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Entire network goes down when I unplug ethernet connected device from laptop
Hey, so I installed Orbi (V2.5.1.16) with 2 satellites. I almost threw it in the garbage. Every day after working in my home office my entire internet would go down for 10/15 minutes. I finally figured out what's causing it:
I have both wired and unwired devices. The Orbi goes into a Netgear hub then ethernet throughout the house. I know this sounds crazy but I've tested it multiple times...when I unplug my USB hub from my MacBook (ethernet conencted to the hub) the ENTIRE NETWORK GOES DOWN. When I plug it back into my laptop everything works again. Even stranger...when I unplug the ethernet from the USB hub...leaving it connected to my MacBook, no problems at all.
The MacBook is a work laptop..not sure if that matters but I work for a tech company and maybe they could be doing something?
How can I figure out what's going on here? I checked the router logs and don't see anything strange (some DoS attack messages, which always seem to be there) . How could removing a USB hub from a laptop cause such a major problem?
3 Replies
MickeyPickles wrote:I have both wired and unwired devices. The Orbi goes into a Netgear hub then ethernet throughout the house. I know this sounds crazy but I've tested it multiple times...when I unplug my USB hub from my MacBook (ethernet conencted to the hub) the ENTIRE NETWORK GOES DOWN. When I plug it back into my laptop everything works again. Even stranger...when I unplug the ethernet from the USB hub...leaving it connected to my MacBook, no problems at all.
Unfortunately misbehaving network devices can cause network interruptions like these. This thread has other reported issues using USB-to-ethernet devices: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Spanning-Tree-problem-with-Orbi-RBR50/m-p/1910466
What type of network switch (hub) are you using? The above thread suggests trying a GS switch and trying a different/unmanaged switch may be another workaround for you vs. trying a different brand of USB network hub with your MacBook.
Thanks for responding. I'm using a Netgear unmanaged switch. I read through the link it does appear that if I use a better USB hub the problem will go away. Still though I would think the router would prohibit a faulty node from wreaking so much havok. From what I read the problem is the USB hub is causing is either: the Spanning Tree Problem, a Broadcast Storm or the Pause Frame. I wonder if there's a way to figure out which one it is?
this is a known problem of some USB-C docks. They work fine when connected to the laptop, but when USB is unplugged (but the dock still has power) the network goes down.
Examples:
https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/an3nyf/pass_though_power_usb_type_c_hubs_cause_broadcast/
