MLO Fronthaul with RT-BE92U in AIMesh

[WRK]

I recently purchased multiple Asus RT-BE92U routers, which I'm using in AIMesh configuration. Running firmware version 3.0.0.6.102_37504.

My main network is configured without MLO for compatibility reasons due to older devices. There is an option "MLO Fronthaul for Clients" in the main network. This is disabled for compatibility reasons.

Guest network is configured with MLO enabled and used by compatible devices, like iPhone 16 Pro. Guest MLO network does not show the option "MLO Fronthaul for Clients". Why is this option not visible in the MLO guest network, like it is in the main network? How do I know MLO fronthaul is enabled for the guest MLO network?

All backhaul is 2.5 GbE between routers and local speed test + iperf server. Local speed test results from the iPhone 16 Pro are the same (around 1240 mbps download) on the main network (no MLO) and on the guest network (with MLO). So I'm not seeing any benefit from using the MLO-enabled guest network with the iPhone 16 Pro.

To get the MLO benefit on iPhone 16 Pro, do I need to use the main network with "MLO Fronthaul for Clients" enabled instead of the MLO guest network, which does not show the MLO fronthaul option?

I would prefer to keep MLO on a dedicated guest network and leave the main network without MLO for compatibility reasons. Then I would need to know how to confirm that "MLO Fronthaul for Clients" is enabled on the MLO guest network.

[jzchen]

It may help to create the main network as MLO.  But because the main network can use both fronthaul AND backhaul that is why the option for fronthaul exists.  The guest network would have no reason to use any form of backhaul, so it's all fronthaul, but doesn't sound like it is working properly.

The main network is designed to be the MLO network.  The guest network has been "renamed" Legacy/IoT network.  So the simplest way would be to set up the main network as SSID_MLO (whatever you choose "_MLO" added to clarify type).  Then set up the Legacy/IoT network as your original main SSID.

Under General -> AiMesh -> System Settings (tab) -> Ethernet Backhaul Mode (toggle ON).  I suggest this to increase available bandwidth.  (In the past sometimes nodes got lost in this mode)...

[WRK]

Thanks for the reply. I have the following networks configured:

a) Main Network: WiFi 7 without MLO, with Intranet access (listed under MAIN NETWORK)
b) Default IoT Network: WiFi 6 for IoT, with Intranet access (listed under GUEST NETWORK)
c) Multi-Link Operation (MLO): WiFi 7 with MLO, with Intranet access (listed under GUEST NETWORK)
d) Guest Network: WiFi 6 for visitors, without Intranet access (listed under GUEST NETWORK)

How would you recommend one sets up those four networks, which main, which guest?

Also can you help me understand why you say "The guest network would have no reason to use any form of backhaul"? The guest networks should be available across all AIMesh nodes to cover the entire house. If there is no backhaul, how would the AIMesh nodes communicate with the main router?

[jzchen]

I believe if MLO is enabled AiMesh uses it for backhaul among the routers.  If you had no Guest networks the routers still Mesh.  Fronthaul option is available there.  Guest networks are for devices as backhaul is done on the main network side.  If you delete all the guest networks there is still backhaul...

Since a) and c) are both WiFi 7, do you need the a) SSID in the first place?  I would honestly just have c).  Then for the IoTs with intranet access make that a Main, and leave the guest network in the guest category.

[WRK]

OK so we agree that "The guest network would have no reason to use any form of backhaul" is incorrect. Backhaul is how the routers communicate with each other. Fronthaul is how the clients communicate with the routers. I have a 2.5 GbE wired network for the backhaul as mentioned. So I don't use wireless backhaul anyway.

This takes us back to my original query:
There is an option "MLO Fronthaul for Clients" in the main network (a). Guest MLO network (c) does not show the option "MLO Fronthaul for Clients". Why is this option not visible in the MLO guest network (c), like it is in the main network (a)? How do I know MLO fronthaul is enabled for the guest MLO network (c)?

Regarding the SSIDs: "Since a) and c) are both WiFi 7, do you need the a) SSID in the first place?"
Yes I need (a) which is WiFi 7 without MLO, since some older clients have trouble with MLO. Then I have (c) for newer clients that I know support MLO. Also I didn't place any of the guest networks under the GUEST NETWORK section, that's where Asus placed those networks when prompting me to create the IOT one and also when I added an MLO network from the MLO section in the GUI. They automatically landed under guest, not main. Main is the one I created first, where I specifically don't want MLO for compatility, network (a).

Looping back then to the original post, using an iPhone 16 Pro, which supports MLO, I get the same throughput on the two WiFi 7 networks (a) without MLO and (c) with MLO. The question is why am I not seeing better throughput on the MLO network (c)? That's what made me ask about the MLO fronthaul setting, which is not visible in network (c).