How to configure wired clients?

Each Plasma Cloud Access Point comes with two Ethernet ports supporting 1x Internet uplink and/or up to 2x wired clients. All Ethernet interfaces support both uplink and wired client connection. For example in the PA1200 Access Point shown below, both Ethernet 1 & 2 can be configured as either uplink or wired client port.

Access Points can automatically detect how a port is being used and dynamically assign the correct role:

• Uplink port - refers to a port connected via cable to a device granting Internet access;
• Wired client port - refers to a port connected via cable to a device not providing Internet access, such as a printer, desktop, etc. Alternatively, an Ethernet Switch could be plugged in connecting multiple devices.

Once a wired client has been detected in a port, more specific settings can be configured to decide how to handle them. 

Wired Client Configuration

There are three different configuration modes for wired clients in the Plasma Cloud console. You can choose between Routing, Bridge, and Merge with SSID depending on your use case.

To configure a wired client, you need to:

1. Log into the Plasma Cloud console;
2. Select the Organization and Network your wired clients belong to from the top right menu;
3. Navigate to Settings > Network in the main menu on the left;
4. Click on the Mode drop-down menu in the Wired clients configuration section to select a mode.

What does each mode mean?

Routing

Routing is the default mode, providing a "plug and play" experience without requiring additional network equipment (such as DHCP servers). Wired clients are granted access to the Internet uplink as well as to all the other wired clients in your LAN. This mode is particularly useful for network admins to easily access a network to perform tests, or for PCs requiring a wired connection to get Internet access. 

Bridge

Bridged wired clients receive their IP address from the upstream DHCP server inside the LAN. Bridge mode allows you to apply VLAN tags, connect to the LAN to access printers, file servers, surveillance cameras etc. or access services relying on auto-discovery.

To learn more on Routing and Bridge mode, please refer to this article.

Merge wired clients with SSID

In this mode, wired clients adopt the same configuration as the selected SSID. Any settings present in the selected SSID such as captive portal, VLAN tag, etc. will apply to wired clients as well. 

This mode connects wired and wireless clients. For example, if the wired client is a printer, you can allow WiFi clients to access this printer by choosing this mode.

Bridge wired clients to VLAN

Bridging wired clients to a VLAN assigns VLAN tags to all traffic belonging to these clients. By attaching VLAN tags to data packets coming from a specified origin, one can distinguish between these data packets and other network traffic.

To bridge wired clients to a VLAN, you need to:

1. Log into the Plasma Cloud console;
2. Select the Organisation and Network of interest from top right menu;
3. Navigate to Settings > Network in the main menu on the left;
4. Find the Wired client configuration section and select Bridge mode from the drop-down menu;
5. Set VLAN tagging to Enabled;
6. Select the relevant VLAN in the drop-down menu, or create a new VLAN using the '+' button;  

7. Click the Save button to apply the changes.