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RT-AX88U Pro mesh node not working after scheduled reboot.

t_moore

Occasional Visitor
Greetings. So I've seen this issue a few times and thought I should post for help.

Network: I have 2 RT-AX88U-Pro routers, one as the main unit, and the other as a mesh node. Backhaul is Ethernet.
I have a reboot scheduled every Sunday at 5:02am, just because I like to make sure things are always clean (had ptsd from past routers having bugs, etc).

However, twice now, the main router reboots just fine, and the mesh node never reconnects via ethernet, i.e. all my wired devices to the mesh node lose ethernet and I have to manually reboot the router via the power switch.

From the logs (attached) of the mesh node, it looks like it's updating firmware everytime it reboots maybe? The time in the logs also resets to May 5th after a reboot then timesync kicks in. Very strange.

Any direction on the best way to debug this I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
 

Attachments

Greetings. So I've seen this issue a few times and thought I should post for help.

Network: I have 2 RT-AX88U-Pro routers, one as the main unit, and the other as a mesh node. Backhaul is Ethernet.
I have a reboot scheduled every Sunday at 5:02am, just because I like to make sure things are always clean (had ptsd from past routers having bugs, etc).

However, twice now, the main router reboots just fine, and the mesh node never reconnects via ethernet, i.e. all my wired devices to the mesh node lose ethernet and I have to manually reboot the router via the power switch.

From the logs (attached) of the mesh node, it looks like it's updating firmware everytime it reboots maybe? The time in the logs also resets to May 5th after a reboot then timesync kicks in. Very strange.

Any direction on the best way to debug this I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

I believe I've seen something similar when using the manual AiMesh system reboot, resulting in me having to go reboot the node manually. Do you enable Ethernet Backhaul Mode to disable wireless backhauls?... I do not since I want my wireless backhaul to turn ON if my MoCA backhaul glitches (MoCA has more active parts so it's a bit less reliable than just a passive Ethernet cable). I ask because I've seen some oddness with my wireless backhaul turning ON when it should but not turning OFF once the system settles to using the wired backhaul (toggling EBM fixes this)... so I'm still looking for clues and considering how system reboot timing and backhaul comms might be factors.

tldr: Stop scheduling unnecessary reboots! :)

When the router reboots, it uses a default date installed in the firmware until the router can retrieve the actual date from the Internet. So, the date change in the router log upon reboot is normal.

OE
 
Are you running the newest ASUSWRT or Merlin?

Do you have the backhaul set to ethernet only in the aimesh -> system settings? Or it is set to auto?

I have two RT-AX86U-Pro that also reboot weekly and both always reboot and work fine.
 
Switch from the 2.5 GB port to a 1 GB lan port on the router and the 1 GB WAN port on the AiMesh node. Also, do not use Ethernet Backhaul Mode but use all the Auto settings on AiMesh.
Would be a good idea to power cycle both not just reboot.
 
To answer everyone's questions:

- I am using the latest ASUS stock firmware on both routers (3.0.0.6.102_33352-gc733d6e_345-gf3514)
- My WAN port on the main router is connected to Google fiber with the 2.5GB WAN port
- My WAN port on the mesh node is connected from the 2.5GB WAN port to the main router 2.5GB WAN/LAN port
- Ethernet Backhaul mode is enabled, Mesh is set to 2.5GB WAN-Only for Backhaul connection priority.

(I can switch that to Auto I guess.. I just don't want it to use the Wifi as backhaul ever if I can help it. )

Otherwise, they seem to work fine unless the main router reboots.
 
Don't reboot the main router for no reason then. If it has to be rebooted to keep going - it has serious bugs.
 
Don't reboot the main router for no reason then. If it has to be rebooted to keep going - it has serious bugs.
I mean sure, that's an option. I'm just more interested in what causes the backhaul not to reconnect after the reboot. Probably a bug, sure, but it would be interesting if someone sees something in the logs I attached.
 
Have you watched to see if the node is actually rebooting when it's scheduled?
 
What I see in syslog file:

- clients with very weak signal disconnecting a reconnecting all the time
- reboot at 5.02am
- messy boot logs with lots of "error" and "failed" messages (may be normal)
- perhaps no Internet condition for hours (time sync failed)
- another reboot around 9h later
- the router stabilized at around 2.15pm
- clients with very weak signal disconnecting a reconnecting all the time again
- 2.4GHz band on potentially causing interference Ch.10 (may be okay based on environment)
- 5GHz band in DFS and 160MHz wide channel for unknown reasons (with perhaps 10min CAC in your region)

In general something seems wrong there with settings and network planning, if done at all. Channel selection potentially causing issues, channel bandwidth with reduced range, clients at the edges of coverage area, perhaps Internet connection issues on reboot, etc.
 
clients at the edges of coverage area

Looked at it again with my morning coffee... some of the devices frequently disconnecting have Apple MAC - mobile phones roaming? If Yes - the disconnection and reconnection messages can be normal. My suggestion for now is to set fixed Ch.6 on 2.4GHz at 20MHz bandwidth and Ch.36 on 5GHz with 80MHz bandwidth and test again. Unable to set system time from NTP for such a long period is something to investigate on the WAN connection.
 
Also, I believe that scheduled reboot does not reboot the AiMesh nodes. Best to not reboot the router unless there are issues or upgrades. And yes, disable Ethernet Backhaul Mode. If there is a problem with the Ethernet the nodes can connect via WIFI and you will keep connected.
 
disable Ethernet Backhaul Mode

This advice sounds like known firmware bug workaround. If Ethernet is used between nodes AiMesh must have an option for Ethernet backhaul only and it is expected to be working properly. If it doesn't work for whatever reason - Asus have to fix this.
 
Also, I believe that scheduled reboot does not reboot the AiMesh nodes. Best to not reboot the router unless there are issues or upgrades. And yes, disable Ethernet Backhaul Mode. If there is a problem with the Ethernet the nodes can connect via WIFI and you will keep connected.
When I was running RT-AC68U with Merlin 386.x they both would reboot. I haven't actually watched the node since switching to the RT-AX86U-Pro with ASUSWRT, but I assumed they would do they same.
 
Asuswrt-Merlin firmware has nothing to do with AiMesh - Asus proprietary closed source component. Whatever you find not working on stock Asuswrt firmware - report it in Feedback Form for a chance to see it fixed at some point down the firmware updates journey.
 
Asuswrt-Merlin firmware has nothing to do with AiMesh - Asus proprietary closed source component. Whatever you find not working on stock Asuswrt firmware - report it in Feedback Form for a chance to see it fixed at some point down the firmware updates journey.
If you were replying to me, I mentioned the Merlin firmware because the AiMesh proprietary component in the 3006.102 code might be different from the component in the 3004.386 code. So what worked for me back then, might not now and I haven't actually checked to see if it does.
 
I set my AX86U Pro router to schedule reboot and watched the AiMesh node and am pleased to report that the node rebooted with the router. The 2.5 GB Ethernet backhaul also connected.
 

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