Orbi System: Disable automatic firmware updates

Randomousity, I’m guessing you’ve taken my latest post in isolation and not seen my original post on this thread. If you had then you’d have seen that I’m absolutely not complaining about updates being pushed (and I agree with other comments that this should be default behaviour - precisely for the reasons you mention). I’m complaining that Netgear doesn’t allow someone who understands the risks associated with disabling automatic updates the ability to choose that option.  I also agree that it would be preferable if they released better quality firmware updates but your assertion that my complaint is misplaced is simply wrong.  I purchased the hardware and don’t recall any EULA that said I would be happy for Netgear to install any firmware, of any quality, at any non-agreed time onto it.  Not allowing your users to at least opt out of this arrangement is a serious shortcoming (in my opinion).  Finally the fact that Netgear haven’t provided an official response to this thread is also rather unsettling.  But another point we definitely seem to agree on is that I bought the wrong system (albeit for different reasons)!

Look, the whole idea of auto-updating is that many (most?) users configure their router when they first buy and install it, and then never again, leaving it with a growing list of vulnerabilities that never get fixed because the owners/users don't install the firmware updates that patch the issues. Hell, most users didn't even set passwords for their networks until router manufacturers made them secure by default. Leaving router security in the hands of end users has been tried, and it has failed.

Complaining about your Orbi updating itself is like complaining Chrome updates itself. The problem here is not that the Orbis auto-update. That's what they're supposed to do, and if you don't like it, you bought the wrong system. The true issue here is that the firmware updates seem to be developed and insufficiently tested before being pushed, and, as such, can sometimes change configurations or break features. Netgear needs to be pushing better updates. It does not need to be reverting back to the system where people "set it and forget it" and never get any better security until years later when they buy a newer router.

Your complaint needs to be, "Netgear, push better updates," and **NOT** "Netgear, stop pushing updates."

Still no input from Netgear on this huh?  Shame - they obviously only care about their customers' money, and not their customers' needs.  I see my ORBIs have updated to the latest firmware again, without asking for authorisation again - now the satellite part of the system is broken AGAIN. I don't know if there's any point in adding to this thread - nobody from Netgear appears interested.  I can only vote with my feet and my wallet in future. 

I agree with others who have posted here.   We as owners of the Orbi routers should have the ability to control if/when a given firmware update should be applied to the router.   

I searched out this (rather well hidden) suggestion board to add my voice to this chorus.

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LET ME DECIDE when I want to ... and IF I want to, update my firmware.

The orbi system is GREAT... when it is working.

And, it took me hours to tweak it just right and, have it do what it is supposed to do. My small business is RELIANT upon a constant connection. That's why I spend premium prices for premium hardware. NetGear may have been the wrong choice.

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I have NEVER in my 35 years of working with systems, seen a company so CARELESSLY and CALLOUSLY jeopardize the beating HEART of a network - and the business that relies upon it.

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I have an Orbi RBK53 system at home AND one at work. I showed up to my office three days ago and nothing could connect to internet.

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And, WLAN connections were dropping and reconnecting all over the place. I had to log in to the admin panel several times during the same continuous session.

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I was ENRAGED when I realized that the Orbi had been automatically updated... AGAIN without my explicit authorization.

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I had previously gone in with a telnet connection and turned OFF autoupdate in the config. NETGEAR decided to override my NVRAM settings... And, STILL force-updated - completely screwing the pooch on an ENTIRE day of my life just trying to get it working again.

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WE RELY upon our networks... SO LEAVE THE ROUTER ALONE!

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This is a 'Microsoft' way of arrogantly thinking that I do not have the right and ability to control something that I have PURCHASED at a premium price. And, I will not have it.

I DO NOT use windows because of this forced-update stupidity. And, if NG insists on force-pushing poorly tested firmware that trashes the system, this company too will be in my rear-view mirror for good!

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

For the rest of the story... The darned HOME network updated while I was fighting the one at work... And, I had to repeat the entire experience when I arrived home to a wife and daughter saying "Papa... the internet isn't working." PUT A SELECTION TO OPT OUT OF AUTOMATIC UPDATES... It is moronic and irresponsible to NOT have that setting easily accessible and to HONOR that setting at all times.

I think the Orbi is a good product in design and Engineering but Netgear's support is woeful.  I purchased another Netgear product some years back and had woeful service but had my fingers crossed they would have better support by now. Wrong. 

Netgear's complete lack of involvement and collaboration on this Community is a testament to that. And this is Netgear's FLAGSHIP product too.

Next system will be a product from a company whom respond to customer needs.

Totally agree,automatic updates should be an option

Disabling auto-update should be simple from an engineering point of view. This should be a must-have option. It's like every single firmware update causes stability issues. As someone with dozens of smart home devices, it causes way too many headaches whenever wireless gets disrupted frequently. Not to mention, as someone who works in IT from home, constantly experiencing problems with online meetings and conference calls just make me (and others) look very unprofessional.

How this is still not implemented is beyond me.

I would NEVER have saddled myself with the horror that is the "Orbi auto-update time-vampire" had I known about this issue before I bought my Orbi system.  I've even tried following these steps:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Firmware-V1-12-0-18-Discussion/td-p/1320421/page/5

But after being away for a week the Orbi has dumbly, automatically updated to V2.1.4.10 and now the satellite doesn't work properly.  Thanks Netgear for breaking my home network - AGAIN.  Fix this now and stop forcing your broken updates onto users that don't want them.