My post relates to an issue with ASUS AiMesh and 2.4GHz clients.
I have configured a Blue Cave as the AiMesh router and 2x RT-AC68U's as AiMesh nodes. The AiMesh nodes connect wirelessly to the router (i.e. they are not connected using a cable).
The problem is when my AiMesh nodes are turned on they will substitute the first 6-digits of the MAC address of 2.4GHz clients and assign a different IP address, resulting in the same device appearing twice on the network with two different MAC addresses (one real, the other one prefixed by ASUS) and two IP addresses.
For example, if a 2.4GHz client has a 'real' MAC address of DC:F5:05:42:10:0C it can (and will) appear on the network with a MAC of 0E:9D:92:42:10:0C or B2:6E:BF:42:10:0C (depending on which of the AiMesh nodes the client has attached to) and be assigned a new IP address!
This means my wi-fi enabled AC's, light bulbs, speakers and solar inverter 'disappear' from their respective apps/web monitoring page. My home automation also breaks because clients don't appear as expected (they're assigned a different IP and MAC).
This problem only exists with the AiMesh nodes running! If the AiMesh nodes are turned off, the 2.4GHz clients will correctly attach to the Blue Cave AiMesh router with its correct MAC address and be assigned an IP address. I recreate the problem simply by powering up one or both of my AiMesh nodes.
I've had a support call open with ASUS for weeks, so far without any suggestion of what is wrong.
I've tried everything I can think of to fix the problem (including factory hard-resets and rebuild of the entire network) but without resolution.
If anyone has any idea what might be causing the problem or have fixed it, please let me know!
In the meantime I'll post updates with any information I receive from ASUS.
I have configured a Blue Cave as the AiMesh router and 2x RT-AC68U's as AiMesh nodes. The AiMesh nodes connect wirelessly to the router (i.e. they are not connected using a cable).
The problem is when my AiMesh nodes are turned on they will substitute the first 6-digits of the MAC address of 2.4GHz clients and assign a different IP address, resulting in the same device appearing twice on the network with two different MAC addresses (one real, the other one prefixed by ASUS) and two IP addresses.
For example, if a 2.4GHz client has a 'real' MAC address of DC:F5:05:42:10:0C it can (and will) appear on the network with a MAC of 0E:9D:92:42:10:0C or B2:6E:BF:42:10:0C (depending on which of the AiMesh nodes the client has attached to) and be assigned a new IP address!
This means my wi-fi enabled AC's, light bulbs, speakers and solar inverter 'disappear' from their respective apps/web monitoring page. My home automation also breaks because clients don't appear as expected (they're assigned a different IP and MAC).
This problem only exists with the AiMesh nodes running! If the AiMesh nodes are turned off, the 2.4GHz clients will correctly attach to the Blue Cave AiMesh router with its correct MAC address and be assigned an IP address. I recreate the problem simply by powering up one or both of my AiMesh nodes.
I've had a support call open with ASUS for weeks, so far without any suggestion of what is wrong.
I've tried everything I can think of to fix the problem (including factory hard-resets and rebuild of the entire network) but without resolution.
If anyone has any idea what might be causing the problem or have fixed it, please let me know!
In the meantime I'll post updates with any information I receive from ASUS.