Hi, in my home network, I have a 2018 Orbi RBR50 router and have set it up with IGMP Proxying. However, I cannot find a setting for IGMP Snooping. I understand that IGMP Snooping is necessary for efficient multicast streaming. How can I get the router to operate with IGMP Snooping?

ekhalil wrote: Orbi does not support IGMP snooping. Only IGMP proxying on the WAN port is supported. Hm, what should be the purpose of this then? An IGMP proxy does enable hosts in a uni-directional link routing (UDLR) environment that are not directly connected to a downstream router to join a multicast group sourced from an upstream network. When I have it right, the IGMP proxy does also serve an the IGMP querier to the LAN. Rather useless if the multicast noise does go out over all links (both wireless and wired backhaul, all Ethernet ports, and all AP radios, isn't it? ekhalil wrote: Why do you need IGMP snooping? Do you have devices that use IGMP multicasting which affects the performance of your LAN network, for which you want to use IGMP snooping? Major ISP introduced massive IGMP Multicast based IPTV solutions in the last years. In my understanding Noroddveien ISP does also provide live TV over IGMP Multicast. FURRYe38 wrote: Not alot of use for IGMP in most homes so maybe one reason why NG didn't add it ot the Orbi. Something to ask them about though. It's the #1 industry standard used by ISPs for IPTV. Millions of deployments alone here in Switzerland by the major and smaller ISP feeding FullHD and UHD (4K). That's why non-managed switches can't be deployed anymore without causing massive issues - at least some Smart Managed Plus switches wuth IGMP Multicast support for one VLAN are required.

schumaku wrote: Hm, what should be the purpose of this then? An IGMP proxy does enable hosts in a uni-directional link routing (UDLR) environment that are not directly connected to a downstream router to join a multicast group sourced from an upstream network. When I have it right, the IGMP proxy does also serve an the IGMP querier to the LAN. Rather useless if the multicast noise does go out over all links (both wireless and wired backhaul, all Ethernet ports, and all AP radios, isn't it? IGMP Proxy and IGMP Snooping can achieve the same goal of reducing traffic replication. The router maintains a mapping table and forwards multicast traffic only to the hosts that have joined the specific multicast group. schumaku wrote: Major ISP introduced massive IGMP Multicast based IPTV solutions in the last years. In my understanding Noroddveien ISP does also provide live TV over IGMP Multicast. IGMP Proxy should solve the issues that Noroddveien seeing. The only problem is that IGMP is directly connected to VLANs. Orbi -currently- supports VLAN tagging only for wired ports and not for wireless. So by connecting the IPTV box to a LAN port in Orbi, configure a VLAN on it and activating IGMP Proxy should basically both improve the IPTV quality and prevent multicasting from affecting the other devices in the network.

Orbi does not support IGMP snooping. Only IGMP proxying on the WAN port is supported. Why do you need IGMP snooping? Do you have devices that use IGMP multicasting which affects the performance of your LAN network, for which you want to use IGMP snooping?

My ISP provides routers (Zyxel) with IGMP Snooping enabled (Blocking Mode). It seems to be relevant with respect to trouble-free multicast transmissions for IPTV. I think it may be the only missing feature of the RBR50 to allow use without the ISP router. I hope Netgear will include this feature in their next FW release. My current FW is V2.2.1.210.

You will have to ask to see if it can be added. https://community.netgear.com/t5/Idea-Exchange-For-Home/idb-p/idea-exchange-for-home Not alot of use for IGMP in most homes so maybe one reason why NG didn't add it ot the Orbi. Something to ask them about though. Noroddveien wrote: My ISP provides routers (Zyxel) with IGMP Snooping enabled (Blocking Mode). It seems to be relevant with respect to trouble-free multicast transmissions for IPTV. I think it may be the only missing feature of the RBR50 to allow use without the ISP router. I hope Netgear will include this feature in their next FW release. My current FW is V2.2.1.210.

IGMP Snooping | NETGEAR Communities

25 Replies

ekhalil
Master
Feb 13, 2019
Orbi does not support IGMP snooping. Only IGMP proxying on the WAN port is supported.

Why do you need IGMP snooping? Do you have devices that use IGMP multicasting which affects the performance of your LAN network, for which you want to use IGMP snooping?
- Noroddveien
  Apprentice
  Feb 14, 2019
  My ISP provides routers (Zyxel) with IGMP Snooping enabled (Blocking Mode). It seems to be relevant with respect to trouble-free multicast transmissions for IPTV. I think it may be the only missing feature of the RBR50 to allow use without the ISP router. I hope Netgear will include this feature in their next FW release. My current FW is V2.2.1.210.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru
    Feb 14, 2019
    You will have to ask to see if it can be added.
    
    https://community.netgear.com/t5/Idea-Exchange-For-Home/idb-p/idea-exchange-for-home
    
    Not alot of use for IGMP in most homes so maybe one reason why NG didn't add it ot the Orbi. Something to ask them about though.
    
    Noroddveien wrote:
    
    My ISP provides routers (Zyxel) with IGMP Snooping enabled (Blocking Mode). It seems to be relevant with respect to trouble-free multicast transmissions for IPTV. I think it may be the only missing feature of the RBR50 to allow use without the ISP router. I hope Netgear will include this feature in their next FW release. My current FW is V2.2.1.210.
- schumaku
  Guru
  Mar 09, 2019
  ekhalil wrote:
  
  Orbi does not support IGMP snooping. Only IGMP proxying on the WAN port is supported.
  
  Hm, what should be the purpose of this then? An IGMP proxy does enable hosts in a uni-directional link routing (UDLR) environment that are not directly connected to a downstream router to join a multicast group sourced from an upstream network. When I have it right, the IGMP proxy does also serve an the IGMP querier to the LAN. Rather useless if the multicast noise does go out over all links (both wireless and wired backhaul, all Ethernet ports, and all AP radios, isn't it?
  
  ekhalil wrote:
  
  Why do you need IGMP snooping? Do you have devices that use IGMP multicasting which affects the performance of your LAN network, for which you want to use IGMP snooping?
  
  Major ISP introduced massive IGMP Multicast based IPTV solutions in the last years. In my understanding Noroddveien ISP does also provide live TV over IGMP Multicast.
  
  FURRYe38 wrote:
  
  Not alot of use for IGMP in most homes so maybe one reason why NG didn't add it ot the Orbi. Something to ask them about though.
  
  It's the #1 industry standard used by ISPs for IPTV. Millions of deployments alone here in Switzerland by the major and smaller ISP feeding FullHD and UHD (4K). That's why non-managed switches can't be deployed anymore without causing massive issues - at least some Smart Managed Plus switches wuth IGMP Multicast support for one VLAN are required.
  - ekhalil
    Master
    Mar 09, 2019
    schumaku wrote:
    
    Hm, what should be the purpose of this then? An IGMP proxy does enable hosts in a uni-directional link routing (UDLR) environment that are not directly connected to a downstream router to join a multicast group sourced from an upstream network. When I have it right, the IGMP proxy does also serve an the IGMP querier to the LAN. Rather useless if the multicast noise does go out over all links (both wireless and wired backhaul, all Ethernet ports, and all AP radios, isn't it?
    
    IGMP Proxy and IGMP Snooping can achieve the same goal of reducing traffic replication. The router maintains a mapping table and forwards multicast traffic only to the hosts that have joined the specific multicast group.
    
    schumaku wrote:
    
    Major ISP introduced massive IGMP Multicast based IPTV solutions in the last years. In my understanding Noroddveien ISP does also provide live TV over IGMP Multicast.
    
    IGMP Proxy should solve the issues that Noroddveien seeing. The only problem is that IGMP is directly connected to VLANs. Orbi -currently- supports VLAN tagging only for wired ports and not for wireless.
    
    So by connecting the IPTV box to a LAN port in Orbi, configure a VLAN on it and activating IGMP Proxy should basically both improve the IPTV quality and prevent multicasting from affecting the other devices in the network.
JonUK123
Aspirant
Feb 25, 2019
Hi
I stumbled across this thread and I wonder if the symptoms fit the problem, i.e. lack of multicast support?
I’ve noticed when setting IoT devices such as Nanoleaf Canvas lights, LIFX lights, Nest Cameras etc, the WLAN is serverly disrupted. All other devices seem to struggle to get to the internet. Is this what IGMP snooping would help alleviate?
During these periods where the WLAN is almost halted the internet remains connected and is appears to be ok (I have a Fing box connected to help monitoring)

RBR40 in Router mode
IGMP proxying not enabled for WAN side as issue is not there
FW: 2.2.1.210

Thanks

I was going to attach some pics showing the following but the “choose file” button isn’t working
Nest Cam timeline (darker grey indicates camera could not connect to internet)
Fing box monitoring of internet connectivity showing no issues for same period
- FURRYe38
  Guru
  Feb 25, 2019
  What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?
  
  Turn OFF all wifi devices, then start adding devices gradually. See if you can notice when the WLAN starts to slow down or stop working correctly.
  
  What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
  What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between them to begin with depending upon building materials.
  
  What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
  Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
  What WPA security modes are you using?
  
  Try enabling Beamforming
  
  Try disabling the following and see:
  Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).
  
  So far IGMP protocols don't seem to be compatible with Orbi. Espeically in managed switches.
  
  JonUK123 wrote:
  Hi
  I stumbled across this thread and I wonder if the symptoms fit the problem, i.e. lack of multicast support?
  I’ve noticed when setting IoT devices such as Nanoleaf Canvas lights, LIFX lights, Nest Cameras etc, the WLAN is serverly disrupted. All other devices seem to struggle to get to the internet. Is this what IGMP snooping would help alleviate?
  During these periods where the WLAN is almost halted the internet remains connected and is appears to be ok (I have a Fing box connected to help monitoring)
  
  RBR40 in Router mode
  IGMP proxying not enabled for WAN side as issue is not there
  FW: 2.2.1.210
  
  Thanks
  
  I was going to attach some pics showing the following but the “choose file” button isn’t working
  Nest Cam timeline (darker grey indicates camera could not connect to internet)
  Fing box monitoring of internet connectivity showing no issues for same period
- ekhalil
  Master
  Mar 08, 2019
  JonUK123 wrote:
  .........
  I’ve noticed when setting IoT devices such as Nanoleaf Canvas lights, LIFX lights, Nest Cameras etc, the WLAN is serverly disrupted. All other devices seem to struggle to get to the internet. Is this what IGMP snooping would help alleviate?
  ........
  
  IGMP is used for one-to-many networking applications such as online streaming video and gaming, and I don't think that the devices you mentioned belong to this category.

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IGMP Snooping