AiMesh and power failures

[pilotbob3]

Hi All,

Anyone else have the same problem? I am running an AiMesh configuration with four AiMesh nodes. All my units are RT-68U devices. I've had this problem with all the software releases, and now am running 3.0.0.4.384.45717. All units except one are using Ethernet backhaul.

System works great for me as a whole. Need the configuration since I have foiled insulation in the walls which cause the needs for the large number of nodes.

I've had a number of home power failures (California of course) over the last year that I've been using AiMesh. Every time, when the power comes back up, the system comes back up with all sorts of strange behavior including that wireless connectivity stops (unable to connect anywhere within the home from any device). I'm unable to use the system until I do a full factory reset on each of the boxes, reconfigure the primary router and then do the AiMesh search and connect from each node.

Any ideas on what I can be doing wrong? I've done a full factory reset after installing any software revision as well.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Hi All,

Anyone else have the same problem? I am running an AiMesh configuration with four AiMesh nodes. All my units are RT-68U devices. I've had this problem with all the software releases, and now am running 3.0.0.4.384.45717. All units except one are using Ethernet backhaul.

System works great for me as a whole. Need the configuration since I have foiled insulation in the walls which cause the needs for the large number of nodes.

I've had a number of home power failures (California of course) over the last year that I've been using AiMesh. Every time, when the power comes back up, the system comes back up with all sorts of strange behavior including that wireless connectivity stops (unable to connect anywhere within the home from any device). I'm unable to use the system until I do a full factory reset on each of the boxes, reconfigure the primary router and then do the AiMesh search and connect from each node.

Any ideas on what I can be doing wrong? I've done a full factory reset after installing any software revision as well.

Maybe a UPS on at least the modem/router would solve most of the problem?

OE

 

[Ronald Schwerer]

I can't see how a power failure could require a full re-config. I unplug my router/nodes all the time and they boot right up. You might need to wait 5 minutes for them to completely boot and rediscover the nodes. Regardless, make a backup of the router settings. +1 on the UPS (plus surge protection). Are these long-term outages or just transients?

 

[Gar]

I live in AR and have a fair number of outages in the Springtime. I use a UPS on the modem and router only and it spares me the reboot headaches I had before. No waiting for them to initialize. You only need a small unit unless you need it to last quite a while. In the meantime your laptop or tablet can still access the web if necessary.

 

[Smokindog]

These periodically go on sale for $20. I've got one on each AP, my cell spot, and my alarm clock .
https://www.newegg.com/apc-bge90m-nema-1-15r/p/N82E16842301444?Item=N82E16842301444

The modem and main router are each on a UPS similar to this. They'll go on sale for $100-$110 periodically.
https://www.newegg.com/cyberpower-gx1325u-nema-5-15r/p/N82E16842102238?Item=N82E16842102238

Fortunately I've got a great little electronics place close by that sells 9Ah AGM's for under $20 because every 3-4 years I need replacements

 

[pilotbob3]

Thanks guys for the suggestions,

California is in a weird power situation due to government and utility mismanagement. Believe it or not, I'm in Silicon Valley and have had six relatively local power outages over the last six months, all lasting hours and up to a day. Now, we are going to face forced outages over the fire season when the utilities turn down the power over high wind events....

Anyhow, I'll think about getting a UPS for the main router and my cable modem. Been thinking about doing this anyway. Still wondering why the AiMesh won't recover in such a situation.

 

[Grisu]

It should recover without any problems!
There is no difference to power off and on again for maintenance and some even do it on regularly basis every night.
UPS for such long times and all routers will be expensive and wont be an option for me.

 

[Smokindog]

It should recover without any problems!
There is no difference to power off and on again for maintenance and some even do it on regularly basis every night.
UPS for such long times and all routers will be expensive and wont be an option for me.

How is $20 every 3-4 years considered expensive. In fact one could argue it could prolong the life of your equipment and usefulness of your network by protecting devices from dirty power.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Anyhow, I'll think about getting a UPS for the main router and my cable modem. Been thinking about doing this anyway. Still wondering why the AiMesh won't recover in such a situation.

If the situation is unreliable power, then I would expect unreliable electronics and function.

OE

 

[L&LD]

There is a huge difference to rebooting or pulling the power plug from the router and having power failures caused by your supplier.

Multiple overvoltages withing seconds, just like extended brownout conditions that keep the equipment on and apparently functioning for a few milliseconds or more but in reality are too low in voltage for the equipment to operate correctly are both very bad to your equipment and to your user experiences.

Because you may go through one or one hundred power failures and don't see any issues with your equipment doesn't mean the next one will affect them the same.

 

[dosborne]

There is a huge difference to rebooting or pulling the power plug from the router and having power failures caused by your supplier.

+1

Even though I rarely have power issues where I live, I always run on a UPS. Anything that stays on 24/7 deserves it in my book. Currently, I have 5 UPSs. The routers take so little power compared to a PC that they can run a long time on a relatively small unit.

Routers and infrastructure are my second highest priority, but I would *never* run a NAS without a monitored UPS. When the batteries get to 10% scripts fire off to shut down everything possible. Nonessential devices get sent shutdown commands at 50%.

 

[Grisu]

There is a huge difference to rebooting or pulling the power plug from the router and having power failures caused by your supplier.

Multiple overvoltages withing seconds, just like extended brownout conditions that keep the equipment on and apparently functioning for a few milliseconds or more but in reality are too low in voltage for the equipment to operate correctly are both very bad to your equipment and to your user experiences.

Because you may go through one or one hundred power failures and don't see any issues with your equipment doesn't mean the next one will affect them the same.

From wiki: A brownout is a drop in voltage in an electrical power supply.

And against overvoltage you should have a Surge Protective Device SPD in your electrical installation (standard where I live in newer houses), they will save all your electric devices not only the router behind UPS.

But I agree that today, where most power adapters have a wide supply range 110-240V you are fully affected by brownout, while rest of the world with 220-240V wont even see them as still within operational range by lowering to 50%.

 

[Jumpstarter]

I know this is alittle off topic, but has anyone successfully ran an entware setup off of a node yet?

 

[Ronald Schwerer]

A little?

 

[L&LD]

From wiki: A brownout is a drop in voltage in an electrical power supply.

And against overvoltage you should have a Surge Protective Device SPD in your electrical installation (standard where I live in newer houses), they will save all your electric devices not only the router behind UPS.

But I agree that today, where most power adapters have a wide supply range 110-240V you are fully affacted by brownout, while rest of the world with 220-240V wont even see them as still within operational range by lowering to 50%.

I've seen (old and very large) printers that were operating in brownout conditions when nothing else in the office was affected. When I was told to supply the printer it's own power cable run, I was a little skeptical. But as every other option had been exhausted by this point, I followed orders.

All the issues that that printer had immediately went away when the electrician finally tripped the breaker and powered up that old system with its own little 'box' as he called it. I've become a believer since.

Within operational range may be fine for electrical motors and other such machinery.

Electronics though have their own idea of what tolerances are acceptable.