Dear all great and powerful gurus,

We are trying to improve network efficiency and are running into some issues I hope you can provide answers for. We currently have a network link that extends via multiple hops. The issue is that the nodes are connecting via RF on Airgrids so one airgrid is talking to another off the backside to continue the hop. 

It was my understanding the 3.0.0 firmware supports connecting through the Ethernet ports using a basic switch and not requiring a managed switch to extend the network. Doing this the DHCP servers seem to fight each other with the computer running into this switch as well.

How does one configure this setup? So for instance in my office I have one AirGrid M2 pointing towards Denton and another one pointing towards Highland Village. Currently it appears that even though connected to a switch they are talking off the backside of the beams to connect.

What settings need to be made and where? Some step by step instructions that are repeatable would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

If they are going to be on an unmanaged switch the best way is to disable the dhcp server on all but one node so it is the only server to issue dhcp leases, otherwise the node that will issue dhcp address is determined by which node comes online first. This doesn't break anything just that any local clients could jump from node to node.

You will still see that the nodes have an rf connection because they hear each other but they will choose to use the ethernet cable whenever possible as it's a more cost efficient (.1 vs 1.0 minimal).

Grid antennas may not have the best front to back ratio as they have a lot of space where signal can "leak"  so you will see that a bit .. Any physicical isolation with metal between may help clean up some co-interference or jumping channels between nodes.   That's just advantages to make the final links better it's not required for functional necessarily.

No additional changes should be needed for Ubiquiti nodes.

DTDLink is always active on Ubiquiti devices when in mesh mode.

You should see them show up as dtdlink.nodename.local.mesh and a cost of .1 if it's connected via dtdlink.