Controlling Network Behavior Follow

What is 'Network Behavior'?

You'll see a network behavior setting for each wired (ethernet) or wireless interface (virtual AP or STA) on your APs.  This setting tells the device how to treat the specified interface from a networking perspective - does it need to be bridged with other interfaces?  Does it need to be controlled by a hotspot service?  Read more about the possible options below.  

Internet Source

The "internet source" setting on the Internet tab tells the AP which interface is connecting the AP to the upstream network.  This is typically the first ethernet (WAN) port for a wired connection, or a radio operating in Client WDS mode for a wireless connection.

Network Behavior Options

• Bridge to Internet:  This option tells the AP that the interface should be added to the br-wan bridge, along with the "internet source".  You'll choose "bridge to internet" if you want the specified interface to look like it's a part of the upstream network.   This option will allow any upstream devices/interfaces to be able to communicate with the clients behind this AP.  For example - any media devices, such as Apple TV, ChromeCast, etc.
  
  
• Route to Internet:  Once you choose this option, you'll have to choose which local network (aka LAN) to add the interface to. Traffic from this interface is routed across the access point and out through the "Internet Source". If you choose the "Default Local Network", then the interface will be added to the local "built-in" br-lan bridge.  You can also choose any of your custom LANs from the dropdown - and in doing so, the interface will be added to a local bridge called br-customX.  You can configure your LAN's network settings from the LAN configuration page - this includes DHCP server options, IP address ranges, STP, etc.  You'll want to choose this option if you don't have an upstream DHCP server or generally want to create an isolated network behind the AP. 
  
  
• Add to Guest network:  This is similar to the "Route to Internet" option above, but we've selected the routed network for you.  Any interfaces with this network behavior will be added to the local "built-in" br-guest bridge.  The Guest network is different than the other "built-in" LANs because it has smart isolation set to "Internet only" by default.  This will keep the clients connecting to an interface on this network from accessing other devices on your upstream (and downstream) network, such as media devices, network-attached printers, etc.  
  
  
• Hotspot-controlled:  This option tells the interface that it should be controlled by the coova chilli hotspot service.  All traffic that comes in on this interface will be tunneled to the service, where it will determine if a captive portal page should be displayed to the end user.  You can configure your hotspot and captive portal settings from the Hotspot page.
  
  
• VLAN tag traffic:  This option will tag incoming traffic from the interface with the specified VLAN ID (this is only available for wireless interfaces at this time).