i have a RBR50 and RBS50. as of late, my satelite keeps re-assiging IPs - over and over again, at least thats what it looks like on the logs. as a result, the two devices that are connected through ethernet cables keeps dropping connection - everytime i lose connection, i check the logs and sure enough, DHCP IP assignment. 1 is a desktop and the other is a Aruba VPN Switch that i use for work. i even reserved the Aruba to an IP address x.240 but it continues to happen. updated all my firmware, currently V2.5.1.16. reboot many times, only thing i havent done is factory reset, which wont do any good because it'll just reupdate the firmware right? i am getting really frustrated with this issue. please help. any idea why its doing this? i've not noticed any devices connected through wifi drop connection. is there a setting on Orbi that i can extend length of when it does this madness? [DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2:fxxx, Thursday, June 04, 2020 00:35:04[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.240] to MAC address 20:4c:03:axxxx, Thursday, June 04, 2020 00:34:34[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2:f2:8xxxx7, Thursday, June 04, 2020 00:34:33[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2:f2:xxxx7, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:56:11[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.18] to MAC address c0:9a:d0:c3xxxx, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:55:58[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2:f2xxx27, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:55:41[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.240] to MAC address 20:4c:0xxxxff:fe, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:55:16[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2xxx27, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:55:14[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.240] to MAC address 20:4c:0xxx:ff:fe, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:54:53[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2xxxx7, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:54:31[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.18] to MAC address c0:9a:d0:c3xxxx:6a, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:53:18[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.39] to MAC address 2c:f0:ee:0xxxxx:7a, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:52:55

tomschmidt wrote:I have two devices (IP security cameras) that likewise are filling my log file with DHCP lease requests every 5 minutes. I have power cycled the cameras and it did not help. Both are using reserved IP addresses outside of the DHCP lease range of addresses. It is odd that two devices of my 35+ devices are doing this. I will try changing their reserved IP address to see if that makes any difference. YAFOB (Yet Another Frustrating Orbi Bug) Love this. Maybe we can have a contest.I know of only one way to "guarantee" that a device will not make DHCP requests: Assign a static IP on the device itself. I would still keep it in the Orbi LAN setup as a reminder that the IP is "taken". Since this happens every 5 minutes, a LAN traffic capture will not be a very big file. Wireshark should show which side is prompting the notices in the log. i.e. camera or the Orbi and that the dialog "completes" each time.

This is what fixed it for me:I downgraded my router to V2.3.5.30 and left my satellite at V2.5.1.16 and that fixed the problem, and it has been stable for the past 72 hours, no interruptions whatsoever. By the way, I did try 2.5.1.8 and it didn't do anything (same problem), so that's why I went all the way back to 2.3.5.30. Hope that helps

Someting to file a support ticket about if your seeing this.tubphooj wrote:i was just going through orbi forum and lots of people having the same type of issue. has NetGear looked into this?

i have the debug logs. there are a ton of stuff here. any instructions or documentation i can use to decipher this mess? it has alot of protected data, e.g. encryption codes, mac, ips, ssids, etc... dont think i can share it w the community. its just outside warranty, can i open a ticket w support still? CrimpOn wrote:I would love to investigate this issue, but alas my Orbi DHCP works "as it should". Devices that are constantly powered on renew DHCP exactly when they should. My issue is that DHCP servers (i.e. the Orbi) do not just send out DHCP notices. They respond to queries (or at least they are supposed to.) What I am interested in is the question, "What could cause devices to keep asking for IP addresses when they should have no reason to?" Would someone whose Orbi logs exhibit this behavior be willing to capture DHCP activity and post it somewhere? This is how: Navigate to the Orbi debug page (http://orbilogin.net/debug.htmLog in with the admin credentials ("admin" and password)(What I usually do is connect to the Orbi web interface and change "index" on the navigation bar to "debug".)Check the box "Enable LAN/WAN Packet Capture".Check the box "Start Capture"Wait until you see some more of those DHCP notices appear in the log. If this is happening every two minutes, it should not take long.After some captures have occured, navigate back to the debug page and click the box, "Save Debug Log".(This takes a bit. Computers are not "computer quick")A box should appear offering a choice to Open or Save the file debug-log.zip.Save it to someplace on your computer where you can find it.Open the zip file and open the file "lap.pcap" with a program that can open "pcap" files.Personally, I use the free Wireshark program which is available for Windows, Mac, and most Linux distrubutions.When the file opens, set a "Display Filter" (at the top which reads "dhcp or dhcpv6"This will highlight all of the LAN packets involved with the DHCP protocol.On the File menu, select "Export Specified Packets", then check the boxes Displayed and Selected.Save the file.Note that this file contains no "personal" information except for the MAC addresses of these devices, which already appears in the Orbi log file. There will be no web traffic, no emails, no logins, .... just DHCP. I understand that this digging into packet captures is sort of "odd".

All, just to throw my hat in to the mix. Ground FloorISP - Virgin MediaISP Router in Modem modeOrbi RBR50 - Firmware v2.5.1.16 1st Floorx2 Orbi Sattelites across two rooms. 1st Floor has devices wired to the Sattelites. One device a Windows 10 PC, disconnect from the internet, even with the Ethernet and Wi-Fi network cards active. Looking at the logs, I can see that upon disconnections, I have a DCHP renewal request logged for the active network card in the PC. I have tried the following. 1. Firmware reset2. Reserved IP addresses, from the DHCP pool. Overall when the issue occurs I get a barrage of disruption until I reboot the Orbi router. Then after this I can go a few days and even a week without noticing the distruption. The issue is made even worst now as I am working from home and Teams calls are being distrupted. Is this issue on the Netgear radar as a bug to be fixed. I moved away from the Google Mesh Wi-Fi due to untold problems, including poor support. Hoping to see a different experience from Netgear. If not then will return the setup to Amazon and move on to the next brand! Thanks

Orbi Satelite keeps renewing IP of ethernet connected devices

35 Replies

CrimpOn
Guru - Experienced User
Jun 04, 2020
The default DHCP lease time on Orbi is one day (24 hours). Open a "Command" window and type in:

ipconfig /all

Scroll through the results to find the ethernet adapter. Here is what mine shows:

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 20-25-64-0F-BA-CD
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Friday, May 22, 2020 11:53:47 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, June 4, 2020 11:53:51 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.27
1.1.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
My desktop PC has been connected to the Orbi continuously since I last rebooted the Orbi on May 22. With DHCP, the procedure is for a device to request to "renew" the lease when half of the lease time has expired (12 hours), so my PC has been renewing continuously every 12 hours. The last renewal was last night at 11:53:51 PM and my PC will renew again at 11:53:51 AM (in a few hours).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Host_Configuration_Protocol

My sense is that the Orbi is not randomly saying, "Here. take another DHCP lease". The Orbi has received a DHCP request from the PC and is responding to it. So the question is, "WHAT is causing these two devices to drop their connection and believe that they need to request a new IP assignment?"

Could it be bad cable connections? Is there a "switch" between the Orbi and these devices?
- tubphooj
  Tutor
  Jun 04, 2020
  Thanks for your time CrimpOn.
  
  I've been testing out various things and troubleshooting to the max but so far no good.
  
  The two devices are directly connected to the satelite in my office - router is downstairs. I rebooted everything last night before going to bed, modem CM400, Router and satelite. i lost connectivity twice today, both times there were multiple entries of DHCP IP assignment in the logs. The interuption can last up to 3-5 minutes. The laptop next to me, where i check the logs, never loses connectivity and does not receive new IP.
  
  i have had xfinity come out to check the lines, its good. power and SNR are within perfect range. possible faulty satelite? if so, that would be a major bummer, paid alot of this thing only to last just outside the warranty. smh.
  
  are there netgear people monitoring these posts?
  - CrimpOn
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jun 04, 2020
    tubphooj wrote:
    The two devices are directly connected to the satelite in my office - router is downstairs. I rebooted everything last night before going to bed, modem CM400, Router and satelite. i lost connectivity twice today, both times there were multiple entries of DHCP IP assignment in the logs. The interuption can last up to 3-5 minutes. The laptop next to me, where i check the logs, never loses connectivity and does not receive new IP.
    What does the log show for the satellite DHCP? My Orbi satellite gets a DHCP renewal every 12 hours. If your satellite is renewing its IP address every 12 hours, then you have narrowed the problem to:
    Perhaps a "bad satellite"
    Perhaps two of the satellite ports are bad. Could switch one device to a different port to test.
    Something is wrong with the cables or cable connections.
    Do they "snap in" tightly?
    Do you have spare cables?
    What is connected to the Aruba VPN switch?
    I am not a fan of "Factory Reset", believing that it is the "last resort when everything else has failed." However, doing a Factory Reset on the satellite is not such a bid deal. The satellite gets all configuration information from the router, so it is a simple matter of doing the reset and if it doesn't sync by itself, performing the sync step.
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Jun 04, 2020
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Is the Orbi system operating in Router or AP mode?

What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router
tubphooj wrote:
i have a RBR50 and RBS50.

as of late, my satelite keeps re-assiging IPs - over and over again, at least thats what it looks like on the logs. as a result, the two devices that are connected through ethernet cables keeps dropping connection - everytime i lose connection, i check the logs and sure enough, DHCP IP assignment. 1 is a desktop and the other is a Aruba VPN Switch that i use for work. i even reserved the Aruba to an IP address x.240 but it continues to happen. updated all my firmware, currently V2.5.1.16. reboot many times, only thing i havent done is factory reset, which wont do any good because it'll just reupdate the firmware right? i am getting really frustrated with this issue. please help. any idea why its doing this?

i've not noticed any devices connected through wifi drop connection. is there a setting on Orbi that i can extend length of when it does this madness?

[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2:fxxx, Thursday, June 04, 2020 00:35:04
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.240] to MAC address 20:4c:03:axxxx, Thursday, June 04, 2020 00:34:34
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2:f2:8xxxx7, Thursday, June 04, 2020 00:34:33
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2:f2:xxxx7, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:56:11
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.18] to MAC address c0:9a:d0:c3xxxx, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:55:58
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2:f2xxx27, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:55:41
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.240] to MAC address 20:4c:0xxxxff:fe, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:55:16
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2xxx27, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:55:14
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.240] to MAC address 20:4c:0xxx:ff:fe, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:54:53
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address 70:85:c2xxxx7, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:54:31
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.18] to MAC address c0:9a:d0:c3xxxx:6a, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:53:18
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.39] to MAC address 2c:f0:ee:0xxxxx:7a, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 20:52:55
- tubphooj
  Tutor
  Jun 04, 2020
  Thanks FURRYe38 - xfinity, modem CM400. both router and satelite is on V2.5.1.16. operating in Router Mode.
  
  this issue just started about a month ago. being great for about year and a half, no issues. they are directly above each other 1.5 floors. within 30ft range forsure.
Lyth
Guide
Jun 05, 2020
Ever since I updated to firmware 2.5.1.16 I also have numerous devices that are being reissued the same IP constantly.

[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:50:01
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:ef:b2, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:49:39
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:49:26
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:49:25
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:46:45
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:45:45
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:44:57
[DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:ef:b2, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:44:38

My logs are full of this every few seconds to every few minutes. It's not just the 2 devices above. It's at least 10 to 12 out of 25 or so devices on our wifi. It doesn't seem to matter if it's a PC, apple watch, or other device. I've never seen this in my logs before this firmware.
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Jun 05, 2020
  Has a factory reset and setup from scratch been performed since last update?
  Please try a factory reset and setup from scratch with the RBR and RBS.
  Lyth wrote:
  Ever since I updated to firmware 2.5.1.16 I also have numerous devices that are being reissued the same IP constantly.
  
  [DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:50:01
  [DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:ef:b2, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:49:39
  [DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:49:26
  [DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:49:25
  [DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:46:45
  [DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:45:45
  [DHCP IP: 192.168.1.20] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:21:06, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:44:57
  [DHCP IP: 192.168.1.25] to MAC address xx:xx:xx:xx:ef:b2, Friday, June 05, 2020 10:44:38
  
  My logs are full of this every few seconds to every few minutes. It's not just the 2 devices above. It's at least 10 to 12 out of 25 or so devices on our wifi. It doesn't seem to matter if it's a PC, apple watch, or other device. I've never seen this in my logs before this firmware.
  - Lyth
    Guide
    Jun 05, 2020
    I am guilty of not trying a factory reset to see if it helps. I'll backup my config and give it try sometime this weekend and report back.

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Orbi Satelite keeps renewing IP of ethernet connected devices