some clients can't connect to WBE660S with firmware 7.00 and MLO enabled

BenHead
BenHead Posts: 8  Freshman Member
First Comment
in Wireless

I upgraded my two WBE660S access points to firmware 7.00 when it was released, and enabled MLO. Since then, I found that certain devices could not connect to my 5GHz/6GHz SSID. Turning off MLO seems to fix the connectivity problem.

Affected devices included early Google Home devices (Home, Home Hub, and Home Mini), an Android tablet (Lenovo Yoga 13), and Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite. Other devices, supporting any of WiFi 6, 6E, or 7 were able to connect just fine.

I haven't yet tried running more than one SSID in those frequencies so I can separate traffic that supports MLO. I'm hoping not to have to increase my network complexity in that way.

Best Answers

  • George993
    George993 Posts: 18  Freshman Member
    First Comment First Answer Friend Collector Community MVP
    Answer ✓

    I experienced this as well. The issue is that when you enable MLO, WPA3 is the only supported security. It does not drop down to WPA2.

    Hope that makes sense.

    George

  • Zyxel_Judy
    Zyxel_Judy Posts: 1,579  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Nebula
    edited August 6 Answer ✓

    Hi @BenHead ,

    When an SSID enabling MLO in 6GHz, the SSID security will be converted to WPA 3-related settings as the spec.

    The AP will generate corresponding event logs to inform the user when making configuration changes.

    image.png

    Untitled Image

    Share your feedback through our survey, make your voice heard, and win a WiFi 7 AP!

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All Replies

  • George993
    George993 Posts: 18  Freshman Member
    First Comment First Answer Friend Collector Community MVP
    Answer ✓

    I experienced this as well. The issue is that when you enable MLO, WPA3 is the only supported security. It does not drop down to WPA2.

    Hope that makes sense.

    George

  • BenHead
    BenHead Posts: 8  Freshman Member
    First Comment

    Thanks, that's a good tip! Do you know if that's part of the WiFi 7 spec, or is that purely a limitation in this Zyxel firmware? I know we're kind of on the bleeding edge here, even if the spec is now ratified…

  • George993
    George993 Posts: 18  Freshman Member
    First Comment First Answer Friend Collector Community MVP

    I believe that's part of the MLO spec. I had to create a second network (SSID) for my old clients with WPA2 security. It works pretty well that way. I actually created a separate vlan for it and just added my IoT devices.

    George

  • Zyxel_Judy
    Zyxel_Judy Posts: 1,579  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Nebula
    edited August 6 Answer ✓

    Hi @BenHead ,

    When an SSID enabling MLO in 6GHz, the SSID security will be converted to WPA 3-related settings as the spec.

    The AP will generate corresponding event logs to inform the user when making configuration changes.

    image.png

    Untitled Image

    Share your feedback through our survey, make your voice heard, and win a WiFi 7 AP!

    https://bit.ly/2024_Survey_Community

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