Solution Powerline Extender Acting as the DHCP server
This Article Applies to:
TL-WPA7510, TL-WPA9610, TL-WPA8730/8630(P) V2, WPA4220 V3, etc.
Problem Description/ Phenomenon:
What is Smart DHCP, and How does Smart DHCP work? Visit TP-Link Smart DHCP Makes Network Configuration Simple.
Some users may find that after the power outage or router’s rebooting, even after router’s internet is back and up running, client devices still get IP address from powerline extender, and cannot connect to the internet.
Note: if router loses internet and then goes back afterwards, powerline extender will do a scan automatically, if it detects another DHCP Server is running, it will disable its own automatically (when powerline units remain paired), and the devices will get IP address from main router then access the internet through that.
Troubleshooting Suggestions:
1. Double check if the main router’s internet is actually back ON and working fine.
To confirm this, wire a computer or laptop to another LAN port of the router using an Ethernet cable, leave the main powerline adapter connected to the LAN port of the router as well, check if you can access the internet successfully on the computer or laptop. If yes, that means the router's DHCP server is up and running; If not, you will need to check what's wrong with the router after the reboot or power outage.
2. Make sure the powerline adapter and extender are still paired (house LEDs are ON), show us the IP address on the clients devices. Compare that when the internet is good and when it is not.
How to check the IP address on a computer: https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/669/.
If your model is not listed or the issue persists, please report back with the information below to help locate the issue.
Or send a support email to TP-Link technical support with title ‘[Forum ID 265692] Powerline Extender Acting as the DHCP server’ to get further assistance:
1. How did you find out powerline device's DHCP server does not work properly? Did you often reboot main router or is there often power outage in your house?
2. Does router’s internet work fine at that moment?
3. LED status on both powerline units.
4. Brand and Model of router, the network topology, for example:
ISP modem --- Router Archer C7 --- PA8010 .... <powerline> ...WPA8630P --- Asus laptop model X.
5. Model & OS of devices that connected to wireless powerline unit.
6. Model number & firmware and hardware version of your powerline KIT, update the firmware if it is not the latest version:
How to update the firmware of the powerline adapter using the tpPLC Utility: https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/1091/
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@Solla-topee isn't it crazy that now TP-Link users are sharing custom Python scripts to make your products work? Why are your engineers not just putting in a option in settings to DISABLE DHCP altogether??
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I cannot agree more with your sentences...
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Just to make this clear for everyone; if after a powecycle, the PE acts as a DHCP server, by using your script from a computer on the network, to reboot the PE, all network issues are then solved?
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After the power cycle the WPA will reach your router so the Smart DHCP will not start.
My setup is like this:
host A with script <---> TL-WPA8630P V2 <---> TL-PA8010P <---> router with dhcp <---> host B to ping
The script on host A tries to ping host B and if it fails it looks for WPA by mac and restarts it. When WPA starts it finds the router so Smart DHCP does not start.
The script should be obviously scheduled with cron every x minutes.
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If you have a server, you could 'cron'..
To be sure; did you check the leasetimes of the "SmartDHCP" IP addresses? Then we can know when other devices might be expected to recover.
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I don't know lease times but I don't have any problems since I developed the script so I think they are very low. The WPA is located in an incovenient place so i cannot check.
As Jvmd said this is a user script to remedy until tplink will be manage to disable smart dhcp.
You can try yourself the script.
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If the WPA starts acting as a DHCP server, and has issued IP settings to clients already at which point after the WPA stops being a DHCP server do those clients request valid IP settings from the genuine DHCP server that allow route to the internet and DNS settings?
How does the server running the python script communicate to the WPA device if that WPA device has placed itself in a different subnet from the server?
I'm assuming that the server has fixed IP settings configured on the server.
Another workaround is just using locally configured static IP on every device so it doesn't matter of the WPA becomes a DHCP server randomly.
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How do we downgrade from this beta firmware?
It seems to be worse!
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Also, I just found out that OpenWRT is supported on the TL-WPA8630P V2
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Yes, but why should I change for another sw instead I use the one I have paid for TPLink embedded in the hw? I have got an 'extra feature' which cause a huge misbehaviour...
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