@crackhawk 

https://static.tp-link.com/upload/product-overview/2022/202209/20220907/ER7212PC%20Datasheet.pdf

Page 7, SDN Support, last line.

wow, I wouldn't have expected that for a business product. I didn't even take a closer look, because it hasn't been a problem with any other SDN router so far. Too bad.

Thank's for the quick clarification!

Yeah I also just relished after I have bought this product and deployed it in my remote office. Very frustrating and limiting with only just 2 switches. I thought i can simplify our setup with just one all in one omada router in the front and septate all main switches around the premise.

I have no idea is it really hardware limiting factor or just software limiting factor.

Can't return it back sadly :(

Any Idea that I can buy a seperate OC200, and adopt this ER7212pc use it as just gateway and smart switches, while being able to adopt much more switches and eap to the OC200?

  @GoodMeMD 

No this is not possible.

You cannot adopt an ER7212 to another controller as this device itself is infact a controller.

And this 'function' cannot be turned off on ER7212.

If you want some horsepower while being future-proof then wait for shortly available ER707-M2 and combine it with a CBC (Cloud Based Controller in the web).

https://www.tp-link.com/en/business-networking/omada-sdn-router/er707-m2/

Hardware controllers are not getting too much love by TP-Link at the moment and they might be EOL at some point.

You can then sell your ER7212 in the Bay and tick it off as a 'lesson learnt'.

I almost bought this for home use along with Q3 TL-SG2008 until I saw a lot of bad posts for this device and this limitation to 2 switches.  Seems like a silly limitation that I cannot manage a switch for the home office, one for the main TV, and one for the home theater.  I could use a EAP615-Wall at the main TV which would given me barely enough ports for the TV, TiVo, and one other device, but I would need to relocate the SmartThings controller, Blink controller, and Synology NAS.

I think I'd be better off with something else.  Perhaps the ER605 (V2) an OC200* and a TL-SG2210P (V3.2) switch.

*Cloud controller seems costly to manage a home network setup.

  @Steve-P 

This limit is completely out of place and incomprehensible to me. I now have an ER605 v2 and a RaspberryPi as a controller because TP-Link always updates the self-hosted versions very quickly. I can highly recommend the setup, it also runs much faster than the OC200.

I had the OC200 before, it is still on version 5.7.6 and features that I need are only available in newer versions.

I know there are beta firmwares available, but comeon, this ist nothing for live environments.

It would be great if the folks at TP-Link would change their update policy soon.

  @crackhawk 

I must say it seems a little artificial.  The OC200 has far less grunt yet can support up to 20 switches.  It felt like an upgrade getting this device, never thought I'd have to read the small print.

I would go with your suggestion of a Raspbery Pi but I've not been impressed with the stand alone routers that I have tried (R605 & ER7206).  They've ended up sat on my network with the hostname "BastardRouter".  The last ER7206 refused point blank to connect via pppoe, after an update.  Does anyone have experience of the ER8411 or ER707-M2?