24
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by sylverstream@lemmy.nz to c/selfhosted@lemmy.world

/edit: did a firmware upgrade of the AP and can't replicate it anymore. Thanks all for the input, much appreciated. In case it happens again I will use your tips.

I have a very weird issue. I've got a relatively simple network setup:

  • router connected to ONT (Fibre)
  • 10 port switch A connected to router, cables to various places in house
  • 4 port switch B connected to switch A, with TV & Xbox connected
  • Unify WiFi AP connected to switch A, both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz networks

That works well. However, when I connect the WiFi AP to switch B I'm having issues. Initially it all works well, but after ~30 minutes the wifi stops working; I can no longer ping e.g. the router. It only happens to one of the WiFi networks (2.4Ghz or 5Ghz), not both. A reboot of the AP solves it again, but then it stops working after ~30 minutes.

Both switch A and B are 1Ghz switches, zero issues with other devices.

Any idea what I can try?

top 17 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] just_another_person@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

Double check the AP doesn't have a DHCP server enabled. Also, check routes and IP settings when a client first connects to the AP and things work, then again when things stop working.

[-] sylverstream@lemmy.nz 3 points 3 months ago

Yep, thanks for checking, there's only 1 DHCP server on my network. I've just moved it back to behind switch B and will do more investigation when the problem occurs again.

[-] NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

I can imagine several causes:

  • more than one DHCP server in your network (most likely)

  • very wrong DNS setup in your network (unlikely, because I guess you would have given us a hint in that direction)

  • heavy downloading traffic and one cheap plastic device (router, switch etc.) runs out of memory

[-] sylverstream@lemmy.nz 2 points 3 months ago

There's only a single DHCP server, a Pihole, which also serves as DNS. Switch B is a cheaper switch, so that may be the culprit. I use it for heavy downloading from my Xbox and that is never a big issue. Speeds fluctuate from 100 to 900mbps (my max) but that's not necessarily a switch problem.

[-] NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Measure the time after the reboot of the AP until the next failure.

If it is always the same duration, then that excludes the memory problem. If it is a variable time, then that excludes the DHCP problem and probably also DNS.

[-] fhqwgads@possumpat.io 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Do you have a continuously running unifi controller or is it only running when you do the config? Does it do the same thing with the controller opposite to how it is now (ie if you aren't running it does it do it when you leave the controller on)?

Are you running the 2.4 and 5 as separate SSIDs or the same one?

Are you on the latest controller and firmware?

[-] sylverstream@lemmy.nz 2 points 3 months ago

It's a standalone AP. No controller. Two different SSIDs.

I've had it running now for 2 hours and of course now it works. The only change since last time is that I've reset the AP and did a firmware upgrade. Perhaps that fixed it...

[-] fhqwgads@possumpat.io 1 points 3 months ago

Which model is it? As far as I'm aware all the Unifi APs need the controller for config. It doesn't need to stay running unless you want a couple features for large deployments but you do need to run it to set things up initially. The Air Max / uisp lines are the ones with web based config.

[-] sylverstream@lemmy.nz 2 points 3 months ago

AC Lite. It doesn't need controller, it's standalone. I configure it via the mobile app.

[-] fhqwgads@possumpat.io 1 points 3 months ago

Ah, ok. The Unifi stuff is a bit weird like that. I recommend installing the controller on a computer if you continue to have issues. You don't have to run it all the time, just use it for config and then turning it off is fine. It'll give you way more information and control over exactly how the AP is set up.

[-] jake_jake_jake_@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

from your router can you ping the AP behind that switch, while the issue is occurring? All L2 unmanaged switches, no tagging? POE from the switch or an injector? If from the switch maybe put an injector in between?

I work for an ISP in the network engineering dept, I personally have never seen an issue exactly like this before, but we generally do power calculations for switching and wifi, this sounds like a power issue to me.

[-] sylverstream@lemmy.nz 2 points 3 months ago

I've just moved it back to behind switch B, will do testing as you suggest.

The switch doesn't have POE, the Unifi AP does use POE via its own POE injector.

[-] SpazOut@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I had a similar issue and it related to the uplink connectivity monitor. Unifi monitors the gateway and controller IP and withdraws the SSID if it can’t contact either of them. Make sure you have turned off wireless meshing on the device and I think you can manually disable the uplink connectivity monitor.

[-] Decronym@lemmy.decronym.xyz 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters More Letters
AP WiFi Access Point
DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, automates assignment of IPs when connecting to a network
DNS Domain Name Service/System
IP Internet Protocol
PoE Power over Ethernet
Unifi Ubiquiti WiFi hardware brand

6 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 11 acronyms.

[Thread #922 for this sub, first seen 15th Aug 2024, 07:45] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

[-] teslasaur@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Reset the AP to make sure it uses dhcp for its own ip and update firmware from unifi network after adopting the AP again.

Test it by swapping places of the access points to find out if the issue is related to the access points or something else.

[-] sylverstream@lemmy.nz 1 points 3 months ago

Thanks. I've recently reset it, it has its own IP via DHCP. I've just moved it back to behind switch B, will do testing as you suggest.

[-] femtech@midwest.social 1 points 3 months ago
this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024
24 points (96.2% liked)

Selfhosted

40199 readers
258 users here now

A place to share alternatives to popular online services that can be self-hosted without giving up privacy or locking you into a service you don't control.

Rules:

  1. Be civil: we're here to support and learn from one another. Insults won't be tolerated. Flame wars are frowned upon.

  2. No spam posting.

  3. Posts have to be centered around self-hosting. There are other communities for discussing hardware or home computing. If it's not obvious why your post topic revolves around selfhosting, please include details to make it clear.

  4. Don't duplicate the full text of your blog or github here. Just post the link for folks to click.

  5. Submission headline should match the article title (don’t cherry-pick information from the title to fit your agenda).

  6. No trolling.

Resources:

Any issues on the community? Report it using the report flag.

Questions? DM the mods!

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS