Bridge mode on Nokia router G-2425G-A
I have been posting on IBF for a couple of days now. Finally, my problem is solved. Thought I’d share my experience for the benefit of others.
Before I commence, much much Dhanyavaad, Thanks, Merci, Danke…. to all folks (Jay, Tellanand, Rajil, Rehan, akkothari and many others) in this forum who spend their valuable time in sharing their experience and skills for the benefit of others.
May the force be with you!
Secondly, a disclaimer: I’m a novice when it comes to networking when compared to the gurus in this forum, but looked upon with awe by retirees in my society
🙂 … so I might not be able to answer all your questions. Will try though.
My situation was/is as follows:
a) Have 5 access points distributed over my flat to ensure good Wi-Fi coverage. I manage this using a
TP-Link load balance router and a
D-Link unmanaged 8-port switch.
b) Routers and switch are backed up by a regular
UPS and all access points are PoE injected using the same UPS.
c) My existing ISP (Microscan in Pune) is pretty good considering that he gives truly unlimited data (No FUP). But his network loses power when there is a power cut. So, UPS backup and PoE injection at my end didn't mean squat.
d) So decided to go in for Airtel which works even during power outages.
e) Wanted to retain my old ISP as well, for link backup (on failover) & whatever load balancing this router promises to do…
Airtel installed the blasted Nokia G-2425G-A router and made my life hell in the past week.
I put LAN1 on bridge mode and deleted WAN connection profile “1_TR069_INTERNET_R_VID_100”. Did PPPoE connection from my main TP-Link router. No luck.
Read in this forum that
LAN4 works well. Reset the Nokia router and tried the same thing with LAN4 in bridge mode, but without deleting WAN connection profile “1_TR069_INTERNET_R_VID_100”. No luck.
The junior engineer handling my case told me to put in on LAN4 bridge mode and try again. No luck. I keep telling him that I have already tried LAN4, and Bridge Mode on LAN4 probably needs to be switched on in Airtel’s server (backend).
The junior engineer speaks (yet again) to some senior expert termed as NAT (whatever NAT means); and suddenly it starts working. The junior engineer has no clue how it has worked out. I’m convinced that Airtel turned on Bridge Mode on LAN4 at their end to make this happen.
VLAN 100 doesn’t seem to be making any difference. My router didn’t have 100, but allowed me to create one. The connection works with VLAN100 (created by me), or with VLAN2988 (default value provided by TP-Link). I have no idea what VLAN means. Just putting the facts out there.
Finally, please play nice - and be patient and persistent. This Nokia router model is new and they’re all groping in the dark. Further, Airtel outsources these jobs to underpaid chaps who are going through the learning curve (the junior engineer handling my case was one of them). He didn’t have much experience, but had the dedication to solve my case. And I respect that. I was a little mean to him and I regret it. I look back at my days when I started out in life as a rookie and it was the kindness of others that made all the difference.
Screenshots of the Nokia and TP-Link routers attached.
The first two - SS1.jpg and SS2.jpg are of Airtel's Nokia router.
The other two - SS3.jpg and SS4.jpg are of my TP-Link router.
Cheers!
Srini
