O Canada! > Canadian > Telus > Optik setup VLAN & IGMP Snooping ?

Optik setup VLAN & IGMP Snooping ?

The short answer is you don't need vlans.

IGMP snooping will prevent multicast traffic from flooding to all ports.

I currently use my own gear behind an ALU and can tell you that PVR/STB functionality is fine with no vlans.

I also have an RT-N56U but I use it in AP mode and can't comment on the IGMP snooping functionality. FYI a new firmware was released a few days ago (1.0.1.8b).

Good Luck!

reply to StarBuck
I chose seperate VLANs because 1: it was easier to set up, and 2: I don't like having anything on my LAN thats not completely under my control.

My suggestion would be to buy a router that has IGMP snooping, but also can run DD-WRT in case it dosen't perform as expected.

Thanks for the replies.

I do have a few more questions.

As I have a multi port modem, I can plug both STB's directly into it ( well one is through a HPNA adapter) and have the system bypass any routers. I've read that this is undesireable as it would break PVR functions and we don't want the STB's "naked" on the internet.

Well I've done this and PVR functions work just fine and as the STB's are issued 10.149.xxx.xxx IP's ( private class A addresses) they are hardly "naked" on the Interweb.
Doing so has produced the best results so far. Channel changing is instant ( as opposed to the slow changes I found with the Actiontec ( especially on the HPNA bridged STB ... probably becuase the Actionetc does the HPNA bridging in software , not hardware)

I've also gone the routed route ( par done the pun) using the RT-N56U's IGMP snooping ( enable multicast routing) .
Both stb's are issued Private Class C addresses from the router pool ( 192.168.xxx.xxx)

Change changes are dam near instant with a slight delay in audio vs video, but for all intents and purposes it's instant.

I've not created VLANs as the RT-N56U doesn't support it in the GUI so I'd have to do it manually ( it's running busybox, so it shouldn't be that difficult )

My question is this : does it really make any difference whether the stb's are connected directly to Telus ( private class A) or through my router (private class C). I suppose through the router provides NAT and SPI protection , but as they have private IP's does it really matter ? It's as if they are on a C-VLAN already, in that Telus are issuing private IP s for the STB's and public IP's for everything else. ??
I'd almost lean towards directly connecting to Telus ( 10.149.xxx.xxx) as that would remove the STB's from direct contact with my home network. (Running them through the router would put them behind my firewall ,directly in my LAN.) If someone wants to hack the STB's through a private IP, then go ahead, it's only TV.

Who's issuing the 10.149.xxx.xxx IPs ? The DSLAM ? is it further up the food chain ? Is Telus creating a small LAN for all traffic between me and the DSLAM ? By that I mean would my STB IP's be in use on another DSLAM in another neighborhood ? How big is the network that the directly connected STB's are on ?

Just wondering ?

You won't be able to access the TELUS Optik Apps like facebook with an 10.x IP.

Hi Symtex,

Ah I see, you need an externally routable IP address to access web based apps ?
I was wondering about that as I've read that new firmware is coming for the Actiontec's that will allow bridging mode. I suppose that won't be a true bridge, as wouldn't that break the STB's web apps by exposing the stb to directly to Telus thus getting a 10.xxx IP ?
Is Telus planning on removing the ability to directly connect ?
ie sooner or later we will be forced to connect through the public IP ?

Thanks