subnet) on its WAN ?

[#3]

Hi @MisterW ,

Thank you so much for responding back!

Yes I am on FTTC currently, although Openreach have written to us about FTTH.

I haven't configured the Hub 2 in bridge mode as I am worried I might lose access to the user interface. (Not sure if my fears are misplaced). I have just turned the wi-fi off and do not have anything connected to it.

Not sure how to configure the Orbi with a static IP, although I do have a static IP for my connection from Plusnet.

Sorry, I'm one of those with limited knowledge and am still delving in this world of networking. 

[#4 · Accepted solution]

Even if it was possible to use two connections , you're not going to achieve anything,  One gigabit ethernet connection is more than capable of handling the max throughput of your Fttc connection.

Using bridge mode will lose access to the user interface, but in bridge mode there's nothing to configure, it really is just a modem!

In your current configuration you have double NAT , both the Hub 2 and the orbi are doing NAT translation. With the Hub 2 in bridge mode you only have 1 router doing NAT ( the orbi ). You would need to reconfigure the orbi wan connection as pppoe with your Plusnet username & password

[#5]

@MisterW 

Many thanks for these tips. I will give it a go and report back. Somewhere in the back of my mind is the impending FTTH too!

If I did put the Hub 2 in bridge mode and if ever wanted to use it as a router, I assume I could just use the factory reset to get it back to its original function. (Unless there is another way to do it)

Thanks heaps again!

[#6]

@mpnagar 

and if ever wanted to use it as a router, I assume I could just use the factory reset 

yup!

If ftth is likely to not far off then getting using the Hub 2 in bridge mode now is a good idea. Then in future if you order ftth, you just remove the Hub 2 and  connect the  orbi direct to the ONT. Job done!

[#7]

@MisterW 

Me again! Managed to get the Hub 2 in bridge mode & then reset the Orbi to set it all up. After a bit of tinkering, all systems seem to be working fine including the CCTV!

You mention having the Orbi router with a static IP address? It seems to have picked up the first available one at 192.168.1.1 and all seems to function ok for now. Does it need to have a static IP? Or am I asking this question in the wrong forum?

[#8]

@mpnagar 

As you are now using the Hub in bridge mode and the Orbi as the router, there is no need to set a fixed IP address.