Google WiFi port forwarding no devices

[kumochisonan]

I am trying to set up NAT port forwards on my Google Nest and when I follow the guide.

1. Open the Google Home app 
2. Tap Favorites > Wifi > Settings > Advanced Networking
3. Tap Port management > Add 
4. Select the tab for the type of IP address you're forwarding. 
5. Select a device.
6. Add your internal and external ports.

Step 5 does not show any valid devices. However, I know all my statically addressed servers are connected on the mesh subnet as I am able to reach them on ssh via the Nest mesh and they are able to access the internet from that subnet. 

Why doesn't Google give me the option to just add the NAT rules because I know that they are there, regardless of what Nest thinks.

This is annoying for people who know IP networking, because you're withholding the option for us to do it ourselves.

How do I get Nest to detect the statically addressed hosts on the same subnet?

[kumochisonan]

In order to get the devices numbered with the addresses I wanted. I had to use DHCP reservations on the Nest and then I could add port forwards for them, because Nest Wifi only recognises devices it has allocated an address as valid for port forwards.

This workaround is okay, but I am now reliant on Nest DHCP working correctly all the time for my servers to retain the correct static addresses. Adding an additional point of failure.

This isn't a very good way to do things. Give people the option to do things a different way. 

[LovelyM]

Hello kumochisonan, 

Thanks for posting here in the Community.

We understand where you are coming from and we'll take your thoughts and experience as feedback. Our team continuously works to add and improve the features on the Google Wifi and Nest Wifi devices, so if you have other feedback that you'd like to share, let us know by following the steps in this article.

Let us know if you have additional questions or concerns; otherwise, I'll close the thread after 24 hours.

Best regards,
Lovely