Connecting Google Mesh to Centurylink Fiber

[RickyP024]

Hello,

I have a Centurylink modem/router combo, the C4000XG. I want to expand the reach throughout the home so I purchased a Google Wifi bundle. 

In my set up, I placed the Centurylink modem into transparent bridge mode with vlan tagging 201. 

My phone can find the google wifi during set up but is unable to connect. I spoke with Centurylink and they can’t help, and spoke with google and they have said that it’s something with Centurylink modem. Anyone have this issue and what can I fix to get it working? 

[olavrb · Accepted solution]

Nest Wifi does not really support VLAN tagging:

• https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9798157?hl=en

If you can't untag what you feed into Nest Wifi, a workaround is to buy a managed switch, put it between the modem and Nest Wifi with the job of untagging the internet before reaching Nest Wifi. More info on this:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleWiFi/comments/e2n51c
• https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/VLAN-tagging-using-managed-switch-in-front-of-prima...

[olavrb · Accepted solution]

Nest Wifi does not really support VLAN tagging:

• https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9798157?hl=en

If you can't untag what you feed into Nest Wifi, a workaround is to buy a managed switch, put it between the modem and Nest Wifi with the job of untagging the internet before reaching Nest Wifi. More info on this:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleWiFi/comments/e2n51c
• https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/VLAN-tagging-using-managed-switch-in-front-of-prima...

[Elemen0p]

I ran across your post while searching the forums for a completely different Google WiFi related topic but saw that your setup is very similar to mine and wanted to share how my network is setup which works great for me.

For starters, I too have the three pack Google WiFi access points (NOT the newer Google Nest WiFi model).  I also have CenturyLink Fiber as you do but the difference being that I'm using a Zyxel C3000Z.  I've had this setup for about 3.5 years and it's worked flawlessly since the service started.

To get Google WiFi setup as the router for the network (thus removing the double NATing configuration) I had to perform the following steps in order:

1. Connect the WAN port on the primary Google WiFi unit directly to an available LAN port on the CenturyLink modem/router.  The primary Google WiFi unit should be in DHCP mode at this point. It's not really required but I advise leaving the other two 2 Google WiFi units turned off/unplugged from power.

2. Open the Google Home app (or Google WiFi app) and to the Advanced Settings then WAN settings and from there change the setting from DHCP to PPPoE.  Input your PPPoE username and password (you should already have this info from CenturyLink).  Note: you'll want to double check and make sure you don't have any typos in the username/password. Save the settings after which your Google WiFi unit will lose access to the internet until you reconfigure the CenturyLink modem in the next step.

3. Connect a desktop or laptop to one of the LAN ports on your CenturyLink modem/router and login to management GUI (the embedded WiFi on my modem is disabled intentionally, which is why access to modem has to be done via hardwired connection).  Configure the WAN settings to Transparent Bridge but also configure the option to tag VLAN 201.  Save the settings. Assuming your PPPoE credentials are correct then your primary Google WiFi unit should come online with access to the Internet.  You can disconnect your desktop or laptop from the LAN port on the CenturyLink modem.

4.  Plug in your other 2 Google WiFi units and they should connect to the primary unit.  In my network, the WAN port on the primary unit is the only device that is directly connected to the CenturyLink modem.  All other LAN devices on the network connect through the LAN port on the primary unit using a basic layer 2 switch.  I connected the WAN ports on my other two Google WiFi units for an ethernet backhaul configuration. This provides a more stable and faster connection vs using only a mesh connection so I would recommend this setup if you have network cabling at he locations where the units will be placed.  The LAN ports on those two units are not connected to anything as I want those two units to only handle wireless traffic and not pass-through any LAN traffic.

Hope this helps....

[EdwardT]

Hi folks,

@olavrb and Elemen0p, thanks for the help!

@RickyP024, how's it going with your Google Wifi? Still need our help?

Thanks,

Edward

[RickyP024 · Accepted solution]

Sorry for the delay, these were very helpful and solved my problem, thank you! 

[EdwardT]

Hi RickyP024,

Thanks for the update! I'm glad to hear that everything is working now. Please observe it for now and let us know if anything comes up.

Thanks,

Edward

[EdwardT]

Hi RickyP024,

I wanted to follow up and see if you are still in need of any help. Please let me know if you are still having any trouble from here, as I would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further.

Thanks,

Edward

[EdwardT]

Hi RickyP024,

I'm just checking in to make sure that you've seen our response. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns as I will be locking this in 24 hours.

Thanks,

Edward