COMPLEX HOME NETWORK ISSUES - USING NETGEAR SWITCH

[Adamr2506890601]

Hi guys, slightly complex issue, but nothing technically out of the ordinary..

I have recently moved house and decided to setup a wired network around the home, to combat any wifi drop outs that I was recieving from using the Sky Q Minis before. Plus, wired is just nicer and it was a nice project! 

So.. back to the issue... The signal path is..

Router > Unmanaged Mini Netgear Switch 
Netgear switch has 2TB Main Q Box, Q mini, Hue lighting Bridge, office Imac, CCTV NVR and Raspberry Pi all connected to it. 

This set up worked absolutely perfect. Plugged and played. Everything into the switch, no issues. Worked flawlessly with no setup, for 5 months.

I then decided to change this to a more permanent setup. Putting the network into a wall mounted rack box, with a rack mounted Netgear switch, with more available ports, for future expansion.

So, technically, completely the same setup.. all the same devices, just with a new Netgear switch on unmanaged factory settings.

However, once it was all setup and plugged in, my HUE Lighting Bridge was no longer able to be accessed by my phone app, and I could no longer access the new switches' config panel using its IP address on a browser. BUT, I could still ping both devices successfully. They were present on "attached devices" on the router config etc.

After hours and hours of process of elimination, it turned out that as soon as I disconnect the SKY Q 2TB box and Q Mini box, I could then access HUE again, and the new switches' config panel using its IP address on a browser.

After even more hours, I decided to create a bodge up job, and it has actually worked. But I just want to know if I can fix the issue, rather than use a work around..

Basically.. to fix the issue.. I have wired the path as follows..

Router > Old unmanaged switch (the switch that it all worked fine on in the first place)
SKY Q products connected to this switch.
Patch cable running from this switch, to the New rackmounted Netgear switch
All other devices plugged into the New rackmounted switch.

If anyone has ANY ideas on what the issue could be, or how on earth I could possibly fix the issue, I would be incredibly appreciative.

Tried all devices on DHCP and static IPs
Tried different ports on the switches
Tried resetting the new netgear switch multiple times

All Wifi on the Q boxes is turned off
Both Q boxes rebooted

Thank you very much 

[TimmyBGood]

@Adamr2506890601 

Presumably the source of the problem is that you've opted for a managed switch: even if it is 'on unmanaged factory settings' it's clearly doing something the dumb switch wasn't.  I guess you have already looked at the possibility of IP address conflict?

[JPR007]

@Adamr2506890601 Sky provided kit is fairly basic and locked down to start with, and although people have tried, it usually doesn't play well with managed switches. 

There are 2 options really...firstly change your new 16 way switch for an unmanaged one. Second, consider a more sophisticated setup using a 3rd party router.

[Adamr2506890601]

That's correct! I have checked IP conflicts. I also have a list of all devices, IPs, static or DHCP etc etc.

I came to a similar conclusion regarding the managed switch. I just couldn't find or think of any reason why it would be causing an issue. Or anything within the settings either.

it's annoying because, technically I've solved the issue, but by using a bodge up, rather than fixing the issue.

the main reason I want to fix the issue is that I bought a second hand switch off eBay, and wanted to know whether the issue can be overcome, before spending more money on an expensive new switch and ending up with the same issue 😂

[Adamr2506890601]

Thank you! This is what I thought might be the case... 

1) can I use third party routers?

2) I assume I can buy specific rack mounted UNMANAGED switches?

sorry for the noob questions. I'm generically very technically minded. But the specifics of networks is very much a learning curve for me! 

[GD1]

@Adamr2506890601  I use managed draytek switches, however I also use a draytek router for Sky broadband and all play nicely, the problem is most likely the Sky provided router as it is very basic in comparison

[TimmyBGood]

@Adamr2506890601 

A quick search would suggest most of the major vendors still do unmanaged gigabit 16 and 24 port switches that are rack-mountable (although I've always felt 16 port units look weird like that ; )

[Hanok]

Please I need argent help because my WiFi is not working all day.

kind regards.

[Chrisee]

@Adamr2506890601 you are not the first person having issues with Hue hubs and Q boxes they appear very sensitive to network position and settings. Just read this post where someone thinks they have the solution. Frame size has come up before in connection with managed switches and one work round Sky have suggested is setting the switch to accept "Jumbo Frames". 

Not my area of expertise but getting devices to play nicely seems as much witchcraft as science.

[JPR007]

@Hanok Please start your own new thread rather than replying to a thread about a different problem 🤓

[mae-3]

@Adamr2506890601 

Most managed switches will operate as a transparent bridge and this is worth setting it up in this mode of operation for operating with Sky's Hubs.

[Adamr2506890601]

Thanks. Would this just be a setting somewhere in the config?

[mae-3]

@Adamr2506890601 

It would be a setting in the managed switch and you'll need to confirm where the setting is in the manual for the ethernet managed switch itself.

[Adamr2506890601]

Thank you! I'll have a look!

[Adamr2506890601]

this is the only mention of transparent bridging in the manual. And I can't find a separate setting for it.