Swapping Zyxel for Ubiquiti EdgeRouter

[HawkI]

I am trying to swap my Zyxel edge router out with the Ubiquiti EdgeRouterX. Problem is the Telkom ONT connects into Zyxel router Lan 4.

The ubiquiti EdgeRouter X seems to only allow port Eth01 to connect to ISP(ONT). When I connect it this way, it does not get IP address of ONT thus no Internet connection.

I called Telkom call centre and they say there is no option other than port 4. seems to be a stalemate - does anyone have any experience in this?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Huh?

What port the EdgeRouter prefers is irrelevant as long as it comes from the same port on the Telkom side.

It's Ethernet and will make no difference where it comes from. Something is wrong with your configuration or the Ubiquiti is broken.

Isn't there possibly a Mac address approval required from the Telkom side?

****

Are you connecting Eth 1 on the EdgeRouter to Eth 4 on the ONT? Or are you for some bizarre reason connecting Eth 1 to Eth 1?

As long as the port that was working before on the ONT is still used (and assuming there is no MAC filter) then it shouldn't matter what port is used on the other side.

 

[HawkI]

Firstly, thanks a ton for trying to help me!

What port the EdgeRouter prefers is irrelevant as long as it comes from the same port on the Telkom side.

It's Ethernet and will make no difference where it comes from. Something is wrong with your configuration or the Ubiquiti is broken.

That’s the same advice the guys on the ubiquiti forum gave me. I tried explaining this to the Telkom tech support – Very frustrating, they only work from a standard response sheet and cant debate the merits of any technical point put to them – I understand how tough it is for these guys but it doesn’t help me the customer when this kind of stalemate is reached.

Isn't there possibly a Mac address approval required from the Telkom side?

I asked several call centre guys this question and they all said no – I did a quick test by using a different port on the zyxel and it never worked so to my simple non network savvy mind – they could be right.

Are you connecting Eth 1 on the EdgeRouter to Eth 4 on the ONT? Or are you for some bizarre reason connecting Eth 1 to Eth 1?

Nope – I am connecting Eth0 on the EdgeRouter X to LAN1 on the ONT.

As long as the port that was working before on the ONT is still used (and assuming there is no MAC filter) then it shouldn't matter what port is used on the other side.

That’s what I thought as well – it doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Nope – I am connecting Eth0 on the EdgeRouter X to LAN1 on the ONT.

Why? Why not just follow what Telkom had told you all along?

Simply plug into the known working port on the ONT which is configured for. Presumably ETH4 as stated by Telkom.

Then into Eth 1 on the Ubiquiti or whatever port it needs you to plug into.

Of course nothing else on the ONT will work if it hasn't been configured to.

*****

Now for the harsh reality.

If the above was the problem then I don't think the Ubiquiti product is right for you.

It's an enterprise level device that requires some expertise.

 

[HawkI]

Why? Why not just follow what Telkom had told you all along?

Simply plug into the known working port on the ONT which is configured for. Presumably ETH4 as stated by Telkom.

Then into Eth 1 on the Ubiquiti or whatever port it needs you to plug into.

Of course nothing else on the ONT will work if it hasn't been configured to.

*****

Now for the harsh reality.

If the above was the problem then I don't think the Ubiquiti product is right for you.

It's an enterprise level device that requires some expertise.

you might be right about the expertise part.

Ubiquiti edgerouter x doesnt allow you to configure any port other than eth0 for Internet access - so even if I follow Telkom instruction and configure any other port (eth3 or eth4)- it does not work.

 

[Bryn]

I am trying to swap my Zyxel edge router out with the Ubiquiti EdgeRouterX. Problem is the Telkom ONT connects into Zyxel router Lan 4.

The ubiquiti EdgeRouter X seems to only allow port Eth01 to connect to ISP(ONT). When I connect it this way, it does not get IP address of ONT thus no Internet connection.

I called Telkom call centre and they say there is no option other than port 4. seems to be a stalemate - does anyone have any experience in this?

Why do you want an EdgeRouter? I have a Zyxel SBG3300-N connected to the Ubiquiti UniFi Security Gateway (and three Ubiquiti UniFi APs) and enjoy all the typical gateway features advertised on their website. The router just works as a modem.

 

[SauRoNZA]

you might be right about the expertise part.

Ubiquiti edgerouter x doesnt allow you to configure any port other than eth0 for Internet access - so even if I follow Telkom instruction and configure any other port (eth3 or eth4)- it does not work.

You don't need to configure anything.

Plug EdgeRouter Eth0 into Telkom Eth4. It's already configured.

The ports are irrelevant.

 

[HawkI]

Why do you want an EdgeRouter? I have a Zyxel SBG3300-N connected to the Ubiquiti UniFi Security Gateway (and three Ubiquiti UniFi APs) and enjoy all the typical gateway features advertised on their website. The router just works as a modem.

It was a toss up to go with USG or the edgerouter - and I went with the edgerouter, main reason was to standardise on ubiquiti equipment and also as far as I understand the edgerouter gives me way more traffic analyses than the zyxel.

 

[HawkI]

You don't need to configure anything.

Plug EdgeRouter Eth0 into Telkom Eth4. It's already configured.

The ports are irrelevant.

I think its the other way round ONT must be LAN 1 and edgerouter is Eth0, but this doesnt work so I might be wrong.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Not sure if related, but I had similar issues with my ONT and I needed to have the ONT on a different subnet to the Ubiquiti (I use the USG - some more info here: https://www.naschenweng.info/2017/01/05/ubiquiti-replacing-home-network-making-fibre-work-unifi/).

Why can't you just plug a computer into the ONT LAN port to check what is happening? Perhaps there is also a lock-down on mac-address?

 

[SauRoNZA]

I think its the other way round ONT must be LAN 1 and edgerouter is Eth0, but this doesnt work so I might be wrong.

You are confusing the issue, needlessly.

If Telkom said Ethernet 4 on the ONT then use Ethernet 4.

Where was it plugged in before? Simply plug it back in there.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Why can't you just plug a computer into the ONT LAN port to check what is happening? Perhaps there is also a lock-down on mac-address?

For some reason even though Telkom days Ethernet 4 and presumably that is what worked before be insists on using everything else.

I suspect he doesn't know that you don't need the ports to line up on both sides and that nothing needs to "match" and that there is a static configuration at play.

 

[HawkI]

For some reason even though Telkom days Ethernet 4 and presumably that is what worked before be insists on using everything else.

I suspect he doesn't know that you don't need the ports to line up on both sides and that nothing needs to "match" and that there is a static configuration at play.

Firstly - I really appreciate everyones input.

We seem to missing each other though.

1) I am not insisting on using everything else - quite the opposite, I have tried many times unsuccesfully to use port eth4 on the edgerouter as you are all saying but it does not work.
2) The edgerouter only allows port eth0 for Internet connection and that is the crux of the problem.

Thanks again for your assistance.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Firstly - I really appreciate everyones input.

We seem to missing each other though.

1) I am not insisting on using everything else - quite the opposite, I have tried many times unsuccesfully to use port eth4 on the edgerouter as you are all saying but it does not work.
2) The edgerouter only allows port eth0 for Internet connection and that is the crux of the problem. see screenshot.

Thanks again for your assistance.

Image share to follow soon.

Okay I really don't want to draw a picture here.

Use ETHERNET 4 on the Telkom device. (Or whatever port works on the Zyxel).

Use ETHERNET 0 on the Ubiquiti.

One cable from the one port to the other.

 

[HawkI]

Okay I really don't want to draw a picture here.

Use ETHERNET 4 on the Telkom device. (Or whatever port works on the Zyxel).

Use ETHERNET 0 on the Ubiquiti.

One cable from the one port to the other.

done done done.

I have literally connected the Telkom ONT Lan1 port to every port on the Zyxel and Edgerouter and the only one that works is Zyxel Lan4.

Lets just drop this thread . Have a nice evening.

 

[Bryn]

done done done.

I have literally connected the Telkom ONT Lan1 port to every port on the Zyxel and Edgerouter and the only one that works is Zyxel Lan4.

Lets just drop this thread . Have a nice evening.

Are you aware that Ubiquiti has really good live chat support? Hit them up if you haven't already.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

@OP: Have you connected to the Edgerouter directly and checked what IP it uses? Most likely the ONT uses the same, hence my suggestion (if you can), to change the IP range on the ONT to a different subnet as the EdgeRouter. Another issue could be double DHCP.

 

[HawkI]

So the problem is resolved.

Incase anyone else runs into the same problem swapping out Telkom Issued Zyxel router with their own router. Here is the summary:

When I swapped out to Ubiquiti Edgerouter X, I could not get the internet to work, the root cause was simply that In my WAN settings on the Edgerouter X, I should not select DHCP or Static IP but rather PPPoE. It seems so simple when you know the answer.

1) Telkom support was adamant that you could not use ubiquiti edgerouter - Not true.
2)Telkom were also adamant that you could only connect ONT LAN 1 to router port 4 - Not true. You can configure it to any port.
3) Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X can only configure Eth0 port for its Internet connection.

 

[HawkI]

Are you aware that Ubiquiti has really good live chat support? Hit them up if you haven't already.

Yeah, the ubiquiti support is brilliant - they very patiently pointed me in the right direction. I must say the big red herring on this was the insistance to not use port eth0 but port eth4.