Network Config Help

[KoKaRoT]

Hi Guys

So recently moved into a new place and got fibre installed, the ONT and router are one part of the house. Part A
The previous owner ran a cable from Part A to the lounge. (Part B)

The rooms and office are on the opposite end. So what I did is use a spare router to act as an AP?
I have a cable running from this AP (Part B) to my office, trouble is I'm getting packet loss.

I have tested each individual cable from the router to a laptop direct and get no packet loss, so the cables are good.
I have also switched the routers around but only a slight difference.

What could be causing this?
Appreciate the help

 

[HartsockZA]

It sounds like a miss crimp, did you check the cables with a tester?

 

[yogidabear]

Besides continuity check all the colours match, not like a rainbow, but type A or B.

 

[SauRoNZA]

What IP address are you pinging there?

 

[websquadza]

Did you configure both routers with the same SSID and password? If so, it's possible you have a loop. Try changing the second AP to a different SSID, ex SSID_EXT and see if the issue persists

 

[SauRoNZA]

Did you configure both routers with the same SSID and password? If so, it's possible you have a loop. Try changing the second AP to a different SSID, ex SSID_EXT and see if the issue persists

Heh? How can you loop the same subnet?

The SSID’s are irrelevant, it’s still the same network.

 

[websquadza]

Heh? How can you loop the same subnet?

The SSID’s are irrelevant, it’s still the same network.

It's very relevant if the routers connect to one another over both Wireless and LAN (which means traffic has two paths). Loop is on the broadcast layer (L2), not subnet (L3). Basically a broadcast storm.

Depending on the APs/Routers/Extenders used, some cheaper routers will connect to one another when using the same SSID. Also common with wifi extenders that are set up on a cable to act as a AP.

 

[SauRoNZA]

It's very relevant if the routers connect to one another over both Wireless and LAN (which means traffic has two paths). Loop is on the broadcast layer (L2), not subnet (L3). Basically a broadcast storm.

Depending on the APs/Routers/Extenders used, some cheaper routers will connect to one another when using the same SSID. Also common with wifi extenders that are set up on a cable to act as a AP.

Doesn’t make sense that one would connect two routers (AP’s) to each other both wirelessly and over Ethernet.

And if that is indeed the case rather fix that than alter the SSID’s.

I’ve never seen this happen…even with the bad practise of using different AP’s or old routers of different manufacturers together instead of a proper mesh.

You have to get really particular to setup a wireless bridge and AP at the same time with most every device.

And if you set it up as a repeater then Ethernet doesn’t come into it. And if you set it up an access point it can’t be a repeater (client) at the same time.

Either way the advice to change the SSID is quite poor and addresses the symptom and not the cause which is a potentially bad configuration.

 

[websquadza]

Doesn’t make sense that one would connect two routers (AP’s) to each other both wirelessly and over Ethernet.

And if that is indeed the case rather fix that than alter the SSID’s.

I’ve never seen this happen…even with the bad practise of using different AP’s or old routers of different manufacturers together instead of a proper mesh.

You have to get really particular to setup a wireless bridge and AP at the same time with most every device.

And if you set it up as a repeater then Ethernet doesn’t come into it. And if you set it up an access point it can’t be a repeater (client) at the same time.

Either way the advice to change the SSID is quite poor and addresses the symptom and not the cause which is a potentially bad configuration.

I'm not saying OP has chosen to do this. But essentially, any network with two paths between A and B risks a broadcast storm- it doesn't matter what the medium is. Generally there's STP to take care of the multi path problem, but not all hardware has this.

I'm asking if the SSIDs are the same because we have seen this before. Many times, especially when mismatched or older kit is put together. Even seen a UniFi setup with mesh enabled (which it does by default) create a broadcast loop (granted this was due to a faulty lan cable flapping and the ap struggling to switch from mesh to wired uplink mode - but still had a wifi/lan broadcast). But from experience, this is something that can and does happen.

Packet loss within the LAN enviroment is generally due to broadcast storms, bad cables or bad hardware. OP has said he has tested the cables and hardware individually. So it's a simple enough task to see if there's a broadcast storm - and if it works, it addresses the cause.

 

[HartsockZA]

Gents this is how he's got it rigged.

A to B Cabled - Run by previous owner
B to C Cabled - Op ran this cable himself

C test back to A - Packet loss, the test is being run via cable from point C

Point B is the area AP - AP is doing wireless broadcast and normal L3 switching

From what I understand OP mentioned in a private msg that the problem vanished when he returned home yesterday. My thinking is now either a lose connection on RJ45 or a broken cable. Cable needs to be tested to determine where fault is