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Forum Discussion
Orbi RBE770/771 Mesh - Static IP a NOGO
I purchased the Orbi system in January 2025 and most of that time I had this system running behind my private LAN as a router - technically speaking, double-NATing. For clarity I have 30+ years in IT.
A few weeks ago I attempted to place this on my FIOS ISP with a static IP address assigned to me (I have 5 w/ 2 in use).
I performed a factory reset. No matter what static IP I use I can get a LAN IP from the Orbi DHCP service but no Internet access whatsoever. If I put the system behind a working router (typically Asus), the Orbi system works fine and passes traffic through the WAN interface well (to the primary LAN).
When the Orbi's WAN interface is connected to my static IP service, the LED on the bottom of the unit is purple.
I've spoken with support going on ~ 3 hours total investment of my time, and they pushed a ticket into engineering. I am still awaiting a response.
Any idea folks? Thanks for the consideration.
10 Replies
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What happens when a computer is connected to FIOS and set to use that Static IP?
Everything works fine. I've rotated static IPs from working routers to this Orbi system, to no avail - the Orbi simply does not pass traffic over the WAN interface if configured with a static IP. A laptop connected with a static IP, any of the 5, works perfectly.
If you don't mind, can you please share how this works "mechanically"? i.e. I am used to the concept that the ISP delivers service to some sort of device (cable modem, fiber ONT) which is not a router. That device accepts a DHCP request from the customer device (computer, WiFi router, etc.) and responds with an IP address. If rather than using DHCP, the customer set the device to a Static IP address, the ISP device would recognize that single device public IP.
What I lack experience with is how the customer connects multiple devices to the ISP device and defines each of them with a separate public IP address.
Like
- What device did FIOS provide?
- That accepts connections from multiple devices and recognizes which of them have Static IPs?
For static IP service the ONT is provisioned in a manner that it will serve the IP range provided. There are no other services provided by Verizon in my service since I did not opt for their router. I can use the static IP's as I see fit, and of course I need router(s). I have a small switch connected to the ONT, which allows me to fan-out additional connections to my other router(s).
So, in short...
ONT ----> Aggregation Switch ----> Router 1
----> Router nI have a small switch connected to the ONT, which allows me to fan-out additional connections to my other router(s).
I expect you've already tried this, but just in case...
Did you try a test with the Orbi WAN port directly connected to the ONT?
A few weeks ago I attempted to place this on my FIOS ISP with a static IP address assigned to me (I have 5 w/ 2 in use).
FWIW, I also use FIOS, but double-route. We haven't cut the cord for cable, and the set top boxes require using the CR1000A (and over wifi, since the satellites have no ethernet). But I don't have static IPs, so only one public address.
Are you connecting directly to the ONT? Or are you connecting to the Verizon router (CR1000A or equivalent)?
Also, how are the two other devices using public IP addresses connected to the network? Are they going through the Orbi?
One limitation of the Orbi router is that you cannot turn off the NAT. The RS100 has a similar limitation (letting you change the NAT filtering, but still not letting you disable NAT). This poster has a similar issue with the RS100:
- https://community.netgear.com/discussions/nighthawk-wifi-7-be/can-lan-interface-of-rs100-be-set-to-a-public-ip-address/2470576
Still, the Orbi should connect to the internet using the static address, even if the devices connected behind it need to use private addresses.
I have an switch between the ONT and other routers/systems connected via static IP, and each LAN is managed distinctly.
So, all five of the assigned Static IPs have the same gateway IP address and subnet mask, correct?
I am wondering how FIOS knows which hardware MAC address is related to each Static IP address. The Ethernet switch knows nothing about IP addresses. It has an internal table that shows which Ethernet port is used to reach the MAC addresses that it has learned.
I am guessing that the device with a Static IP sends out an ARP request, "who has the gateway IP address?", gets a response from FIOS, "this MAC address has that IP address", and then starts talking to FIOS.
Would love to monitor the conversation between that laptop and FIOS and see how it compares to the Orbi RBE771 router and FIOS.
Yes, and I've had this service for > 5 years, all IP's have worked and there is no MAC address binding that occurs with the FIOS equipment upstream - works against the whole premise of the service given I declined their router.
I may try something, though, since the normal procedure isn't working then what's to say a rigged approach wouldn't. Thanks.
For years my "go to" method for collecting network information was to insert a managed switch between the devices to be monitored (in this case the switch and the FIOS ONT). Would then mirror the two ports to a third port and connect that port to a computer running Wireshark.
Life got a lot simpler when I found the Dualcomm10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet Network TAP [ETAP-2003] on Amazon. At $229, it is not cheap, but it works gangbusters.
I belabor this topic because it is not clear (to me) that Netgear engineering is likely to get very far solving a riddle that depends on having access to FIOS, multiple Static IPs, and an RBE771 router.
Since you have established that multiple FIOS Static IPs appear to work correctly with Asus router and (Windows?) laptop, the obvious question is, "what is different between those two setups and the RBE771?"
