Using a group of 5 port router as a SWITCH , with an admin IP is assigned on the Bridge via DHCP, should “add default route be active in DHCP client” be set to ON ?
Same would go for a SXT in station bridge.
Would one be better off assigning a block of /32 address on the same subnet ( not in pool ) for Router management? Anyone know of a reference/examples setting up multiple switches and router management addresses ? Would like to have all device addresses in a single management block but You can get into trouble across hops when links break if not careful.
In general, if your device is acting as a pure layer 2 device, and its management IP is being assigned via DHCP, then yes, you’ll want the default GW IP to be set by the DHCP server.
If you’re getting isolated from devices when certain links go down, then you have some design issues with your network. For instance, if the management IP is in the same layer2 as your workstation, but using a different IP range than the LAN is using, then all packets from your laptop to the layer2 device must reach the router because that’s how things work. Your laptop doesn’t know that this other IP address is actually reachable via layer 2.
It’s obviously better to not chain devices together that will have clients that rely on services provided at the top. This is why a flatter layer 2 layout is usually better. If you have to pull longer cables from the center (star topology) to accomplish this, you should based on my experience.
If you have multiple subnets you can introduce a loop topology at layer 3 and use routing, in which case using /32 for management addresses would work because they have to be routed.
Keep the physical layer clean. It’s worth the extra effort no matter which topology you choose.