Re: RBR20 won't allow MacOS update

doctboo · ‎2019-10-31

So, I don't know if it was the last firmware update or what, but my ORBI RBR20 gives me the dreaded "The request timed out" message that's been going around if I try to use MacOS Update. I know it's the router because:

My house has a hot Cat6 from the ISP, i.e. no modem, and the updates work just fine if I bypass the ORBI.
I did a factory reset on the ORBI to make sure it wasn't some setting I tinkered with previously.
I've tried all the published workarounds for the time out error and none of them work.

Anyone else run into this?

Any ideas that aren't

Boot into Safe Mode
Update the DNS
Bypass my ORBI and use the hot line coming into the house to run updates

FURRYe38 · ‎2019-11-02

"What's my IP: Prefix is 172"

Ok, this tells us that there is router infront of the RBR. To make this easier, I would setup the RBR for AP mode. This will reduce the number of routers on the same line and should resolve this for you.

https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktop
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Disabled-Features-on-the-Router-when-set-to-AP-Mode

View solution in original post

FURRYe38 · ‎2019-10-31

Are you getting a private IP address from your ISP? 192 or 172 or 10 IP address on the WAN or Internet side of the RBR? If so, there is a upstream router in front of the RBR. A public IP address from the ISP is preferred, ##.##.###.###.

What FW version is currently loaded?

doctboo · ‎2019-11-02

We're stepping outside my understanding, so I'm just providing as much information as I can

I do not have access to anything upstream from the RBR20. That's all managed by the ISP and is outside my house.
RBR20: Get IP dynamically from ISP
Macbook: IPv4 and Router both show a 192 prefix in the network settings
What's my IP: Prefix is 172
RBR20 WAN: Never configured anything there, so it's set to defaults.
Router Firmware Version: V2.3.5.26

Thanks for responding FURRYe38

FURRYe38 · ‎2019-11-02

"What's my IP: Prefix is 172"

Ok, this tells us that there is router infront of the RBR. To make this easier, I would setup the RBR for AP mode. This will reduce the number of routers on the same line and should resolve this for you.

https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktop
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Disabled-Features-on-the-Router-when-set-to-AP-Mode

doctboo · ‎2019-11-07

This worked for the MacOS update, which was my primary concern as it was the only connectivity issue I was having. However, switching to AP mode has so many restrictions and caused me even more issues with other devices in the house, that I just ran the update and switched back. I've also had my public IP whitelisted for work access, and it's clear my ISP recently changed the way they provision IPs--in August, my public IP prefix was 66.

I think I'll go back to the ISP and see if I can find out why they changed it and perhaps get back to where I was as it was much simpler.

FURRYe38 · ‎2019-11-07

Well the modem your using already has a built in router or there is some form of router up stream in front of the Orbi RBR.

If you can gain access to this modem you could use it's DMZ or IP Pass-thru feature for the RBR and then you could run the RBR in router mode, letting you have full access to the Orbi features in router mode.

Options for users with modems with built in routers:

1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode. <Might check with your ISP about this as well.

At least you got it working for now.

Enjoy.

Retired_Member · ‎2019-11-07

@doctboo wrote:
So, I don't know if it was the last firmware update or what, but my ORBI RBR20 gives me the dreaded "The request timed out" message that's been going around if I try to use MacOS Update.

Was your network ever working correctly? If so, what changed?