Lennar Home Network Configuration with 1 ICX 7150 and 2 R320 APs

[JBF]

My two-year-old Lennar home came with a CenturyLink Modem/Router, one Ruckus ICX7150-C12 and two R320 APs. I've had numerous network issues, from intermittent internet drops (of device connectivity) to low perimeter WiFi signal strength issues, where some devices have poor internet connectivity and drop without warning. My ISP is CenturyLink, via a fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable feeds into a Calix C844G Modem/Router. I then have the ethernet cable from the modem feed the ICX 7150 C12 Switch (not sure as to which port I should be connecting this cable to on the ICX7150-C12). Then, from the switch, I have several outbound ethernet cables, two of which are feeding the R320 APs. I wish Lennar and Ruckus would have generated better documentation for the home buyers to set this system up, both in terms of hardware/cabling configuration, as well as software option selection and configuration. Since the Calix C844G is an inseparable router/modem combo, I think it should be configured normally (typical). However, it appears that one of the Ruckus R320 APs must also be set up as a router. That makes a two-router system. I do not know how to configure the hardware, let alone the software of the system (which is made more difficult with a two-router system). I've asked several of my neighbors that are in the similar position, that I find myself, and many of them have already replaced the Ruckus hardware with other equipment such as Eero router/mesh system. In addition, several of them just continue to use their system is a sub-par condition for now. I have not talked to any neighbor that's fully understood the system and made it work, let alone work well. I'd like to think that the system described above was designed by Lennar and Ruckus to provide years of fast and smooth internet service. I haven't given up yet, trying to understand the system and configuring it to work as designed, but I'm close to it. I'm knowledgeable enough to know I need assistance. Could someone from Ruckus and/or Lennar, please help?

[Jayavidhya]

Hi @JBF 

Greetings of the day,

Thanks for your detailed description,

Here I share few guides to understand the basic setup of Lennar home users.

https://community.ruckuswireless.com/t5/RUCKUS-Support-for-Lennar-Homes/Most-common-Setups-for-Lenna...

Ruckus at Home: Introduction(Tutorial video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFD_ByQWGH0

RUCKUS UNLEASHED SETUP IN 5 MINUTES (tutorial video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8I5aVwMNMg

Admin usernames and passwords for the Ruckus Wi-Fi Access Points/Switch for Lennar home users

https://community.ruckuswireless.com/t5/RUCKUS-Support-for-Lennar-Homes/Admin-usernames-and-password...

Ruckus Unleashed Set-up using your Mobile

https://community.ruckuswireless.com/t5/RUCKUS-Support-for-Lennar-Homes/Ruckus-Unleashed-Set-up-usin...

As your internet is dropping intermittently please follow the below steps to understand the issue.

Please confirm if the issue is happening while it is connected to access points or when it is connected to ISP router. 

Please follow out the next steps.

1. Connect the computer to the ISP router with the ethernet cable. Run the speed test, and confirm if your speed is stable and search for websites,  make sure you have no issues.

2. You can perform the same step on wireless by connecting the computer to the Wi-Fi / SSID coming from the ISP router. (Note: Not the Wi-Fi coming from the access points.

3. If you have confirmed that internet issue is stable while you are connecting to the ISP router, but the issue persists while you are connecting to the access points or the switch, it looks like your switch may be booting from the secondary partition which is causing bad connectivity issues. This could happen after multiple power outages, please follow up the next guide.

How to Fix Routing code issues on Lennar Home users via Web GUI.

https://community.ruckuswireless.com/t5/RUCKUS-Support-for-Lennar-Homes/How-to-Fix-Routing-code-issu...

 How to Fix Routing code issues on Lennar Home users via CLI

Guide#1 for CLI: 

https://community.ruckuswireless.com/t5/RUCKUS-Support-for-Lennar-Homes/How-to-Fix-Routing-code-issu...

Guide#2 for CLI: 

https://community.ruckuswireless.com/t5/RUCKUS-Support-for-Lennar-Homes/How-to-solve-the-routing-cod...

Note:  if you have access to the Unleashed Dashboard and the Switch can be seen from there, it may look like the following image, ICX7150-C12-Router instead of ICX7150-C12-Switch, now before starting the steps of the guide, I will advise you to cable the computer directly to the Switch, since you will have a better connectivity than if you connect via wireless. 

Best regards,

Jayavidhya

Lennar Home Community

[JBF]

Thank you for your prompt responding to my Ruckus Post Community Post.

The information you sent (above) is all useful and helpful, however I still have questions.

Question 1 (Upstream Router Configuration)

The information states that I must have a modem and router upstream of the Ruckus equipment.

I have a fiber optic, Calix C844G Modem Router combo upstream of the Ruckus equipment.

The question I have regarding this router is how should this upstream router be configured?

Should it be controlling NAT and IP addresses?

What IP Address should be assigned to this upstream router?

Current IP Address is 192.168.0.1

Question 2 (Ruckus Router Configuration)

After I get the upstream router configured, is there a specific sequence to add the Ruckus Components (Router/APs & Switch)?

Should I add them all at the same time? Or one unit at a time?

Incidentally, my two R320s have been previously set up and are at least partially functional.

Do I need to reset the Ruckus equipment and start over, or can I review the current configurations and modify as needed?

What IP Address should be assigned to the Ruckus AP Router (Master AP)?

Current IP Address is 192.168.0.19

Question 3 (Connection from Upstream Router to Ruckus ICX7150-C12)

The documentation says to connect the Modem/Router output to the Ruckus ICX7150-C12 Switch in any one of the twelve PoE ports. My system doesn’t appear to like that hardware configuration. It works better, but not entirely smoothly, when I connect the Modem/Router output into the C1 input of the Ruckus ICX7150-C12. I must be doing something wrong here. Help?

Question 4 (Admin Access to All of my Ruckus Components)

Am I supposed to be able access my Ruckus ICX7150-C12 and My Ruckus R320 APs admin pages (in order to review their configurations) simultaneously?

Can I access my also access my Upstream Modem/Router simultaneously too?

Question 5 (IP Address assignments for both Routers in my system)

What IP Address assignments would you suggest for my Routers (both the Upstream Router and the Ruckus Router)?

What IP Addresses would you suggest I reserve for each Router to assign to connecting devices?

Question 6 (Two Routers looking like 1 or each Router control its own network?)

 Can I hook up and configure my network(s) such that the two routers look like one router to the outside world (and more specifically they look like one network to connecting devices)?

Or do the Routers have to act independently and have different SSID’s and PWs for connecting devices on their specific network?

Question 7 (WiFi Extenders)

I have outdoor devices that need WiFi outdoors, namely my smart irrigation Controllers, my Backup Whole House Generator, my smart water leak detection and shut-off valve, and my landscape lighting. What would you recommend for making sure my outdoor devices (normally attached to the house exterior) get reliable WiFi.

As you can see, my questions are primarily focused on how to configure both of the routers in my home network, knowing I have a two-router network. I’m looking forward to seeing your answers and recommendations. Thank you in advance

[Jayavidhya]

Hi @JBF 

Thanks for your detailed description. 

For your information all type of router configurations are done default by ISP. Also the senior executives will help customers for configurations.

If you have any doubts in RUCKUS setup please follow the below guides.

https://community.ruckuswireless.com/t5/RUCKUS-Support-for-Lennar-Homes/Most-common-Setups-for-Lenna...

Ruckus at Home: Introduction(Tutorial video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFD_ByQWGH0

RUCKUS UNLEASHED SETUP IN 5 MINUTES (tutorial video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8I5aVwMNMg

Best regards,

Jayavidhya

Lennar Home Community