No automatic firmware updates anymore for RBK53 (RBR50 + RBR50)

[Moby2kBug]

Beginning with some firmware versions ago I have to manually initiate firmware updates by downloading them and then perform the manual firmware update steps.

Before that, the Orbi systems did update themself without any necessary human intervention. I would like to return to this state.

Since I was also hassling with wanting to have 2 different SSIDs for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wifi, I stumbled over the telnet debug option.

With help of the telnet session I found the log file of the automatic firmware update process under /var/auto_fw_upgrade_log.

It contained the following information:

[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:17]:Trying to get upgrade folder from cloud 1 time...
[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:17]:Mode is CHECK_ON_DEMAND_GUI, Beta Acceptance is false.
[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:18]:Successfully receive url: "https://http.fw.updates1.netgear.com/rbr50/default", the same url as previously
[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:18]:fileinfo exist!!!
[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:19]:Different firmware trigger type or path, redownload fileinfo!!!
[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:19]:start download fileinfo!!!!!!!!
[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:19]:url=https://http.fw.updates1.netgear.com/rbr50/default/ww/fileinfo.txt,file=/tmp/fileinfo.txt

[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:20]:Download fileinfo.txt successfully!!!

[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:20]:---------------------------------------------
      firmware:
      ver =V2.3.5.30
      file=/rbr50/ww/RBR50-V2.3.5.30.img
      md5 =27E6CE82C520FC7840676BE4612CFA1C
      size=42993793
---------------------------------------------

[FW UPGRADE][2019-12-19 19:43:20]:send signal to satellites to check fw trigger by GUI...

It seems like the file https://http.fw.updates1.netgear.com/rbr50/default/ww/fileinfo.txt gets not updated by Netgear, since it reports back that the firmware version 2.3.5.30 is the latest one?

If I look into the file fileinfo.txt at the URL, I get following output:

[Major2]
file=RBR50-V2.3.5.30.img
md5=27E6CE82C520FC7840676BE4612CFA1C
size=42993793
o16=<MSG2416>
c2=<MSG2210>
c3=<MSG2332>
r1=<MSG2344>
o48=<MSG2348>
o60=<MSG2360>
r5=<MSG23530>
... <continues on for all the languages!> 

@netgear you should take a look into that, thanks!

What about you guys? Do you get a different fileinfo.txt URL and content back from Netgear?

[CrimpOn]

My RBR50 performs this FW Update check once each day.  You raise two issues:

1. Automatic (hidden) vs. User Controlled.  You are correct that the default behavior for the Orbi product was for the Orbi to discover new firmware, download, install, and reboot without any user intervention.  This was different than the way the Nighthawk line worked, and there were instances of forum members expressing dismay, frustration, and anger that Netgear was doing this.  After several embarassing episodes, Netgear announced that they would no longer automatically install firmware updates except for major releases.  (Notice the comment in the log file about "Major number is not different.")  There is obviously a setting (somewhere) for whether beta releases are downloaded, so perhaps there is a setting somewhere that any different firmware should be processed. If so, I do not recall anyone mentioning it.  At this point, I fear you probably cannot have what you want.
   
2. Manual Download Required.  This does not match what others have reported.  What seems to happen is the Orbi learns of new firmware and when the user logs in to the web interface (or opens the horrid "app"), a notice pops up announcing the new firmware and inviting the user to install it.  People have reported that it works (except for the "app").  They click, the firmware gets installed, and off they go.  This is exactly how the Nighthawk line behaves.
   
   So, my impression is that your experience does not match that of other Orbi owners.  There are some forum members who prefer to do a manual download and install of firmware, and then even perform a factory reset and configure from scratch.  But, that is their choice.  When new firmware is announced, maybe you can try the "click update" method before doing a manual download?

Sorry to be so negative.  Maybe other forum contriibutors have better news than I do.

[FURRYe38]

NG now only automatically push updates Orbi using Major version upgrades of there FW. Minor version upgrades are left to users to decide to update the system or not. There is a notification with in the RBRs web page when these minor updates are made avaiallbe for users to choose to update or not. 

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@Moby2kBug wrote:

Beginning with some firmware versions ago I have to manually initiate firmware updates by downloading them and then perform the manual firmware update steps.

Before that, the Orbi systems did update themself without any necessary human intervention. I would like to return to this state.