Merlin DHCP Problems

[D3m0nicSoul]

Hello,

So i have a desktop PC hard wired to a RT-AC3200 running AsusWRT-Merlin. I keep getting this weird DHCP requests and some errors in the log saying " Failed to get IP for interface eth0" If I 'am playing an online game the desktop loses connection for a second and boots me from the game. Any help would be appreciated. Also I 'am running the latest version of Merlin and i have factory reset the device and re setup from scratch. Thanks.

 

[L&LD]

Have you tried a different or good/known cable (CAT5e or higher)?

 

[D3m0nicSoul]

Have you tried a different or good/known cable (CAT5e or higher)?

Yes, the fios modem/router is connected to the asus router with a cat 6 cable. It was working fine about a week ago and then i just started losing connection when playing online games. I had original fw back then when it first started and upgraded to Merlin since Asus fw is buggy. I think the DHCP of the xbox ones is probably because they have the same hostname? But the eth0 which i believe is the WAN port seems to keep losing connection and reconnecting almost instantly. Not sure if i should be looking at the modem or Asus router.

 

[ColinTaylor]

I would be concerned about 2 things:-

1) You have 2 devices connected simultaneously called XBOXONE. Ok, one is called XBOXONE and the other XboxOne, but strictly speaking host names are case insensitive so that is worrying. If they are two different consoles give them different names. If they are the same console but one connection is wired and the other wireless, disconnect one. Don't have wired and wireless connected at the same time.

2) Your WAN interface seems to be constantly cloning different MAC addresses. That looks very wrong.

 

[D3m0nicSoul]

I would be concerned about 2 things:-

1) You have 2 devices connected simultaneously called XBOXONE. Ok, one is called XBOXONE and the other XboxOne, but strictly speaking host names are case insensitive so that is worrying. If they are two different consoles give them different names. If they are the same console but one connection is wired and the other wireless, disconnect one. Don't have wired and wireless connected at the same time.

2) Your WAN interface seems to be constantly cloning different MAC addresses. That looks very wrong.

They are 2 different consoles I can rename one that's no big deal. It weird cause it just started complaining. For the wan how do it fix it from cloning Mac addresses? It literally just started idk why it's doing this.

 

[ColinTaylor]

They are 2 different consoles I can rename one that's no big deal. It weird cause it just started complaining. For the wan how do it fix it from cloning Mac addresses? It literally just started idk why it's doing this.

Yes, definitely rename one of the Xboxes.

I take it from your reply that you are not deliberately trying to clone the MAC addresses. In which case go to WAN > Internet Connection > Special Requirement from ISP. Check the Host Name and MAC Address fields, they should both be empty. If not, clear them and hit Apply.

After that it's probably worth rebooting everything and seeing if the problem still occurs.

 

[D3m0nicSoul]

Yes, definitely rename one of the Xboxes.

I take it from your reply that you are not deliberately trying to clone the MAC addresses. In which case go to WAN > Internet Connection > Special Requirement from ISP. Check the Host Name and MAC Address fields, they should both be empty. If not, clear them and hit Apply.

After that it's probably worth rebooting everything and seeing if the problem still occurs.

OK so I renamed my xbox and so far no crazy Dhcp stuff. I also removed the mac cloning after I took a look. I guess it'll see what happens. It doesn't really make any sense because I'm pretty sure that Mac cloning has always been filled in. Maybe my isp changed something?

 

[D3m0nicSoul]

Spoke too soon. I tried assigning the Xbox a static IP but that didnt work. It seems to only request an IP constantly when it is in Instant on mode. For now i will just have it shut down completely. I did a google search and some other people are having the same problem. Weird...

Mar 2 01:57:38 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:57:38 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:57:59 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:57:59 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:58:13 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:58:13 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:58:23 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:58:23 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:58:32 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:58:32 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:58:41 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:58:41 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:58:50 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:58:50 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:58:59 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:58:59 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:59:07 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:59:07 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:59:17 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:59:17 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:59:25 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:59:25 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:59:49 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:59:49 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 01:59:57 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 01:59:57 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:00:05 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:00:05 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:00:13 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:00:13 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:00:16 disk_monitor: Got SIGALRM...
Mar 2 02:00:22 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:00:22 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:00:30 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:00:30 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:00:39 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:00:39 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:00:49 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:00:49 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:00:57 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:00:57 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:01:10 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:01:10 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:01:15 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:01:15 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:05:37 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:05:37 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:05:47 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:05:47 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:05:55 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:05:55 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:06:05 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:06:05 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:06:23 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:06:23 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:06:34 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:06:34 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:06:42 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:06:42 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:07:05 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:07:05 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:07:13 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:07:13 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:07:21 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:07:21 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:07:31 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:07:31 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:07:46 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:07:46 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:08:01 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:08:01 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX
Mar 2 02:08:05 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE)
Mar 2 02:08:05 dnsmasq-dhcp[470]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.139 (MAC HERE) XBOX

 

[ColinTaylor]

Those messages probably aren't a problem, they're just annoying. They're frequently seen when devices are in sleep or standby mode.

It's the WAN messages that you want to worry about.

 

[ColinTaylor]

P.S. If you want to hide those DHCP messages there is an option in the routers GUI called "Hide queries". It's an indication of how common those messages are that Merlin added a new option just to get rid of them!

P.P.S. You don't need to hide your LAN MAC addresses, it just makes debugging more difficult.

 

[D3m0nicSoul]

P.S. If you want to hide those DHCP messages there is an option in the routers GUI called "Hide queries". It's an indication of how common those messages are that Merlin added a new option just to get rid of them!

P.P.S. You don't need to hide your LAN MAC addresses, it just makes debugging more difficult.

Yea i just saw that option in there. So far it seems like the mac clone fixed my issue i haven't been disconnected in an hour or 2. Thanks for the help!

 

[ColinTaylor]

It doesn't really make any sense because I'm pretty sure that Mac cloning has always been filled in.

I'm wondering whether there's a bug in the firmware. If you use MAC cloning then the router should be setting one MAC address once at startup. What you had was the MAC address being changed to different values, apparently randomly, every 10 seconds or so!

I had situation a while back in a different firmware version where the MAC address field picked up a value even though I'd never set it. Clearing the field appears to have solved that so far.

Maybe it's caused be some strange combination of missing or corrupted NVRAM variables.