The following information is for users who have seen the various bridging threads and/or the FAQs about using their own router and wondered which of these various configurations they should choose. References to the Actiontec router apply to all models of the Actiontec and to the Westell 9100EM, unless specified otherwise.
• Options 1 through 3 leave the Actiontec as primary router and the added (user) router as secondary.
• Options 4 through 7 replace the Actiontec with a different primary router. The Actiontec becomes secondary.
• Option 8 sets the user router as primary, and replaces the Actiontec with a NIM-100 for coax LAN data.
Summary:
| Feature \ Option | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|
| Cat5 to ONT | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y
| | Coax to ONT | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N
| | VZ support for configuration | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N
| | Double NAT'ed | Y | Y | N | N | N | *1 | N | N
| | Small NAT table issue (Actiontec Rev. A-D only) | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N
| | FiOS-TV (VOD and Guide) supported | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y
| | MediaShare software supported | *2 | *2 | Y | na | Y | N | Y | Y
| | Remote access to MR-DVR | Y | Y | Y | na | *3 | *3 | *3 | *3
| | Usable with Actiontec Rev. A-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| | Usable with Actiontec Rev. E (GEN2) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| | Usable with Westell 9100EM | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
Notes:
• 1. STBs are double NAT'ed, but not an issue.
• 2. Only for PC's connected directly to the Actiontec.
• 3. An issue currently exists with remote (web) access to the MR-DVR. See this thread for details: »FIOS TV Central website access with Non AT Router?
This FAQ was edited to add option 3. Posts dated 12/28/08 or earlier making references to options 3 through 7 are now referring to options 4 through 8.
Options 1 and 2 can be used with either a coax or cat5 connection to the ONT.
1. Secondary
Simply plug the secondary (user) router into a LAN port on the Actiontec. User router must be configured for a different subnet than the Actiontec. The WAN port on the user router must also be set to use either a static IP address on the Actiontec subnet, or obtain its WAN address via DHCP.
PRO:
• Simplest. VZ recommended solution.
• No configuration changes required in the Actiontec.
• Supported by VZ. i.e. No changes to Actiontec config needed when calling for support.
• No cabling changes.
• Can be used with either a coax or cat5 connection to the ONT.
CON:
• Secondary (user) router is double NAT'ed.
• No VZ support for secondary (user) router.
• Still subject to small NAT table in the Actiontec.
• Any port forwarding will need to be configured on both routers.
2. DMZ
Similar to #1, with secondary router as a DMZ address in the Actiontec. User router must be configured for a different subnet than the Actiontec. The WAN port on the user router must also be set to use either a static IP address on the Actiontec subnet, or obtain its WAN address via DHCP.
PRO:
• Simple config change to create DMZ address for secondary (user) router.
• Eliminates need to configure port forwarding in both routers. Port Forwards are configured in secondary (user) router only.
• No cabling changes.
• Can be used with either a coax or cat5 connection to the ONT.
CON:
• Secondary (user) router is double NAT'ed.
• Still subject to small NAT table in the Actiontec.
Note: One member reports success with a secondary router in the DMZ of the Actiontec, while others report an improvement but not problem resolution. See this thread for more details. »Steam on a router in the Actiontec DMZ
Options 3, 4 and 5 are for users with an existing coax WAN connection between the Actiontec and the ONT.
3. LAN-to-LAN
LAN-to-LAN connection between Actiontec and user router. User router becomes a switch. WAN connection and firewall not used in user router. LAN DHCP server should be disabled in the user router. Instructions are detailed in this FAQ: »Verizon Online FiOS FAQ »Can I use my wireless or an extra router along with the Verizon provided router?
PRO:
• Easy.
• Avoids double-NATing. Port Forwards are configured in the Actiontec only.
• Good choice, if all you need is to connect your 802.11n router as a Wireless Access Point (WAP).
• VZ support for Actiontec.
CON:
• Still subject to small NAT table in the Actiontec. Does not apply to the Westell's larger NAT table.
4. Internet Bridge
Bridging the Actiontec passes all WAN traffic through, making the user's router primary. Follow the bridging thread here: »How-to: make ActionTec MI424-WR a network bridge
PRO:
• Bypasses the small NAT table in the Actiontec. NAT limited by primary router, not Actiontec.
• No cabling changes.
CON:
• Moderate difficulty to setup.
• Not supported by VZ. May require a HARD reset of the Actiontec to restore to factory defaults for support.
• Internet only. No VOD or guide data for STBs.
• Switch ports on Actiontec not available as LAN ports.
5. Double Bridge
Bridging the Actiontec (does not apply to the Westell. See #5W) passes all WAN traffic through, making the user's router primary. Another internal bridge passes data from the user's primary router to the coax LAN for STB data. Follow the VOD bridging (applies to Rev. A-D) thread here: »Make your actiontec a bridge with VOD working with REV D
For the Actiontec (GEN2) Rev. E, instructions are here: »Re: MI424WR-GEN2 Rev E Configuration Thread
PRO:
• Bypasses the small NAT table in the Actiontec. NAT limited by primary router, not Actiontec.
• VOD and guide data supported.
• No cabling changes.
CON:
• Moderate difficulty to setup.
• Unsupported by VZ. May require a HARD reset of the Actiontec to restore to factory defaults.
• Not all configuration information saved to config file. Some bridging information lost on a power fail.
• Switch ports on Actiontec not available as LAN ports.
5W. Two Bridge
A variation of the #5 Double Bridge approach is use two separate bridges. This is usable with the Westell, but requires a separate MOCA bridge. This is a combination of option #4 (Internet Bridge) and option #8 (MOCA LAN Bridge).For the MOCA WAN-to-ethernet WAN bridge, use the first part (1-20b) of the instructions here: »Re: MI424WR-GEN2 Rev E Configuration Thread
The above instructions were written for the Actiontec. The instructions for the Westell should be very similar with the exception that the Broadband (coax) and the Broadband (ethernet) interfaces are treated as one.
If someone takes this approach, please put the exact steps you followed, so this FAQ can be updated.
Options 6 and 7 are for users with a cat5 WAN connection to the ONT. These options replace the Actiontec with a different primary router and relegate the Actiontec to servicing only the STBs. Option 8 replaces the Actiontec with a NIM-100 to provide coax LAN data. If you currently have a coax WAN connection and want to switch to a cat5 WAN connection, instructions for switching are here: »Verizon Online FiOS FAQ »Replacing the Actiontec (part 1): Coax to Ethernet
Keep in mind that when using a third-party router, that it must be capable of supporting the high throughput of your FIOS internet connection and if you have FiOS-TV, the additional bandwidth of Video-On-Demand (VOD). Many older routers can not support these higher bandwidth requirements.
6. Primary LAN-to-WAN
Cat5 from ONT to user router. LAN port on user router to WAN port on Actiontec per FAQ here: »Verizon Online FiOS FAQ »Replacing the Actiontec (part 3): WAN-to-LAN keeps Guide and VOD (easier)
PRO:
• Easy. FSC can switch WAN connection from coax to cat5 remotely.
• NAT limited by primary router, not Actiontec.
• VOD and guide data supported.
CON:
• Configuration not supported by VZ. May have to reconnect Actiontec to ONT (via cat5) as primary router for support.
• Does not support media sharing on PCs connected to primary router.
7. Primary LAN-to-LAN
Cat5 from ONT to user router. LAN port on user router to LAN port on Actiontec per FAQ here: »Verizon Online FiOS FAQ »Replacing the Actiontec (part 4): LAN-to-LAN keeps MediaShare DVR
PRO:
• Easy. FSC can switch WAN connection from coax to cat5 remotely.
• NAT limited by primary router, not Actiontec.
• Media sharing PCs connected to primary router supported.
CON:
• Configuration not supported by VZ. May have to reconnect Actiontec to ONT (via cat5) as primary router for support.
8. Primary with MoCA Bridge
In options 6 and 7 above, a NIM-100 can be used to provide the MOCA LAN bridge instead of the Actiontec. The NIM-100 supports MOCA LAN only. It can not be used between a router and the ONT.
PRO:
• Can eliminate Actiontec completely.
• Smaller, simpler device. Less power consumption.
CON:
• No retail outlet for NIM-100. Availability on eBay can be erratic.
• Additional unit to purchase.
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last modified: 2009-11-10 20:53:04 |
