Will this network setup work as a mesh network?

[deepakvrao]

Hi Guys,

Have a 3 floor home which is completely automated. All the automation is connected to TP Link access points which are plugged into my Asus mesh system. Having a lot of issues so the automation guys suggested having a separate network dedicated to the automation.

Issue is that I have only one ethernet cable system running between terrace to second to first to ground floor and this was being used as a wired backhaul for my Asus mesh system.

Now, if I use that existing cabling to connect switches on each floor and then plug in my asus system to the switches and also add a TP Link router to the system which along with the TP link APs will also plug into the switches to result in a system as shown in the image, will

1. The Asus mesh network work as before?
2. Will I be able to keep the TP link and Asus systems completely separated with different IP addresses etc?

Total newbie to networking so really will appreciate any help here.

[Alex52]

The modem should connect directly to the main router WAN port by Ethernet cable from the Modem. You only need one switch with enough ports to connect the other router's WAN ports. The main router also needs a LAN port connected to the switch. Use the newest router with the highest specifications as the main router. It would be best if all the other routers were set up as APs using their WAN port connected to the switch.

For best connections, only use Cat 6 or better Ethernet cables such as Cat 7 or Cat 8. Be sure to use Cat 6A connectors where patch cables are used. The patch cables should also be Cat 6 or better to prevent losses. You could start with an inexpensive unmanaged switch unless you want greater throughput that 10G ports on higher end routers offer.

[deepakvrao]

The TP Link should read as a router and not a modem. The reson I have so many switches is that I have only a single cable from terrace to second floor, from second to first and from first to ground floor. Don't want to draw more lines. So, will this single 'backbone' for lack of a better word service both the TP Link and the Asus systems and let them remain independent?

My question is that if the TP link and the Asus are all connected to the central network of switches will the Asus system still work as a mesh?

And, will the IP addresses distributed by the TP link router and the Asus Router be different?

[jzchen]

I have two AiMeshes and one EasyMesh network set up on the same "ethernet lines" similar to what you show.  You want one router only.  The TP-Link models may mesh together I can't tell as you haven't shared the models.  TP-Link has 3 different mesh technologies, of which two might be compatible:  Deco mesh, OneMesh, and EasyMesh.  OneMesh and EasyMesh may be compatible.  I believe there is a commercial version called Omada Mesh....

The AiMesh should work, but the Guest/IoT Network feature may fail.

[jzchen]

You could use the TP-Link Router (Modem in diagram) extra ethernet port as a switch port.  Then use the ASUS routers extra ethernet ports as switch ports.  Connect the cable out to LAN port on the TP-Link Router  Connect the WAN/LAN or LAN port on each of the ASUS routers to the cable.  Connect all the TP-Link APs directly to the ASUS routers on the same floor.  None of the switches are really needed....