VLANs and mini switches

[ITGuyNW]

Hi

 

I'm just trying to get my head around something and I don't know if I'm just overcomplicating it...

 

Currently we have an ethernet cable coming from a main Extreme switch in a cabinet, which is just a generic school network connection, and when it gets to the room it plugs into a mini 4 port POE switch. This then provides networking for a computer in a room and for an IP camera. Nothing too complicated there..

 

I've now been tasked with getting an AP installed in this area. It would need to use the same network connection that currently plugs into the mini 4 port POE switch.

 

Now these APs sit on a different VLAN, so ordinarily I would setup the dedicated port accordingly and away it goes.

 

How do I do it so that everything works through this one cable but VLAN'd through a mini switch? I've seen you can get TENDA mini switches that support VLANs, but I've no experience of them so I'm not sure if that would solve what I'm trying to achieve..

[mavhc]

It should work somewhat, but better to get a vlan switch.

 

You'd be changing the packets going to the dumb switch to have vlan tags, which the switch will probably just pass through, so every device connected will get tagged packets, and thus need to understand vlans. Which is probably fine for the computer, but depends on the camera

[PotNoodleTech]

Is there a reason why you cant run a network connection back to the extreme switch for the camera rather than bodging via mini switches?

 

A normal dumb mini switch will not understand VLANs sadly.

[ITGuyNW]

Is there a reason why you cant run a network connection back to the extreme switch for the camera rather than bodging via mini switches?

 

A normal dumb mini switch will not understand VLANs sadly.

Yeah unfortunately its in the most awkward, built up area of the school. The switch is far away, multiple concrete blocks etc.

[Norphy]

When the MAT I used to work for had a scenario like this, we used the eight port version of this switch: https://www.arubanetworks.com/en-gb/resource/2530-switch-series-data-sheet/. It worked perfectly. If you want to go cheaper, there's also these: https://www.arubainstanton.com/products/switches/1830-series/

 

I'd be amazed if Extreme didn't have an equivalent product.

Edited December 7, 2023 by Norphy

[DalekSec]

Only way is to get a managed switch, dumb switches will not work unless you have a flat network

 

You can get cheap TP link managed switches for 30ish IIRC. but i'd try to stick to enterprise grade hardware to avoid issues in future.

Edited December 7, 2023 by DalekSec

[OLdMan99]

You need a POE so Netgear GS305EPP. you will need the link from extreeme to switch to carry the AP vlan also configuring

[k-strider]

Something like this will beable to bring vLANs through and support PoE for you https://www.netgear.com/uk/business/wired/switches/plus/gs308epp/

[Jaan]

The "uplink" would also need to be a Trunk port if you're using multiple Vlans wouldn't it?

[DavR]

We have just this scenario in one of our offices which is woefully underserved by network points.

 

Having done it on the supercheap, we've used one of these (Netgear 5 port PoE GS105PE), which is itself powered from a PoE switch in the server room. If you're running more than one PoE device though, I'd go for a 5 port or 8 port from the 300 series with it's own power supply. Our 5 port Netgears don't have the power budget for an AP and another device, I've found.

 

As others have said, your single uplink up to the main network needs to be a trunk available to both VLANs, so both ends need to be VLAN configurable. Then assign each port it's VLAN as necessary.

Edited December 7, 2023 by DavR