Which Ethernet port for wired backhaul

[njgreb]

Does it matter which Ethernet port you use for wired backhaul on the extra points?

[olavrb]

Any non-primary point will treat both ports as LAN ports. But I've read about folks saying that the WAN port was the only thing that worked for them (from main LAN to secondary WAN).

[Dorkimoe]

I’m pretty sure the one with the internet symbol would have to be used. Why wouldn’t you use that one?

[njgreb]

The symbol usually implies a WAN connection port which this is not.  Then on top of that the software is giving no indication of what it is using. 

[Jhonleanmel]

Hey folks,

Thanks for the help, @olavrb and @Dorkimoe.

@njgreb, if you're referring to your main Google Wifi router, you can use the port with double-arrow icon to connect your devices like laptop or another Google Wifi point. If you're referring to a wireless Google Wifi point, you can use both Ethernet ports on the bottom of the device. If you're trying to hard-wire a Google Wifi point to your main Google Wifi router, you can connect the cable to the globe-icon port on the bottom of the access point.

Best,

Mel

[njgreb]

Sorry I wasn't specific.  This is with the Nest Wifi Pro specifically.

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi njgreb,

Thanks for clarifying that. The globe-icon port is where you connect your main Google Nest Wifi Pro to your modem. You can use the other port to connect your other devices for a wired setup. Make sure to plug the Ethernet cable onto the globe-icon port on the secondary Nest Wifi Pro if you're going to wire them together.

Best,

Mel

[njgreb]

Is there anything in the Home app that shows if you are using a wired backhaul vs the wireless mesh network?

[olavrb]

Yes. Select the Nest Wifi unit in question from the Google Home app. Then select the settings icon. There it should say "connection type" mesh or wired.

[njgreb]

Hurm, tried that and even with it on a known to be working ethernet port it just stays at Mesh.

[Jhonleanmel]

Hey folks,

Thanks for the help, @olavrb.

@njgreb, could you unplug the power from your Nest Wifi Pro devices for 2 minutes?

Best,

Mel

[njgreb]

So unplug for two minutes, plug in ethernet, turn back on after the two minutes?

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi njgreb,

You're right.

Thanks,

Mel

[Jhonleanmel]

Hey njgreb,

Checking back in should you still have some questions here. Let us know by replying to this thread. 

Best, 
Mel

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi everyone,

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,
Mel

[njgreb]

Now that the firmware that fixes the PPPoE bug is out I will test this today. 

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi njgreb,

Thanks for your patience. Keep us posted.

Best,

Mel

[njgreb]

Same result.  Powered off for about 5 minutes.  Plugged network cable into the WAN port on the Nest Wifi Pro.  Powered on.  Network switch is showing the Nest connecting to it, but the Home app still says Connection Type is "Mesh"

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi njgreb,

I wanted to let you know that a new firmware release is going out now to Nest Wifi Pro devices. You won't need to do anything to receive the update and it will install automatically once it's available for your hardware. The update will be pushed out to all users by the end of this week. There are a variety of performance updates and bug fixes in the release, so I'm hoping this clears up the issues you're seeing here. Let me know if you have any questions about the update.

Also, we'll keep this thread open so everyone can chime in.

Thanks,
Mel

[njgreb]

My test yesterday was done after the update had already installed.  I was watching closely for that update as I was impacted by the PPPoE bug.  So as of right now, I can't seem to get ethernet backhaul to work still.

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi njgreb,

Thanks for the update. Have you tried to connect a laptop directly to the Nest Wifi Pro through an Ethernet cable without the switch? This is to check if the switch is causing this. Also, make sure that your laptop's Wi-Fi is off so it does not try to connect wirelessly while it is hardwired to your Nest Wifi Pro.

Best,

Mel

[Jhonleanmel]

Hey njgreb,

Checking back in should you still have some questions here. Let us know by replying to this thread.

Best,
Mel

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi njgreb,

Just one quick final check in here since activity has slowed down. We'll be locking the thread in the next 24 hours, but if you still need help, I would be happy to keep it open. If there's more we can do, just let me know.

Thanks,
Mel

[njgreb]

I guess I am a little confused now. How would plugging a laptop into the ethernet port of my Nest Wifi Pro showing me if the backhaul for the connection between the points is using ethernet?

[olavrb]

@njgreb

What exact switch model do you got? Sounds like it might have conflicting features, like loop detection/ prevention, like STP (spanning tree protocol).

Have you connected it all as my first diagram in following reply?

• https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Ethernet-backhaul/m-p/284073/highlight/true#M31892

[njgreb]

I have a Meraki switch in there at the moment. I have a nice dumb unmanaged switch I can drop in as a test this evening. Will report back.

[AbigailF]

Hey njgreb,

Chiming in to ensure everything is good here. Have you had the chance to try the suggestion above? If yes, how is it?

Best,
Abi

[AbigailF]

Hi njgreb,

Checking back in should you still have some questions here. Let us know by replying to this thread.

Regards,
Abi

[AbigailF]

Hello njgreb,

We haven't heard from you in a while so we'll be locking this thread if there is no update within 24 hours. If you have any new issues, updates or just a discussion topic, feel free to start a new thread in the Community.

Cheers,
Abi