RBR40 Orbi is providing an incorrect IP address

[rjp1111]

After a power outage, Orbi is no longer communicating with Verizon fiberoptic modem. Verizon support says "Orbi is providing an incorrect IP address", and Windows network diagnostics says "Wifi doesn't have a valid IP configuration". Router is an RBR40 with 2 satellites (satellites currently unplugged). There is normally also a Bitdefender Box between the Orbi and the Verizon modem, that is also currently disconnected (although that doesn't appear to change the situation.) Any suggestions short of a factory reset on the Orbi router? Already been through many power off/on cycles. Thanks.

[plemans]

verizon tends to use modem/router combo devices. It causes a double nat. And maybe your prior settings in the verizon box were erased or the ones in the orbi were. 

A double nat happens when you cascade more than 1 router.
https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
Fixes? There’s 3 options but only use 1.
1. Put the modem/gateway in modem only/pass through mode. This disables its routing functions.
2. Leave the modem/gateway in router mode but put the Netgears IP address into its DMZ. This forwards the data to the netgear. You can either leave the modem/gateway’s wireless enabled or disabled. Just make sure its using a different wifi channel to prevent interference
3. Put the Netgear into access point mode. This disables its routing functions. Wifi/ethernet still works but it does disable some features.
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Which-features-are-disabled-on-my-NETGEAR-router-when-it-is-set-to-AP-M...

[CrimpOn]

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@rjp1111 wrote:

After a power outage, .....There is normally also a Bitdefender Box between the Orbi and the Verizon modem, that is also currently disconnected (although that doesn't appear to change the situation.) Any suggestions short of a factory reset on the Orbi router? Already been through many power off/on cycles. Thanks.

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This actually sounds like three routers. Verizon->Bitdefender->Orbi. Is there more detail on that message "Orbi is providing..."  such as what is incorrect about the IP address information?

Is there a computer or laptop with ethernet port available for testing?

Do any other devices connect to the Orbi WiFi correctly?

[CrimpOn]

There is nothing inherently wrong about having more than one router. Thousands of customers simply hook up their new WiFi system to their ISP box and go about their business blissfully unaware that they have a "Double NAT".  There are specific applications which struggle with (or cannot function with) more than one router. If the customer does not use those features, then Double NAT is not an issue.  As an experiment, I set up three routers (Orbi, TP-Link, Orbi) and connected my laptop at the end. Web browsing works. Video streaming works. Email works. etc. etc.  What does not work are things like OpenVPN, port forwarding to local servers, certain internet games.  I use some of those features, so every device in the house is now connected to my primary Orbi which is connected to an ordinary modem (no router, no WiFi).

It seems to me that getting rid of Double-NAT is sort of like preventative hygene.  Quit smoking. Lose Weight. Have teeth cleaned. etc. Having multiple routers introduces a tiny  bit of inefficiency without adding any value.  Removing Double-NAT avoids potential issues in the future.

[rjp1111]

Thanks for the responses. To sort-of reply to both @plemans and @CrimpOn - best I can tell the Verizon device is only a modem, not a router. Verizon device appears to be an Alcatel-Lucent I-211M-L ONT if that is helpful. So with the Bitdefender Box removed, the only router involved is the Orbi.

I do have a PC I can connect by ethernet. The Orbi wifi network is showing as available and I sometimes can get devices to connect to it, but because there's no internet, some things don't like to stay connected. I was once able to get to orbilogin.net and see all the Orbi router settings, but haven't been able to get back again. Even with PC hard-wired to Orbi, orbilogin.net gives me a "you're not connected" page like it thinks I need to have internet. If I run Windows network diagnostic on the PC-to-Orbi ethernet connection, I get the same message "doesn't have a valid IP configuration".

Update regarding devices connecting to Orbi wifi network - my phone keeps trying but appears to keep getting stuck at "obtaining IP address..." then eventually give up and start over.

[CrimpOn]

Thanks for the update.

I suggest a step-wise approach.

1. Connect the PC directly to the ONT with an ethernet cable.
   The PC should get an IP address from the ONT and be able to access the internet.
   If so,
   
   
2. Record the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS entries as found on the Command LIne: ipconfig /all
   
3. Connect the Orbi router WAN (yellow) port to the ONT with an ethernet cable and the PC to one of the Orbi LAN ports.
   When the Orbi is powered up, it should go through a series of lights flashing at the top for about 2-3 minutes, ending up with a blue ring that lasts for about 2 minutes.
4. On the PC, check the status of the ethernet port with ipconfig /all.  It should have:
   an IP address in the range 192.168.1.x
   a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0
   a gateway address of 192.168.1.1
   a DNS address of 192.168.1.1
5. Open a web browser and connect to 192.168.1.1
   This should bring up the Orbi administrative web site.
   Here, things may differ:
6. If the Orbi is set up correctly, clicking on the Internet menu item should reveal that the Orbi router now has the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, etc. that the PC had previously.
   
   If the Orbi has been Factory Reset, then it should bring up the configuration process.

Can you try this and report what happens?

[rjp1111]

Thanks for the fast response. In case I wasn't clear earlier, I haven't yet done a factory reset on the Orbi. After powering on it eventually goes to solid magenta instead of blue. In your step 4, things are not matching what you said they should be, except for the subnet mask. And in step 5 I get the same problem as trying orbilogin.net or .com - always some message like unable to connect or find the site, can't reach the page, etc. That is with both Edge and Firefox, and after clearing all browser data.
Other things I noticed. Say my Orbi network name is "mywifi" . When I connect pc direct to ONT, it has network name "mywifi 2". When i connect pc to orbi, it initially said "unknown network". Then later changed to "mywifi 2". I ran ipconfig before and after and the addresses had changed. But none matched what you said they should be.

[CrimpOn]

If the Orbi was in Access Point (AP) mode when connected to the Bitdefender box, it will not function with an ordinary modem (ONT).

I would do the Factory Rest and start over.

[rjp1111]

I don't think Orbi was in AP mode since I think I read the satellites do not work with that. Regardless it is seeming like factory reset may be the path of least resistance at this point. I appreciate the help, thank you.

[CrimpOn]

Satellites work fine when the router is in AP mode.

Because of the dreaded "Double-NAT" many people would have chosen to put the Orbi into AP mode so that the Bitdefender was the only router.  As time goes by, details fade (at least for me).  Ask me about Jr. High, and I remember it all!