Network Layout Help --> One subnet, two dhcp, one wifi bridge?

Networking & Firewalls
1

Ok, so I’m in the process of changing up my network gear and trying to optimize things a little better.

Edge (pfSense 192.168.1.1, dhcp 192.168.10-100) → wifi bridge to wifi bridge —> L3 switch (192.168.1.101, dhcp 192.168.1.102-200).

Either side of the wifi bridge is physically in a different location about .5 miles apart.

Is this possible? I have something similar now, but there is a different subnet on each side of the bridge and another “pfsense” router/gateway there as well.

The reason I want to do this is so that if the wifi bridge goes down the side with the L3 swtich will still function LAN wise even without internet or the edge router. Same thing with the edge router side. I want their lans to function without one another, however I would like to put APs on both sides that can be managed from the same “pane” hence the same subnet on both.

I also DO NOT want lan traffic visiting the other side of the “wifi bridge” if it is not necessary since that link does not have a lot of bandwidth. In other words, I don’t want to make unnecessary round trips.

I was thinking as long as the APs on each respective side point to the DCHP server on that particular side then that aspect should work, but I’m not sure how I should define the actual gateway to get to the internet on the L3 switch so that clients can visit the edge for internet but won’t go there for dhcp or LAN connections on the same side as the L3 switch.

2

This is not a good idea, it is best to do subnets. You can manage many AP’s such as UniFi in a single view even if they are on a different subnet.

3

Thank you very much for your reply. I know these types of things are tough to provide advice for based on complexity and so many variables. I did attach a couple drawings of the current network physical configuration and the “proposed” version.

I suppose, at this point, am I going about this setup in the proper way?

IMG_20210802_050110
IMG_20210802_0501101920×1440 147 KB

4

I could only add one photo to a post.

IMG_20210802_045603
IMG_20210802_0456031920×2560 218 KB

The issue I have with this setup is I run into issues with things that want UPnP or seeing things that have to be on the same subnet from both sides of the bridge.

I apologize about the photos being sideways etc… I have no idea why they uploaded like that as they were both landscape on my phone and the correct orientation.

I want to mention that it is important that either side of the bridge’s LAN stay completely functional if the bridge is down (power outages etc…).

The bridge is about 0.5 miles.

5

bump to revive the thread