Re: Orbi firmware update v2.1.4.16 availability

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-07-17

You can add a non managed swtich to the back of the router if you need additional LAN ports. Besure its a NON managed switch.

These work for me:

https://www.amazon.com/D-Link-Gigabit-Unmanaged-Desktop-DGS-108/dp/B000BCC0LO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid...

https://www.amazon.com/D-Link-Gigabit-Unmanaged-Desktop-DGS-105/dp/B000BC7QMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid...

And use good quality LAN cable. CAT6 is recommended...

Review this:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/OrbiOS-2-1-4-10-kills-Internet-access-if-you-use-Ethernet-back...

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-firmware-update-v2-1-4-16-availability/m-p/1592753/highli...

@SDplinker wrote:

RBK23 only has 2 ports per device so there's no way to plug direct. RBK23 is fairly new I think (model is not in drop-down in the forums) - hoping for the best. It's a drag when my router is up on a cabinet upstairs and the satellites are dispersed - lots of trudging up and down. 🙂

ds-will · ‎2018-07-17

This firmware hosed my LAN. Please fix.

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-firmware-update-v2-1-4-16-stopped-my-LAN/td-p/1594578

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-07-17

How did it "hose" your LAN? More details please.

How is the system configured and set up? Placement?

Any switches in between the router and satellites?

Was a power OFF of the router and satellites for 1 minute after the FW was updated, then power ON the router and let it come to ready then power ON the satellites 1 at a time performed?

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/OrbiOS-2-1-4-10-kills-Internet-access-if-you-use-Ethernet-back...

Last resort, try a full factory erase on the router and satellites then set up from scratch. Others reported that this helped them:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-MR-2-1-Update-3-23-18/m-p/1548414/highlight/true#M27868
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/speed-slows-down-Orbi/m-p/1551822/highlight/true#M28289
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Is-2-1-3-4-in-auto-update/m-p/1553979/highlight/true#M28616
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-Satellite-RBS50-Not-Connecting-via-Ethernet/m-p/1556692/h...

@ds-will wrote:

This firmware hosed my LAN. Please fix.

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-firmware-update-v2-1-4-16-stopped-my-LAN/td-p/1594578

ds-will · ‎2018-07-17

I posted a link to more details. Here it is again: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-firmware-update-v2-1-4-16-stopped-my-LAN/td-p/1594578

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-07-17

That links to a different user. Please make a new post and share the details of your problem.

@ds-will wrote:

I posted a link to more details. Here it is again: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-firmware-update-v2-1-4-16-stopped-my-LAN/td-p/1594578

SDplinker · ‎2018-07-17

Thanks for the replies! My "unmanaged switch" is my old router with the wifi turned off. Semi-managed switch?? LOL. Maybe there is still enough going on to cause problem. Regardless I plan to get an unmanaged 8 port becuase i'm maxed anyway. Just wanted to try out what I had. Appreciate the links to order of operations - will have a go.

Thanks

Casey

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-07-17

Let us know how it goes when you get the non managed switch in.

Good Luck.

@SDplinker wrote:

Thanks for the replies! My "unmanaged switch" is my old router with the wifi turned off. Semi-managed switch?? LOL. Maybe there is still enough going on to cause problem. Regardless I plan to get an unmanaged 8 port becuase i'm maxed anyway. Just wanted to try out what I had. Appreciate the links to order of operations - will have a go.

Thanks

Casey

ds-will · ‎2018-07-17

@FURRYe38 Sorry, somehow got a different one on my clipboard. Here's my actual one, that's listed on my profile as well:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-Pro-WiFi-for-Small-Business/Orbi-Pro-satellite-with-v2-1-4-16-...

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-07-17

They should respond there. Thats the Orbi Pro forum thread. This forum is for the non Pro versions.

@ds-will wrote:

@FURRYe38 Sorry, somehow got a different one on my clipboard. Here's my actual one, that's listed on my profile as well:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-Pro-WiFi-for-Small-Business/Orbi-Pro-satellite-with-v2-1-4-16-...

ds-will · ‎2018-07-17

That's fine, but the Orbi Pro forum doesn't have a thread announcing the v2.1.4.16 release as this one does. And, it appears there are some using the non-Pro version with the same issue. So it stands to reason that this might improve visibility to the issue.

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-07-17

You can always start a thread of your own there as well. Yes, same base code I presume, however there are some differences.

ds-will · ‎2018-07-17

I... did... did you not see the link I posted?

FURRYe38 · ‎2018-07-17

Seems like there working with you already.

Good Luck.

globespy · ‎2018-07-18

Doesn't matter what I try (openDNS, Google, Cloudflare etc), is completely broken.
Thanks Netgear. You almost convinced me that you had your stuff together.
But nope. You don't.

Cmo1 · ‎2018-07-18

They definitely do not. And we have heard no words or signs of engineering presence in these forums for weeks. Most likely because they know their firmware is fundamentally broken. Kinda like how all the Trump supporters just STFU suddenly last night... Lol

GEMASON · ‎2018-07-18

This is the present layout of my Orbi system. I had a lot of connectivity issues with the release but it seems to be stable and performing well.

I moved “satellite G” to the first floor immediately below the router in the second floor. Also recently added a second wall satellite on the second floor.

I set the router to used a daisy chain topology and moved the router a few feet from a Phillips Hue hub. I susp3ct the Hue hub was the biggest issue.

Bottom line- I have good connectivity and performance now.

tsig · ‎2018-07-18

@Cmo1

Politic's aside.

If the product was "fundamentally broken", it wouldn't work for anyone. That is simply not the case. YOU and a vocal minority of others on this forum may have SOME issues, but you do not represent ALL users.

I have been using the Orbi for 8 months now. Went thru two automatic firmware updates. Added a 2nd satellite. NO drama. It simply sits there and does it's job very well, no muss no fuss.

ajshurts · ‎2018-07-18

@tsig wrote:

@Cmo1

Politic's aside.

If the product was "fundamentally broken", it wouldn't work for anyone. That is simply not the case. YOU and a vocal minority of others on this forum may have SOME issues, but you do not represent ALL users.

I have been using the Orbi for 8 months now. Went thru two automatic firmware updates. Added a 2nd satellite. NO drama. It simply sits there and does it's job very well, no muss no fuss.

I don't disagree with you, but dismissing the amount of issues raised with tumerity is not beneficial either. There is clearly something wrong. I am an IT professional with over 20 years of experience and had a great deal of issues tracking down problems. For instance, my latest problem was a faulty satellite that was causing my whole system to crash. To Netgear's credit, they replaced the satellite out of warranty, but it took a long time to diagnose the problem.

I don't believe Netgear has performed an adequate amount of functional or regression testing when it comes to the plethora of networking hardware that consumers use. For you, it may be flawless, but you may be using a limited set of hardware that they have functionally confirmed. My ISP only supports TWO modems that support speeds over 200Mbs. I am essentially limited to a Hitron CGNM-2252. That's my only choice as of right now (unless I want to pay $300/mo for gigabit speeds), and there seems to be issues.

To solve the problem, I disabled the routing functions on the Orbi and am now using a Ubiquiti Edgerouter Lite to perform the routing functions as I have much more granular control over the routing functions and its interactions with both the Orbi and my modem. This is not an option for all users though so for someone who may not be an advanced user, they end up with an "at best" partially functional system.

Cmo1 · ‎2018-07-18

Well I do think this hardware is great. The firmware just isn't. Maybe, and I'll say it's possible, I have and others may have a defective device. But since Netgear has **bleep**ty support periods... We can't get any help from them without paying another $400 for summing we already paid for.

GEMASON · ‎2018-07-18

Have you tried contacting them directly? A different approach might work.

cheshbr · ‎2018-07-18

tsig, I agree with you in your response to Cmo1 about the vocal minority not representing us all, I too have an RBK50 system that just works and always has in the 4 months I have had them. Perhaps those having issues should satisfy themselves that their hardware and/or connectivity between their ISP’s entry point and the Orbis is not the problem.

ajshurts · ‎2018-07-18

@cheshbr wrote:

tsig, I agree with you in your response to Cmo1 about the vocal minority not representing us all, I too have an RBK50 system that just works and always has in the 4 months I have had them. Perhaps those having issues should satisfy themselves that their hardware and/or connectivity between their ISP’s entry point and the Orbis is not the problem.

...but it is the problem and that's an uninformed approach.

Example - Orbi uses the 802.1D spanning tree protocol. This is a legacy protocol (WAY older than the Orbi itself). Most newer hardware runs Rapid STP (802.1w). These protocols have diffferent port states and so there has to be a "handshake" so-to-speak to switch protocol states between the two devices. There is then a keep-alive sent every two seconds to keep sync. Normally these STP differences are inconsequential, but not always true:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-STP-BPDU-errors/td-p/1329948

Assuming somethig is perfect because it works for you is not the way to solve problems.

globespy · ‎2018-07-18

So no working ipv6?
Really?
It's just like that? How incredibly foolish business practices!
I really liked the beta 2.1.3.4 firmware, is there any way to foolish the system by renaming the firmware internally and reinstall that version?
Thank good for Costco's electronics return policy.

ajshurts · ‎2018-07-18

@globespy wrote:
So no working ipv6?
Really?
It's just like that? How incredibly foolish business practices!
I really liked the beta 2.1.3.4 firmware, is there any way to foolish the system by renaming the firmware internally and reinstall that version?
Thank good for Costco's electronics return policy.

Downgrading firrmware is supported. You don't even have to fool it. Just login in to the web interface and manually apply the older version. I would also suggest reseting the devices after applying the downgraded firmware.

ds-will · ‎2018-07-18

I found that my Orbi auto upgraded its firmware. I'm curious what's to keep it from doing again if one downgrades?