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Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?

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Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?

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Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-05-11 13:21:13 - last edited 2021-09-27 13:59:29
Model: TL-WPA7510 KIT  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 2.0.2 Build 20190610 Rel.50850

I've been having some problems with DHCP on my network.  My router (TP-Link Archer VR600) is set to be the DHCP server. It should be the only DHCP server on the network.

 

However, from time to time clients get the wrong IP address and aren't able to access the internet.  When this happens Windows is reporting the IP address one of my TP-Link WPA7510 devices as the DHCP server it is getting network configuration from.  On the logs for that WPA7510, I can see "DHCP server started" and "DHCP server stopped" messages. 

 

There is no interface to enable or disable a DHCP server on the PowerLine equipment, nor is it an advertised feature, so what is going on?  I have enabled the PowerLine devices to get an IP address using DHCP. Is it possible that this is inadvertantly enabling a DHCP server on the PowerLine device?

 

This is the UK variant of the WPA8630P.

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#1
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1 Accepted Solution
Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?-Solution
2021-06-02 09:43:44 - last edited 2021-09-27 13:59:29

Updated on 2021/7/28: Providing firmware to disable the hidden network on 8630P V2 and 8631 V3

 

Regarding the hidden DHCP server (or we call smart DHCP) in the powerline extenders, visit the below thread:  

[Solution] Powerline Extender Acting as the DHCP server

 

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#47
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93 Reply
Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-05-15 02:14:39
Chances are there isn't meant to be a DHCP server but you're coming across the bug listed on this thread: https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/106148 I'm not aware of a resolution to this, nor that it has been accepted by TP-Link as a bug.
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#2
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Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-05-22 12:57:34

I stopped using DHCP to configure my powerline adapters, and the issue went away.  Looks like if DHCP client is enabled, it also allows them to act as a DHCP server under certain conditions, which seemed to crop up once or twice a day!

 

I had been using DHCP to configure the IP address of these devices as this is the only way to set the DNS server they use.  I wanted to direct them to use my Pi-Hole so I could see what they were contacting on the internet easily.  They were definitely doing some communication, but I can't really analyse it without creating downtime for my home network.

 

I hope TP-Link see fit to fix this terrible bug within a reasonable time frame!

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#3
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Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-05-22 14:41:57

@dunxd I tried this approach and eventually found it made no difference. Like other attempts, it sometimes seemed to work for a while but the right timing for the bug to be triggered eventually came around again.

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#4
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Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-05-22 17:13:38

@AdamP that's bad. Really really bad.

 

Pretty sure under consumer protection law in Europe, anyone who bought affected devices would be entitled to a full refund of this wasn't fixed within a reasonable time of it coming to tp-links attention.

 

That would be a liability most companies would like to resolve quickly.

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#5
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Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-05-22 17:50:25

@dunxd I tried engaging their tech support but my patience was exhausted after being asked questions I had already answered in my initial report and in previous replies and felt like I was just going in circles. It's a nuanced problem that requires more knowledgeable staff to investigate it; their firmware staff would probably be able to identify and fix the cause but I don't think I ever got past the front line.

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#6
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Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-05-22 18:01:48

@AdamP that's annoying, but having worked in tech support you often have to work through this hurdle to get past the first line of defense.

 

Particularly tricky when a problem is intermittent and hard to reproduce, like this one. Did you try pointing them to this thread or the others where a lot of people are describing the same problem?

 

Maybe we can organise a coordinated effort on this thread to get this noticed and addressed more proportionally.

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#7
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Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-12-12 20:31:51

@dunxd I have the same problem here

 

Tp-link should have a configuration to disable this dhcp-server

 

 

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#8
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Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-12-14 13:03:38

@MarMart what model of power ine adapters do you have?

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#9
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Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-12-14 14:08:31

@dunxd


Model: TL-WPA7510 v2.0
Firmware: 2.0.2 Build 20190610 Rel.50850

 

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#10
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Re:Is there a hidden DHCP Server in Powerline adapters?
2020-12-18 02:37:07 - last edited 2021-09-27 13:56:35

@MarMart 

Good day,

Thank you very much for your kind feedback.

We have already reported the feedback to the senior engineers.

And Currently, we have the beta firmware for TL-WPA4220 v3/V4, TL-WPA7510 v2 to  disable the DHCP server under the static IP address mode :

For other models, like TL-WPA8630P, the firmware might still need some time.

EU version：

https://static.tp-link.com/2020/202012/20201224/TL-WPA4220_V4(EU).zip

https://static.tp-link.com/2020/202012/20201224/Tl-WPA4220_V3(EU).zip

https://static.tp-link.com/2020/202012/20201224/TL-WPA7510_V2.zip

 

US version：

https://static.tp-link.com/beta/2021/202101/20210104/TL-WPA4220(US)_V4.zip

https://static.tp-link.com/beta/2021/202101/20210104/TL-WPA4220V3_beta.zip

https://static.tp-link.com/beta/2021/202101/20210104/TL-WPA7510(US)_V2.zip

 

after updating the beta firmware, please refer to the following suggestion to set up static IP address:

1. manually configure the DHCP server on the powerline extender:

Connect to the powerline extender wirelessly. Visit http://tplinkplc.net, and log in with the username and password you set for the extender.;

Go to Device Settings > LAN Settings and choose static IP address;

Thank you very much.

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