Issues with your managed switch and home router
Issues with your managed switch and home router
I begin setting up a modest home lab. Right now I’m using a Netgear R6300v2 as the main DHCP server and firewall, paired with a Dell PowerConnect 2824 managed switch I recently purchased (a 24-port gigabit switch for just $35 on eBay – that was a solid offer). I plan to leverage link aggregation and QoS settings for my new server (HP dl360e G8 running XCP-NG if you’re interested). This is my first experience with a managed switch, so everything feels new. Initially, I turned off DHCP and set the management IP to match my router’s subnet. Then I attempted to create a link aggregation group across all server NICs, but some devices still can’t reach my FREENAS VM – pings return host unreachable or the router isn’t listed. On the Netgear router’s “Connect Devices” page, none of my VM’s static IPs appear. Restarting the VM occasionally resolves the issue, though it eventually returns. I suspected the Netgear unit might be confused by the switch setup, so I tried using a random PC with pfSense instead, and everything functioned properly there. Under ARP in pfSense, all VM IPs displayed correctly. I also attempted a factory reset on the Netgear, but that didn’t help. Is this an issue with the Netgear itself, or is there another factor at play? If I were to swap it out, I’d prefer a used model under $60, preferably reliable. Apologies if my explanation had errors – feel free to point them out. Edited August 8, 2019 by MineParker101 typo
Make sure you review VLAN concepts and understand how to configure VLAN tags on your managed switch and pfSense.
Are you preparing the home lab for a specific purpose? I generally prefer netgear gear for everyday use. Even their enterprise models sometimes have issues with basic tasks. It’s unclear if they’re more stable, though Mikrotik offers similar products at a much lower price compared to Cisco or Juniper on secondary markets.