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ORBI NEWSFLASH - Netgear Disabling Forced Auto-Update on Upcoming Orbi Firmware
Hello Netgear Community,
I have exciting news that pertains to Orbi users! A Netgear representative notified me today via Facebook Messenger that over the next Orbi firmware releases that they ...
I am delighted to inform you all that as of Monday, February 25th, 2019, Netgear has released the firmware version allowing you to now disable automatic updates along with multitudes of bug fixes. I have yet to update to this new FW version yet as I don’t have time to do so as of this moment along with monitoring my system’s stability, but will update my system’s firmware tomorrow afternoon. I will start a separate discussion to later outline my review of the firmware update.
Please navigate to your product’s webpage and click on “downloads” and install the new FW version to get access to disable automatic updates!
We have finally been heard!
Best,
Hello again everyone,
I am going to do my very best in explaining how this works as I actually was able to update my system last night (the firmware has been rock-solid for me so far).
To Chuck_M's message:
- "Back to the original thread topic: Disabling Auto Update. Hate to break it to you, but that feature is not included in the newest (.32) version of firmware. If you carefully read the text referenced in the original message it says it will be included over the next FW RELEASES (not this release!)"
- MY RESPONSE: I believe I know what I wrote to Netgear and I also believe I know what their response was. Netgear's repsonse was written like that simply because they didn't know 100% if this was going to be implemented into this version release (apparently it was). If you read carefully on your version release notes, you will see displayed "Adds customer firmware pull", (at least mine did). Thus, surprisingly in this firmware, Netgear HAS implemented this feature!
Now, to clarify on how this works....
- It is apparent that there is no actual checkbox or option whatsoever to disable automatic updates as Netgear has removed that functionality entirely, eliminating the need for such an option. Now, the Orbi system, when it comes to firmware updates works exactly the same as previous routers manufactured by Netgear.
- The "Online Update" tab just allows you to still check Netgear's server for the latest version of firmware, but will not install it automatically anymore. You tell your system now when to install it when you hit "Update All" and you will know you have updated your unit to the latest firmware when the Orbi reports "No new firmware version available".
- The "Manual Update" tab allows you to do what most of us have always done, update our system manually. It works the same exact way, so nothing new to tell you there.
- The "A New Firmware Update is Available" banner displays still when your Orbi system has detected a new FW version is available. If you click on the badge, it will direct you to the "Online Update" in the "Firmware Update" section of your Orbi system. This will not automatically install the firmware update as per this firmware, but only allow you to hit "Update All" and update your satellites easily by having the system download the file directly and install it itself. As always, once you performed that step in updating, you then need to update your Orbi Router.
To confirm my information and ensure it is accurate, I will reach-out to a Netgear representative. I, however, am pretty certain this is how they worked it as all previous routers, again, manufactured by Netgear have UI and Firmware Updates designed in the similar fashion. If you have any questions, feel free to respond.
Best and regards,