The Six-Year Setup
Two years have passed again, and it’s time to re-contract our broadband service. I’ve been using Singtel’s gamer plan for the last 6 years, mainly because it provides at least two separate active ports from the fiber optic modem with one in bridge mode. I needed the bridge mode feature to allow easier access to my home network externally. Also, this plan provides a higher-end ASUS router that I use to expand my AIMesh network.
My Previous Network Configuration
Before re-contracting, I was on a 1+1 Gbps plan which was more than enough for our needs. The non-bridged port was allocated for the IOT devices like IP cameras and as a backup network which still utilized the old Airties mesh routers. These little devices are very reliable and can be had for as low as $10 a pair at Carousell. I have a couple of them that extend WIFI 5 coverage up to the corner end rooms.
AIMesh Network Setup
The bridged port is used for my main router that utilizes the WIFI 6 RT-AX86U with another unit in the Blue Room (Jacob’s Room) acting as an AIMesh node. I still have my old RT-AC88U’s as part of the AIMesh network, one at the music room and another in the Green Room (Master Bedroom). Just recently, the AC88u in the music room went bonkers, and I tried to repair it to no avail. So my AI server in the music room was isolated in the Airties network for quite some time after losing the AIMesh node there.
Upgrading to 10Gbps
After seeing that Singtel has upgraded their gamer plan to 10Gbps with an RT-AX11000 Pro, I did not hesitate to re-contract immediately. As usual, I just asked the Singtel technician to replace the ONR and leave the router for me to install. He came last Tuesday just before lunch while I was still at the office. I hurried home, but when I arrived, the installation was already finished, and my existing network was working without any issues.
The Bridge Mode Surprise
I assumed that my main router was still in bridge mode until I could no longer access my Jetson Orin Nano via OpenVPN. That was when I discovered that Singtel no longer provides bridged ports. I also tried to access the ONR using the tech support account, hoping to be able to change the settings myself, but I was no longer able to login. I can still login as the default admin user but don’t have the privileges to make any changes to the settings.
Discovering Tailscale
At least I can see that port 1 is set to the max 10 Gbps and another 3 ports are also activated at max 1 Gbps each. Without a bridged port, I had to find alternative ways to gain access to my servers at home, and then I discovered Tailscale. Installation was so straightforward that I had it up and running in no time.
New Possibilities
It was a blessing in disguise that I was introduced to this alternative approach and find it to be very convenient and easy to use. Now I’m starting to think of other ways to take advantage of this as well as my ultra-fast internet connection at home. Of course, one immediate use that I have for it is being able to access my open-webui server that is running my local LLMs.
The Silver Lining
Sometimes technological limitations push us to discover better solutions. While I initially felt frustrated about losing the bridge mode capability, Tailscale has opened up new possibilities that might prove even more flexible in the long run. The shift from traditional VPN setups to modern mesh network solutions mirrors the broader evolution happening in networking technology.
Future Implications
As our home networks become increasingly complex – hosting everything from smart home devices to AI servers – finding elegant solutions for remote access becomes crucial. For those in similar situations, exploring mesh VPN options like Tailscale might be worth considering, especially if you’re managing multiple devices across different network segments.
I’m curious to see how this new network configuration will perform over time, particularly with the massive bandwidth upgrade to 10Gbps. There’s something satisfying about building and evolving a home network that perfectly suits your needs, even when the journey takes unexpected turns.
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