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kdeemer's avatar
kdeemer
Tutor
Dec 29, 2017

Orbi multiple Mac Addresses

I have an ORBI router and two satellites. The router has MAC Address A0:04:60:22:1A:B2. I have a network scanner (fingbox) which every day reports a "Rogue Access Point" with the MAC address A6:04:60:22:1A:B2. Can anyone explain where this different Mac Address is coming from? (the satellite addresses are different).

 

Thanks,

Troubleshooting

5 Replies

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  • guzzijason's avatar
    guzzijason
    Apprentice
    Dec 29, 2017

    sThe Orbi router has 4 wireless interfaces, or 6 if you use a guest network:
    normal 2.4 GHz

    normal 5 GHz

    guest 2.4 GHz

    guest 5 GHz

    backhaul 2.4 GHz

    backhaul 5 GHz

     

    Each of these naturally have different MAC addresses. The backhaul interfaces do not broadcast their SSID, so perhaps those are the networks showing up as "rogue"? (I'm not sure what a Fingbox considers to be rogue).

    ADDITIONALLY, every satellite you have will also be broadcasting the normal (and possibly guest) SSIDs for each frequency using separate MAC addresses, so that's up to 4 additional SSID/MAC combinations per satellite. If you have daisy-chaining of satellites enabled, then I presume that satellites would also be broadcasting (hidden) backhaul networks as well, but I haven't tried this, so I haven't seen it myself (yet).

    • kdeemer's avatar
      kdeemer
      Tutor
      Dec 29, 2017

      Interesting. Where can I find or discover these various addresses?

       

      Thanks

      • guzzijason's avatar
        guzzijason
        Apprentice
        Dec 29, 2017

        Indirectly, you can use a WiFi scanner to see the various addresses that are being broadcast.

        If you want to see them directly, I think the best way is to log into the router and/or satellites via the debug telnet interface, and view the network devices there.

  • st_shaw's avatar
    st_shaw
    Master
    Dec 29, 2017

    Sure.  The Orbi RBR and RBS each have two mac addresses. Those starting in A6 are from the 2.4 GHz radios.  Those starting in A0 are from the 5 GHz client radios.

     

    At least that's how mine is.

    • guzzijason's avatar
      guzzijason
      Apprentice
      Dec 29, 2017
      st_shaw wrote:

      Sure.  The Orbi RBR and RBS each have two mac addresses. Those starting in A6 are from the 2.4 GHz radios.  Those starting in A0 are from the 5 GHz client radios.

       

      At least that's how mine is.

      2 MAC addresses *per SSID*. If you use the guest network, that's 4 MAC adresses. If you count the hidden backhaul, that's 6 MAC addresses per device.