No Orbi RBR50 firmware update (from V2.5.2.4) available

I agree with you 

However being on the same firmware as you I don't feel like I'm stuck.  I've had my Orbi going on 4 years and usually what happens I let it roll and one of two things occur:

1. Eventually Netgear will push an update (I was told they still do that)

2.  The system starts to act up and I manually go after an update.   By then the update has been around for awhile and the bugs have been worked out...?

The last time this process ran its course I went about a year between updates.  The one thing I didn't experience was the grief of manually performing an update only to have to deal with bugs.  Was my system safe?   All I know is that it worked which is what most support customer service reps will ask you.

Many in here subscribe to the ideal you MUST keep your firmware up to date.  I believe that as well as long as the update is stable.  The wait trade off is worth it to me.  Some in here will claim that a certain update works for them and they expect you to accept that as gospel and it will work for you as well.  

It's your system your choice.  You decide as you TRY to enjoy what you paid for 

---

dthittner wrote:

I was also stuck at firmware V2.5.2.4, and the router showed no newer firmware updates available, despite receiving a notice from Netgear about firmware updates. I went to the support website today and downloaded the latest published V2.7.1.60 (US) and applied it manually to the satellite and then to the router per their general instructions. After rebooting, the router said that an even newer firmware was available, V2.7.2.102, which it allowed me to download and update automatically.

 

Netgear really needs to work on:

1) Having a clear published path to new firmware versions that the routers can use for updating, without the "dead end path" that we on V2.5.2.4 have seen, and

 

2) Tell us *explicitly* what was fixed or improved in each version. There should be a *cumulative* firmware reversion log, that shows ALL fixes and improvements to the firmware over time, so that you can see what things have been fixed that might impact your configuration.

 

My RBR50/RBS50 has been a really good router combo and I love it, but the firmware support and documentation lags way behind the standards seen from other tech companies.

---

I followed the same steps as you and everything went fine.  The Orbi's retained their previous settings with no apparent ill effects.

on 1.: NG is behaving like a large organization with disparate departments that don't communicate with each other: the software development dept. seems disconnected from the support web site department from the "check for firmware updates" server department from the "notify users of critical updates" department.  They should put all their effort behind one firmware version, QC it and roll it out to all channels when the update is ready.  The only exception should be a hot-fix for fixing security exploits that are getting used in the wild.  The hot-fix would be followed by a fully vetted release a few days/weeks later.

On 2: NG provides minimal information about the change-log for the updates.  The following site lists security exploits and fixes.

https://www.netgear.com/about/security/

One can then google the security bulletin # (e.g., PSV-2020-0224) to find out more details about it.  Or google "Netgear security exploits" and see whats getting reported in the media.  For example, check out this site and see whats on the top 20 listed alerts :smileyfrustrated:

https://nvd.nist.gov/

Not ideal.  But "it is what it is".

Be sure to do a backup configuration to file for safe keeping. Helps save time if a reset is needed. 

Manual updates work well and are a recommended normal process. Especially when something happens.  

I think NG handles FW on a different basis and due to other designs and implemenations, happens to have various lines of FW. Some maybe due to legal reasons or regional policy as well. Other router mfrs have regional development thus differences in FW versions and features. Just how some mfrs seem to do there business around the world. All can't be the same for unknown reasons. It is what it is. You either like it or not. 

Good Luck

---

dthittner wrote:

I was also stuck at firmware V2.5.2.4, and the router showed no newer firmware updates available, despite receiving a notice from Netgear about firmware updates. I went to the support website today and downloaded the latest published V2.7.1.60 (US) and applied it manually to the satellite and then to the router per their general instructions. After rebooting, the router said that an even newer firmware was available, V2.7.2.102, which it allowed me to download and update automatically.

 

Netgear really needs to work on:

1) Having a clear published path to new firmware versions that the routers can use for updating, without the "dead end path" that we on V2.5.2.4 have seen, and

 

2) Tell us *explicitly* what was fixed or improved in each version. There should be a *cumulative* firmware reversion log, that shows ALL fixes and improvements to the firmware over time, so that you can see what things have been fixed that might impact your configuration.

 

My RBR50/RBS50 has been a really good router combo and I love it, but the firmware support and documentation lags way behind the standards seen from other tech companies.

---