166

Feature Request: support more than one non-guest SSID

With more IoT devices in the home, security is becoming a huge concern with the attacks that are possible. 

 I'd like to see eero support more than one non guest SSID so I can isolate my IOT devices away from other sensitive devices like laptops and servers. 

I could use the guest SSID that's currently available but I want to not have guest devices be able to interact with those devices  

One way is to just add another SSID option, in addition to the one that's possible already. However I'd love to see eero adopt Google wifi's approach which seems to be really unique. 

Google allows a second SSID (call is SSID2), but all devices on it can be access from SSID1 (but not the other way around). This is crucial to not break scenarios where these IoT devices need you to have access to them but don't want to have hassle of switching wifi networks. 

105 replies

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    • ebonovic
    • 5 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    The ask is to have at least 1 if not more then one, additional "non-guest" SSID.      You are correct, devices on Guest are isolated.   So it really is only good for guests, to give them some internet access.

    The need for this is seriously growing here in my house....  since my original post.... I have added almost 40 more IOT devices to my house, and now with wired-smart switches supporting 3-way light switching... I am posed to replace 100% of my homes light switches with smart-switches (which will be about another 15-20).         When done, I will be north of 150 IPs used in my home, on a regular basis. Not even including tablets, laptops, phones that are not on all the time.      

    Conservative guess... I want to move 75 of them to a separate SSID, and subnet... but I don't want to spend another $800 on another wifi mesh network to support that (basically having two hubs everywhere, because I have the devices all over the house).

    I am even okay, if I have to purchase an adapter or something to add to my eero V1, to give me the two subnets connections or SSIDs...   I just don't want to replace, the eero which is working fantastic.

    But if a solution doesn't arrive by early next year, I am going to have to look at going with some of the other competing mesh networks, and recoup my loss on the eero hardware.      

      • uury
      • 5 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      A great example of this need is a Rachio sprinkler controller. It requires the configuring device to be on the same WLAN as the Rachio controller itself. Thus, it's impossible to configure it to reside on the guest WLAN which only has internet connectivity. Creating multiple non-guest WLANs allows this style of configuration but preserves IoT vs. non-IoT through network segmentation.

      • tibble
      • 5 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      uury  a more advanced solution to that would be the ability to specify certain guest devices that can talk to each other.  Basically a single SSID for guest(so to not waste airtime) but different subnets for the different groupings. 

      Create group-> Which Devices-> allow communication with each other yes/no

      • ebonovic
      • 5 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      tibble Yah, but I think that is really getting advanced for home users, the targeted audiences for these particular mesh networks.    I think TWO SSIDs and a GUEST one, is about as far as it should go.    

      Getting it some serious advanced routing and permission on there, could cause issues as updates and advancements come down the pipe.....    Ubiquit and CISCO based items I believe can do that today, but you are paying an even higher penny on those.

      • tibble
      • 5 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      ebonovic the fewer SSIDs the better in my opinion.  Once WPA3 is out with even better forward secrecy key agreement I think a single SSID would be the best bet.  I have very very few things that need to communicate with each other, most are internet only

      • ebonovic
      • 5 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

       tibble   In that context, how are you going to address large numbers of necessary IP addresses.
      Right now, I have gone past 125 in the home network.     When I complete changing all the switches over in the home, I will be well over 150.      I am getting close to the limits of IPv4, and we all know IPv6 isn't really ready yet for in-home usage yet, most of the devices will need to be swapped out....

      Goal isn't just having two SSID's, but to allow that 2nd SSID to be on a separate subnet.

      But if we can't get that, having a separate SSID for home automation devices, where I can have a crazy complicated and secure password for it, works...  because I wouldn't really ever have to share it with anyone... just myself.  thus not the horrible experience of having to re-add them (took me days when I added my eero)     

      In my home, anything that can be hard-wired is.   But more and more IOT devices (Even those that are not mobile) are going WiFi only

      • tibble
      • 5 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      ebonovic IPv4 can handle plenty of addresses.  The 10.0.0.0/8 network has over 16 million ips.  Beyond that, you can have seperate subnets but the same SSID.  The group feature could have a different addressing scheme for each group.  Again, fairly complicated to implement but would be sweeeeeeeet.  

    • essential
    • 5 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    tibble Many of us are just looking for a more secure way to have many IoT devices.  However Eero chooses to implement this idea securely we'd be fine with, whether it be more SSIDs, or a designation of a device in the app that applies special rules to it, or if it handles it like the OP mentioned Google WiFi does, with a second SSID that can be accessed from the main SSID but not vice versa.

    This is not something that would be forced upon any user so I don't understand the opposition.

    I gave an example before, but many smart devices, which still function well but are no longer actively supported by their developers, end up with unpatched security issues as new exploits are discovered.  These devices shouldn't be on your main network to keep your computers safe, but they still function so they don't need to be replaced (and many times I'm sure people aren't even aware of what devices could pose a security risk).  Sure, some of those devices can function well on a Guest network if all they require is Internet access to function, but if they require/include interaction with an app, sometimes the app and device need to be on the same network.

    We're just looking for some sort of solution to that scenario, however Eero would like to do it.

      • tibble
      • 5 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      essential No strong opposition, just trying to find the most elegant solution.  SSIDs take up a significant amount of airtime.  Thankfully i'm in a house with few neighbors, but for apartment buildings,etc, it's always nice to be a good citizen.

    • Vertigo_17
    • 5 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    +1 

    Additional SSID beyond Guest Network would be great to support Home/Guest/IoT Network devices

    • pchaves
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    +1 

    I was hoping this would have been added by now but with how long this has been requested I'm starting to wonder if I need to find another solution to get this capability. 

      • Emily
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      pchaves oh 😢 

      I just joined eero. Is this how the support has been? 24months if backlog “under consideration” features?

      • tibble
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Emily yes. They make sure features are fully baked before releasing. They have a very good beta test process and tend to be good about keeping things under wraps so people don’t rush them to release too early. 

    • Raphael
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    This would be amazing!

    And bypass the need for this feature: https://community.eero.com/t/y7g40n/allow-airplay-apple-tv-chromecast-control-on-guest-networks

     

    Eero, has there been any talks to implement this? What is an estimated implementation time?

    • dauber
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I agree with everything that everyone wrote here. This feature is by far my #1 request for eero. Even if it's just a single SSID (though I'd love to have multiple for IOT reasons).

    thanks!

    • SonosBeamOne
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Yes please!

     

    this would be fantastic. I would literally not leave my clients the choice of router anymore and just install Eeros in all houses 

    • Mike5261
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Oh my goodness! Please Support this! This would be so useful!

    • googlehome_or_eero
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    What's the maximum number of SSIDs on an Eero mesh?

    I'm really hoping to get 2 main SSID & maybe a guest SSID. I want my guests be able to control the TVs with the Samsung app. 

    With my current router (netgear) it works great on the main Wifi network, but I don't know why, on the guest network nothing ever works: the samsung iPhone app never finds the TV.
    Debating getting the Eero or the Google Wifi

      • Emily
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      googlehome_or_eero 2 main and 1 guest would be the perfect setup for me as well

    • gones
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Any update on this feature request?  I have multiple IoT devices that I would like to move off my primary network.

    • wmeredith
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I would also like to see an update on this. I am currently running an "IoT" family group on my main network with Eero+ turned on. Between switches, bulbs, sensors, and cameras, I have 38 devices on it and that is only going to grow. I'd love for this to have a built in solution.

    • Emily
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Can we please make this happen?

    • Twenty12
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    After buying this and not being able to do this thinking about returning. This is a fundamental requirement for any quality system. 

    • tiplodi
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I recently purchased eero on Prime Day and after looking it them bit closer I am very disappointed that this must have option is not available. I will most likely be returning them unless this feature is added shortly. This is a must have with today's environment. 

      • txgunlover
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      tiplodi It's probably not coming anytime soon.  I could be wrong, but doubtful.

    • Kowlick
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I’ve been putting all my IOT/smart devices and iPads and mobile devices on the guest network, not knowing that the guest network does isolation of each device. All the IOT devices still work presumably because I’m doing a round trip to external servers. IOT devices that work are thermostats, air filters, cameras, robotic vacuums, air sensors, doorbells, etc. Recently I’ve tried setting up wireless speakers on the guest network, but they don’t work (KEF LSX and Sonos) unless set up on the main network. The solution offered by Google WiFi sounds perfect, a second SSID that the main SSID can access. But even a totally separate second SSID would work for me. Are there any updates on this?

Content aside

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