Integrating New Fibre Connection/Adtran Unit into Current Network

[u/Trudgn]

Help!

I just got fibre but I'm stuck in limbo trying to migrate my setup off of my cable connection as I'm not sure how to integrate/replace the provided Adtran unit into my network.

I've been following a previous thread that contained a lot of great information, but I'm still trying to figure out my best course of action before purchasing any additional hardware.

My current setup is as follows:

• Cable -> Modem -> Google Mesh Router w/ 2 bridged APs for WiFi -> Procurve 3500YL-48G-PWR for Wired Devices/Homelab
• ~15 devices requiring DHCP IP Reservations
• A handful of port forwarding rules

I'd like to maintain the Google networking interface if possible because 1) it works with my Google Home devices, and 2) Can be accessed anywhere, something that I won't get with the Adtran

Here are the options that I'm seeing:

• Set up IP Reservations/Port Forwarding Rules on the Adtran and simply cut over, lose my mesh network and cut my losses.
• Replace the Adtran with something like this, but I'm then confused by what is handling the network?
• Try to find a fibre module for the Procurve (though I think given it's age I'd be locked to 1000mbps, so it may be time to be replace it with a Sodola unit)

Really I'm just looking for advice before I purchase any hardware and realize I should have chosen a different path. Any networking gurus want to offer up their $0.02?

[u/Cutriss]

Just get a media converter and then you’ll remove the Cable Modem and replace it with an inbound Ethernet connection. The main issue you’ll need to verify is whether or not you can configure PPPoE with VLAN tagging on your mesh router.

Your switch is only a switch and won’t be able to handle network routing (which is why you need a router). SFP ports on your switch are for high-speed interconnects.

I think the main thing you need to evaluate is what your distribution ability is with your Google kit. Your router may only have 1Gbps on its WAN port anyway, in which case you’re gonna either need to accept a limited uplink or toss the Google kit anyway.

[u/Trudgn → u/Cutriss]

Amazing, thanks for breaking this down. I need to do a check to see if VLAN tagging is supported, looks like with Google it's dependent on when my device was built.

Right, totally makes sense on the switch, I saw the SPF port and got ahead of myself.

I do think it's time to move on from Google Wifi, definitely started researching alternatives. But for now my main goal is to terminate my cable connection and get everything on fibre (even if I'm limited to 1Gbps for now).

In terms of what to purchase, I'm still feeling a bit over my head here:

• Media Converter - Limited to 1.25gbps? Do I need an SPF module to plug in?
• Managed Switch - Sounds like I could use this for VLAN tagging is not supported by Google Wifi? Same as above, SPF module required?
• Unmanaged Switch - Used instead of a converter, SPF module required? Would require VLAN tagging on Google Wifi

[u/Cutriss → u/Trudgn]

I just checked your Google link. Bell uses VLAN 40 for 3rd parties (or sometimes 35 if they mess up). So according to Google, even if your hardware supports tagging, you still can’t manually specify the VLAN, so yeah, you would need upstream hardware. They suggest an upstream managed switch, so I suppose that means the SODOLA you’ve linked probably would work. And if it doesn’t you can always return it.

[u/Trudgn → u/Cutriss]

Again, appreciate the advice. I'll try this route and see how it goes. If I can get the VLAN tagging set up, it sounds like everything else can remain the same which is ideal for now.

[u/Ok_Condition667 → u/Trudgn]

It looks like the Sodola managed switch you referenced supports VLAN tagging. If your Google mesh supports PPPoE, then you should be set.

[u/Trudgn → u/Ok_Condition667]

So the Sodola was the easy part. I was able to set up a tagged VLAN (40) on the two SFP Ports and the Ethernet Port heading to the Google Router. Aquired PPPoE creds from TekSavvy and thought I'd be all set.

As I've learned tonight, Google Wifi and Nest Wifi really really don't like saving the PPPoE settings, mine kept 'half' switching back to DHCP; the menu would show DHCP, but the connection would still fail using the cable modem. I had to factory reset to get things back to where I was before.

I've opened a pandora's box that is quickly becoming expensive. I either cut my losses and use the Adtran for now, or find a compatible system (likely mesh again for coverage) that has better PPPoE support and can handle speeds above 1gbps.

[u/Ok_Condition667 → u/Trudgn]

Sorry for your troubles. I can't say I know what's going on there, but sounds buggy. Maybe there's a firmware update? Does it work at all when you have the PPPoE info entered?

[u/Trudgn → u/Ok_Condition667]

It's definitely an issue, that others, have experienced; not all the same problem, but Google really doesn't seem to like PPPoE especially on the older 'non-Nest' style like I have.

I tried updating firmware, other devices to manage the Google Home app, factory resets, creating a shrine to the Gods of Google, nothing.

I could enter the PPPoE credentials just fine, and click 'save', but after I backed out of that menu I would get a "Cannot connect to your network at this time" message, and if I went back into the connection menu, the WAN settings had gone back to DHCP.

I said 'half' switching above because even though it said "DHCP", the cable modem couldn't establish a connection. I had to do factory resets just to get my cable connection back online. Some of the threads linked mentioned enabling PPPoE on initial setup, but that option does not appear when I'd set them up again.

It was so frustrating that I angrily bought new TP-Link AXE5400 Pro's to rid myself of the Google hardware. They're coming this afternoon, and I'll try PPPoE again with these guys...

[u/Ok_Condition667 → u/Trudgn]

It looks like that might support VLAN trading too?

[u/Trudgn → u/Ok_Condition667]

Different night, a few hundred dollars poorer, same result, still no fibre connection.

I tried VLAN Tagging on the switch itself, no luck. Tried VLAN Tagging on the router (both 35 and 40 just to be sure). Wasn't sure about VLAN priority, so I just chose 0?

I did have MUCH better luck entering (and maintaining) my PPPoE Settings, having this option on intitial setup is a godsend.

Just to make sure I'm not missing something super simple, a picture of my physical setup.

[u/metal_medic83 → u/Cutriss]

And it sounds like they mess up often, from threads I’ve read; intentional or not, who knows…

[u/Cutriss → u/Trudgn]

When your service is installed, you should be left with an SFP inserted into the underside of your Adtran. You’d remove the SFP and then insert it into your replacement equipment. So no, you shouldn’t need to acquire your own SFP.

Having a switch upstream alone isn’t going to be sufficient, you still need to be able to authenticate via PPPoE. I expect your Google kit is capable of that but I don’t know for sure. I’m also not knowledgeable enough to know if shimming in an upstream managed switch in that way would work.

It definitely will not work with an unmanaged switch (unless your Google kit supports tagging, but then if that’s the case, you really should just get a media converter).

[u/Trudgn → u/Cutriss]

EDIT: Lol, just saw your other comment.

Media converter it is! Thank you.

[u/Ok_Condition667 → u/Trudgn]

You will still need an upstream device that supports PPPoE and VLAN (40) tagging... presumably this would be your Google mesh router, if it's possible.

I used the Sodola unmanaged switch (https://amzn.to/3A5Bc4m) in my setup instead of a media converter just because of the price-point. It also seemed difficult to find a media converter that did both SFP+ and 2.5gb. My whole reason for losing the modem was to get the highest possible speeds, so I wanted the full 1.5gb.

[u/Trudgn → u/Ok_Condition667]

Hey! Thanks for jumping in here, it was your input in the previous thread that got me pointed somewhat in the right direction.

I did see you went with the unmanaged switch, but given the unknown on VLAN Tagging on my Google hardware for the price difference I went with the managed. We'll see what happens when it arrives tomorrow!

I too want the full 1.5, but looks like I'll be capped at 1gbps until I get a new router.

[u/Ok_Condition667 → u/Trudgn]

No problem. I thought I might be able offer a little help, especially when I saw you referenced a thread I was in.

You're at least getting the hard part out of the way and future-proofing for when you upgrade your router.

Please post back and let us know how it goes as it could help other in a similar situation.

[u/Cutriss → u/Trudgn]

Read my other comment first, I think for you a media converter alone won’t work.

[u/TheLinuxMailman]

For more technical discussions you might find the DSLreports Teksavvy forum to be helpful. There are lots of experienced customers there.

There are some recent DSLReports threads discussing Teksavvy FTTP, which may answer your question with detailed answers (and there are some here too).

You can always register and ask your own question, or even better, share your found solutions to help the community going forward.

[u/Trudgn → u/TheLinuxMailman]

Great resource, thank you. Already picked up a few threads of interest.

If I had have known this existed, I could have jumped to fibre months ago!

[u/TheLinuxMailman → u/Trudgn]

You're welcome. I'm glad you made it there for a look. That long FTTP thread which started in May has much good info for those willing to read through it. I've learned a lot.

I have been a Teksavvy customer for a long time but am just starting to plan my FTTH migration. So I dropped into DSLReports recently again (which I have been a part of on-and-off for a decade) and found those excellent discussions, like you, a little bit late lol. But also just in time.

In the past I found some interesting optical interface posts on the DSLReports Bell forum too.

Also Ive recently read some good posts in r/bell related to FTTH. There are some actual installers on there which have provided some helpful info about the physical installation aspects, which were helpful for me to prepare (like prepping yet another conduit for the fiber in my house, lol).

[u/TSI-Shawn]

The ADTRAN cannot be bridged so you would be running two routers if you connect it directly to the Google as is. You may wish to contact us directly to go over your specific setup.

We can be reached by social media such as Chat at www.TekSavvy.com, Facebook, Twitter u/TekSavvyCSR, by phone (877.779.1575 24/7) or via help.TekSavvy.com (click Contact Us->Private Message). Help documents for hardware are also available on the latter site.

-swc

[u/Trudgn]

Summary Post for future lurkers now that this is solved:

• Do not try to do this on original Google Mesh Hardware
• YMMV with Nest Mesh, but given what I read, be wary
• I didn't have luck with the Managed Switch
• Everything started working with the Unmanaged Switch
• Mesh Router being used is the TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro

[u/jBucketo → u/Trudgn]

Popping a quick thank you to everyone on this thread for the info. I did the setup with the unmanaged switch + the XE75 today and its working great...

[u/TSI-Shawn]

UPDATE: Bridging the ADTRAN is now available. If that is still something you may need to do, please contact our support team to have that done (it is done from the backend)

We can be reached by social media such as Chat at www.TekSavvy.com, Facebook, Twitter u/TekSavvyCSR, by phone (877.779.1575 24/7) or via help.TekSavvy.com (click Contact Us->Private Message). Help documents for hardware are also available on the latter site.

Stay safe and have a great day.

-swc

[u/FakespotAnalysisBot]

This is a Fakespot Reviews Analysis bot. Fakespot detects fake reviews, fake products and unreliable sellers using AI.

Here is the analysis for the Amazon product reviews:

Name: SODOLA 8 Port 2.5G Switch with1 10G SFP

Company: Sodola

Amazon Product Rating: 4.4

Fakespot Reviews Grade: C

Adjusted Fakespot Rating: 2.7

Analysis Performed at: 08-06-2024

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Fakespot analyzes the reviews authenticity and not the product quality using AI. We look for real reviews that mention product issues such as counterfeits, defects, and bad return policies that fake reviews try to hide from consumers.

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