Netgear R7000 Nighthawk and Vera3

nlrb · July 15, 2014, 6:26pm

I recently purchased a new Netgear R7000 router to replace my existing WNDR3700. I must say that the wireless range and speeds improved significantly, but did run into one problem. It could take a very long time before the connected devices would get an IP(v4) address via DHCP (could be more than 1 minute). Quite annoying.

After some trial and error I found out that the problem only occurred when the Vera3 was connected to the network. Once I removed the Vera3 from the network, devices would get an IP address immediately via DHCP…

I logged a support case with Netgear (23406993) and made Wireshark traces that I provided to them. From the traces it is pretty clear what happens. Once a PC on the network asks for an IP address, the R7000 router will offer one and and immediately the Vera3 will respond with a DHCPNAK. This restarts the DHCP process on the R7000 and it will offer the same IP over and over. Only once the PC is able to respond faster with an ACK than the Vera3, the DHCP process is completed.

[code]No. Time 1345 11.999778000 0.0.0.0 1346 11.999778000 0.0.0.0 1347 12.010544000 192.168.1.175 1348 12.010545000 192.168.1.175 1355 12.018680000 0.0.0.0 1356 12.018680000 0.0.0.0 1382 12.068509000 192.168.1.1 1400 12.348495000 192.168.1.1 1401 12.349091000 0.0.0.0 1402 12.349092000 0.0.0.0 1405 12.370342000 192.168.1.175 1406 12.370344000 192.168.1.175 1407 12.376464000 0.0.0.0 1408 12.376467000 0.0.0.0 1412 12.418512000 192.168.1.1 1439 12.559131000 192.168.1.1 1440 12.566502000 0.0.0.0 1441 12.566505000 0.0.0.0 1443 12.580005000 192.168.1.175 1444 12.580006000 192.168.1.175 1445 12.591098000 0.0.0.0 1446 12.591099000 0.0.0.0 1448 12.618419000 192.168.1.1 1471 12.838508000 192.168.1.1 1472 12.839508000 0.0.0.0 1473 12.839510000 0.0.0.0 1483 12.880276000 192.168.1.175 1484 12.880282000 192.168.1.175 1485 12.885786000 0.0.0.0 1486 12.885788000 0.0.0.0 1488 12.928485000 192.168.1.1 1508 13.088451000 192.168.1.1 1509 13.088800000 0.0.0.0 1510 13.088801000 0.0.0.0 1512 13.110367000 192.168.1.175 1513 13.110369000 192.168.1.175 1514 13.115806000 0.0.0.0 1515 13.115808000 0.0.0.0 1518 13.168478000 192.168.1.1 1531 13.368479000 192.168.1.1 1532 13.369377000 0.0.0.0 1533 13.369378000 0.0.0.0 1536 13.385110000 192.168.1.175 1537 13.385112000 192.168.1.175 1538 13.390502000 0.0.0.0 1539 13.390504000 0.0.0.0 1545 13.459142000 192.168.1.1 1559 13.588471000 192.168.1.1 1560 13.589799000 0.0.0.0 1561 13.589800000 0.0.0.0 1563 13.616183000 192.168.1.175 1564 13.616184000 192.168.1.175 1565 13.620823000 0.0.0.0 1566 13.620824000 0.0.0.0 1570 13.678458000 192.168.1.1 1789 14.018423000 192.168.1.1 1790 14.019471000 0.0.0.0 1791 14.019471000 0.0.0.0 1792 14.039960000 192.168.1.175 1793 14.039961000 192.168.1.175 1796 14.050041000 0.0.0.0 1797 14.050042000 0.0.0.0 1801 14.138450000 192.168.1.1 1814 14.300199000 192.168.1.1 1815 14.301087000 0.0.0.0 1816 14.301091000 0.0.0.0 1817 14.311365000 192.168.1.175 1818 14.311367000 192.168.1.175 1821 14.316712000 0.0.0.0 1822 14.316714000 0.0.0.0 1826 14.389319000 192.168.1.1 1853 14.539083000 192.168.1.1 1857 14.539833000 0.0.0.0 1858 14.539835000 0.0.0.0 1868 14.563014000 192.168.1.175 1869 14.563018000 192.168.1.175 1870 14.566950000 0.0.0.0 1871 14.566951000 0.0.0.0 1882 14.618422000 192.168.1.1 1898 14.779087000 192.168.1.1 1900 14.782625000 0.0.0.0 1901 14.782626000 0.0.0.0 1902 14.790027000 192.168.1.175 1903 14.790028000 192.168.1.175 1904 14.793336000 0.0.0.0 1905 14.793338000 0.0.0.0 1908 14.872575000 192.168.1.1 1943 15.078499000 192.168.1.1 1944 15.079439000 0.0.0.0 1945 15.079441000 0.0.0.0 1948 15.099595000 192.168.1.175 1949 15.099602000 192.168.1.175 1950 15.105061000 0.0.0.0 1951 15.105062000 0.0.0.0 1952 15.159094000 192.168.1.1 1989 15.569062000 192.168.1.1 1990 15.569799000 0.0.0.0 1991 15.569800000 0.0.0.0 1992 15.580756000 192.168.1.175 1993 15.580758000 192.168.1.175 1995 15.585750000 0.0.0.0 1996 15.585751000 0.0.0.0 2002 15.638456000 192.168.1.1 2056 16.091263000 192.168.1.1 2057 16.091875000 0.0.0.0 2058 16.091877000 0.0.0.0 2060 16.102080000 192.168.1.175 2061 16.102082000 192.168.1.175 2063 16.107434000 0.0.0.0 2064 16.107435000 0.0.0.0 2065 16.168464000 192.168.1.1 2080 16.389430000 192.168.1.1 2081 16.389432000 0.0.0.0 2082 16.389433000 0.0.0.0 2084 16.399748000 192.168.1.175 2085 16.399749000 192.168.1.175 2086 16.401508000 0.0.0.0 2087 16.401509000 0.0.0.0 2094 16.478494000 192.168.1.1 2114 16.628487000 192.168.1.1 2115 16.630737000 0.0.0.0 2116 16.630739000 0.0.0.0 2123 16.650234000 192.168.1.175 2124 16.650236000 192.168.1.175 2125 16.656456000 0.0.0.0 2126 16.656458000 0.0.0.0 2130 16.739035000 192.168.1.1 Source Destination Protocol Length Info
255.255.255.255 bootpc 358 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x698079d6
255.255.255.255 bootpc 358 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x698079d6
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x698079d6
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x698079d6
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xd736ca59
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xd736ca59
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x698079d6
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0xd736ca59
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xd736ca59
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xd736ca59
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xd736ca59
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xd736ca59
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xf9853216
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xf9853216
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0xd736ca59
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0xf9853216
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xf9853216
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xf9853216
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xf9853216
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xf9853216
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xb7926b5f
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xb7926b5f
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0xf9853216
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0xb7926b5f
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xb7926b5f
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xb7926b5f
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xb7926b5f
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xb7926b5f
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x8f271068
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x8f271068
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0xb7926b5f
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0x8f271068
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x8f271068
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x8f271068
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x8f271068
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x8f271068
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x98f7de64
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x98f7de64
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x8f271068
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0x98f7de64
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x98f7de64
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x98f7de64
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x98f7de64
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x98f7de64
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x511a78f8
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x511a78f8
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x98f7de64
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0x511a78f8
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x511a78f8
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x511a78f8
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x511a78f8
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x511a78f8
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xcce184ba
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xcce184ba
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x511a78f8
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0xcce184ba
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xcce184ba
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xcce184ba
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xcce184ba
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xcce184ba
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xf57071e9
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xf57071e9
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0xcce184ba
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0xf57071e9
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xf57071e9
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xf57071e9
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xf57071e9
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xf57071e9
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x62f114c0
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x62f114c0
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0xf57071e9
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0x62f114c0
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x62f114c0
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x62f114c0
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x62f114c0
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x62f114c0
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xb8fcbb3f
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xb8fcbb3f
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x62f114c0
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0xb8fcbb3f
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xb8fcbb3f
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xb8fcbb3f
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xb8fcbb3f
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xb8fcbb3f
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x81705649
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x81705649
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0xb8fcbb3f
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0x81705649
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x81705649
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x81705649
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x81705649
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x81705649
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x38e5bd3d
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x38e5bd3d
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x81705649
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0x38e5bd3d
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x38e5bd3d
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x38e5bd3d
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x38e5bd3d
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x38e5bd3d
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x86836216
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x86836216
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x38e5bd3d
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0x86836216
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x86836216
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x86836216
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x86836216
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x86836216
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x7affe238
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x7affe238
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x86836216
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0x7affe238
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x7affe238
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x7affe238
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x7affe238
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x7affe238
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xa45f7e2c
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xa45f7e2c
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x7affe238
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0xa45f7e2c
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xa45f7e2c
255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xa45f7e2c
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xa45f7e2c
255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xa45f7e2c
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xd70cb320
255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xd70cb320
192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0xa45f7e2c

…

8472 55.798282000 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0x617fc852
8473 55.799359000 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x617fc852
8474 55.799360000 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0x617fc852
8475 55.810115000 192.168.1.175 255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x617fc852
8476 55.810118000 192.168.1.175 255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0x617fc852
8478 55.815589000 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xdc000cfb
8479 55.815591000 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 bootpc 342 DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0xdc000cfb
8481 55.878280000 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0x617fc852
8486 56.028498000 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP Offer - Transaction ID 0xdc000cfb
8487 56.048158000 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xdc000cfb
8488 56.048160000 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 bootpc 364 DHCP Request - Transaction ID 0xdc000cfb
8493 56.151753000 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.114 bootps 590 DHCP ACK - Transaction ID 0xdc000cfb
8503 56.178153000 192.168.1.175 255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xdc000cfb
8504 56.178153000 192.168.1.175 255.255.255.255 bootps 342 DHCP NAK - Transaction ID 0xdc000cfb
[/code]

The part that the Vera3 responds with a NAK is really strange (and faulty), as the Vera3 is connected to the network via the WAN port. It turns out that the Vera3 DHCP process for the LAN ports is also interfering on the WAN port. Disabling the DHCP server on the Vera3 clears the issue.

However, I believe the Netgear R7000 DHCP process is also faulty, as it restarts the DHCP process after a DHCPNAK (which is a server response - and in this case the R7000 is a server; it should only process client responses). My previous Netgear WNDR3700 also did not have a problem with the Vera3 behavior.

Today Netgear support has let me know that they will not fix the issues, as they state the Vera3 is at fault.

Question: is anybody else using the same combination (or a different router) and experiencing the same issue?

guessed · July 15, 2014, 6:49pm

An older thread:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,9895.0.html

and updates to show it’s still an issue, even though it’s been marked as “fixed”:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,15579.msg181478.html#msg181478

nlrb · July 15, 2014, 7:05pm

@guessed: thanks for the info - I did search the forum, but did not find these. So there’s more network equipment having issues with this behavior…

guessed · July 15, 2014, 8:32pm

No worries. It’s a bit of a hard one to find, that’s why I cross-link it at each opportunity.

I suspect it’s having a wider-impact than most realize. In my case, like you, I found it when I switched out the head-end DHCP Server… Must have been there for at least 18mths before that, but gone unnoticed. Presumably my older router was getting in faster [at DHCP responses] than Vera, and faster than my new Router.

Tracing it down is tricky as it requires running tcpdump on a bunch of different gear at the same time to get the complete picture (I don’t have any SPAN Ports in my current switches)