Firmware Updates

[esb2b]

I got an email to update my firmware, currently I am running V2.5.2.4, so whan I go to the advanced tab to check for updates it tells me I am up to date with V2.5.2.4, but if I navigate to manual updates I see I have missed one completely - why wont the search for updates function work anymore? thx

[CrimpOn]

Can you copy and past the contents of this email?

There have been a number of posts recently reporting this, and since I never have received one (ever, in 4 years of having my Orbi), I'd like to see what one looks like.

Thanks

p.s. There are a lot of posts recently about the behavior of Orbi firmware updates and how they relate to the firmware release that is on the Orbi.  See this thread, for example:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-RBR50-Router-Firmware-Version-V2-7-2-102/m-p/2027821#M109... 

[esb2b]

I saw a thread where it updat4ed overnight - I wpudlnt mind that if mine auto updated, but usually you log into netgear and go to the advanced tab and update there - the advanced tab doesnt even show the latest updates anymore - this isnt normal

[vajim]

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@esb2b wrote:

so whan I go to the advanced tab to check for updates it tells me I am up to date

There's your answer 

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[esb2b]

No. The manual way shows 2.7 now and there were a few prior - 2.6 etc that I never saw. The Netgear site is not showing accurate data.

[esb2b]

See this page - https://kb.netgear.com/000062320/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-Version-2-7-0-70

[vajim]

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@esb2b wrote:

I saw a thread where it updat4ed overnight - I wpudlnt mind that if mine auto updated, but usually you log into netgear and go to the advanced tab and update there - the advanced tab doesnt even show the latest updates anymore - this isnt normal

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do you know why you want to update?  Problems with your system?

[CrimpOn]

If you slog through that post about firmware v2.7.2.102, there are assertions that Netgear "appears" to have created multiple firmware versions which apply to different customers, depending on whether they are in the US and whether they have subscribed to Parental Controls.  My Orbi (in the US) is on 2.5.1.16 and Firmware Update tells me that 2.5.2.4 is available.  It makes no mention of 2.6.1.40 or 2.7.1.60 (US Only).  (In the software business, different versions are often called "forks".)

As far as I can tell, Netgear is totally silent about what all this means.  With my other systems, I update software frequently.  With Orbi, I read with great interest the stories that people post after they choose to update (or an update happens to them).  In the past two years, there have been many firmware updates that caused massive problems for some users.  Some firmware updates have been "pulled."

What I would dearly love is a clear statment from Netgear, such as "Versions of firmware prior to vx.x.x.x are vulnerable to these specific security threats (with a list) and customers are encouraged to update to version x.x.x.x"  Other companies do this all the time.

[vajim]

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@CrimpOn wrote:

What I would dearly love is a clear statment from Netgear, such as "Versions of firmware prior to vx.x.x.x are vulnerable to these specific security threats (with a list) and customers are encouraged to update to version x.x.x.x"  Other companies do this all the time.

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...or better yet, go back to something like what they had before.  IF a update really truly contains MAJOR security updates then just push it to ALL.

Where they get in trouble is mudding up the water by mixing these so-called MAJOR security updates with all other thus leaving it up to the end user to play a game of firmware roultette.

and they wonder why I perfer to leave it all alone.

[esb2b]

They sent me an email saying there was an important update. Come tho think of it - this may have been the second one I just didn’t try manually last time. Yes it should be clearly stated and it shouldn’t be too hard to figure it out.

[FURRYe38]

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-RBR50-Router-Firmware-Version-V2-7-2-102/m-p/2028358/high...

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@esb2b wrote:
They sent me an email saying there was an important update. Come tho think of it - this may have been the second one I just didn’t try manually last time. Yes it should be clearly stated and it shouldn’t be too hard to figure it out.

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[esb2b]

So it dawned on me later I hadn’t checked a different browser. I am on a Mac, and this was via safari, so I launched Firefox and although the web still told me I was current - I was able to do the manual update in Firefox through the admin log in after downloading the update from Netgear so I’m now current. I guess safari could not handle the downloaded disc IMG but Firefox could.

[vajim]

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@esb2b wrote:
So it dawned on me later I hadn’t checked a different browser. I am on a Mac, and this was via safari, so I launched Firefox and although the web still told me I was current - I was able to do the manual update in Firefox through the admin log in after downloading the update from Netgear so I’m now current. I guess safari could not handle the downloaded disc IMG but Firefox could.

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so if the web still said you're current, why did you do the manual update?  so now you're 'really' current?

[esb2b]

I got an email stating there was an update - then when the browser said current I dug in and looked harder then seeing the 3 updates my computer apparently didn’t like. Glad I did - I don’t want to have an earlier unsafe version.

[vajim]

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@esb2b wrote:
I got an email stating there was an update - then when the browser said current I dug in and looked harder then seeing the 3 updates my computer apparently didn’t like. Glad I did - I don’t want to have an earlier unsafe version.

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"unsafe version"  that is debatable 

but as long as you're happy it's a good day.  lets hope you got a stable one.

[esb2b]

Well you know how these things are. Usually they fix bugs and security issues. So far I’ve been fine upgrading all along. I had 2.5 and just jumped to 2.7. Time will tell I guess.

[FURRYe38]

What OSX and Safari version are you using? 

I haven't tried Safari in a while on my mac. I mostly use Windows for FW updates. Someone told me Apple has pushed some changes in OSX and Safari that seems to break some things. 

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@esb2b wrote:
So it dawned on me later I hadn’t checked a different browser. I am on a Mac, and this was via safari, so I launched Firefox and although the web still told me I was current - I was able to do the manual update in Firefox through the admin log in after downloading the update from Netgear so I’m now current. I guess safari could not handle the downloaded disc IMG but Firefox could.

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[vajim]

[esb2b]

ios 11.1 big sur - safari 14.0.2 -

my mac is  3.7 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i5 - got it in April (pandemic purchase)

also tried on my ipad - didnt work - most up to date ios on that, too

the firefox that worked was 81.0.1 

Safari didnt know what to do with the disc image, Firefox had no issues at all, but did show the old version as beiong most up to date, too - I have an RBR50 Orbi with one RBS50 satellite. 

[FURRYe38]

So when on the RBRs web page in Safari and you navigate out to where you unpacked the FW file and just highlight it then Ok,  the file should be seeing in the Browse box then you should be able to select the Upload button? 

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@esb2b wrote:

ios 11.1 big sur - safari 14.0.2 -

my mac is  3.7 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i5 - got it in April (pandemic purchase)

also tried on my ipad - didnt work - most up to date ios on that, too

the firefox that worked was 81.0.1 

Safari didnt know what to do with the disc image, Firefox had no issues at all, but did show the old version as beiong most up to date, too - I have an RBR50 Orbi with one RBS50 satellite. 

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[esb2b]

One would think but in safari the manual when I navigated to the disc image said it didn’t recognize the file type - later when I did that in Firefox it worked on the first try. Once I got the RBR updated, it showed in the advanced tab that there was an additional update and it recognized the RBS needed to be updated. I think the issue was safari.

[FURRYe38]

I presume so. You might let Apple know about this. If it worked in other versions of Safari or OSX, would be something Apple did. 

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@esb2b wrote:
One would think but in safari the manual when I navigated to the disc image said it didn’t recognize the file type - later when I did that in Firefox it worked on the first try. Once I got the RBR updated, it showed in the advanced tab that there was an additional update and it recognized the RBS needed to be updated. I think the issue was safari.

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[esb2b]

well I am not 100% on that, and it has always been that way with apple - thats why I have Firefox too - some times websites just dont gel with it - I wouldnt even know who to notify and I cant imagine they would care - Apple kinda does what they want to dont they?

[FURRYe38]

if you have the Apple feedback app then you can open a ticket there. If not, 

https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=psp&SG=SG001

https://discussions.apple.com/welcome

I used the feedback app when I was using the beta BigSur OSX versions. They do respond. 

[FURRYe38]

Checking my Mac Book Pro with BS and Safari, I'm able to select the FW file and it appears on the RBRs browse input box: