Before posting I have trawled the web, tried BT support but no joy as yet so reaching out here.
Ok, so have a business FTTP 900 service from BT with a static WAN IP. I am using my own router (Mikrotik RB750Gr3). Very proficient in these devices, have been using in anger for years.
It's my understanding that when a single IP (not routed block) is provisioned, it should automatically assign via the PPPoE session and I should see this on my router. However this is not happening. I'm always assigned an IPv4 from the dynamic pool.
If I swap out my router for the supplied BT Business Smart Hub 3, the static IP is assigned straight away.
If I swap out the BT hub for my router, dynamic pool IP assigned.
I can find no specific documentation/guides on either how the single static WAN IP is assigned technically from the BT circuit that I have or how this should be applied to my router.
For the former, I have tried to contact BT support to ascertain this with no joy, as soon as I mention I am using my own equipment the support "cul de sac" appears. To be very clear, I am not expecting BT to advise on how I should configure my equipment at all, that's on me. But I do wish to know how, technically the static IP is assigned and that if it's ok "leaving them", and all I should do is directly connect my equipment to the ONT, independent of the supplied BT Hub, and provided I have configured my equipment ok (on me!), it should work.
On my continued troubleshooting journey, I have tried to use the BT Hub in "Bridge mode" as per:
How do I enable bridge mode on my BT Business Hub? | BT Business
However, looks like this is not possible for my FTTP service as per:
https://business.bt.com/help/guides/smart-hub-3-guide/smart-hub-3-using/using-smart-hub-3-as-a-modem...
Indeed according to the above: "Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) customers - “Modem only” or “Bridge Mode” doesn’t apply, as you can simply plug your own router directly into the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) provided during your installation."
So I'm left wondering:
-) Will a single static WAN IP assignment work with a non-BT Hub router?
-) How does the Static IP actually get assigned?
-) Is it specific to the supplied BT router (i.e. MAC address)
-) Is it dependant on some other requirement? (i.e. different username/password combo in PPPoE session?)
So currently I'm stumped. I'm trying to dig out an alternative router (i.e. not Mikrotik) but do not have one to hand just yet. Will also perform some low level Wire Shark packet sniffing but prior to all that effort and wasted family time hoping someone can advise on the above.
Be grateful if anyone can shed any light.
Nell
