Archer BE3600 (BE230 EU/2.0) PPPoE instability with IPv6 - PAP AuthNak + IPv6CP interaction

Archer BE3600 (BE230 EU/2.0) PPPoE instability with IPv6 - PAP AuthNak + IPv6CP interaction

Archer BE3600 (BE230 EU/2.0) PPPoE instability with IPv6 - PAP AuthNak + IPv6CP interaction
Archer BE3600 (BE230 EU/2.0) PPPoE instability with IPv6 - PAP AuthNak + IPv6CP interaction
Monday - last edited Monday
Model: Archer BE230  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 1.3.1 Build 20260319 rel.25411(4555)

I’ve been troubleshooting a persistent PPPoE instability issue, and have now isolated a consistent pattern with the Archer BE3600 (BE230 EU/2.0) running firmware 1.3.1 Build 20260319 rel.25411(4555).

 

Has anyone else seen:

  • PPPoE instability on BE3600 / BE230
  • PAP AuthNak loops when IPv6 is enabled
  • IPv6CP still appearing even when IPv6 is disabled in IPv6 Internet settings

 

I would appreciate confirmation whether this is:

  • a known firmware issue
  • ISP compatibility issue
  • or misconfiguration on my side

 

Problem summary

When IPv6 is enabled, the router repeatedly fails to maintain a stable PPPoE session.

The failure occurs after normal PPPoE discovery and LCP negotiation, at or around authentication / session establishment.

 

Key error observed:

  • PAP AuthNak Request Denied
  • Failed to authenticate ourselves to peer
  • Repeated PPP reconnect loops (PADT → PADI → PADO → PADR → PADS cycles)

 

Problem Details

With IPv6 enabled:

  • PPPoE discovery succeeds (PADI/PADO/PADR/PADS)
  • LCP negotiation succeeds
  • PAP authentication intermittently fails
  • WAN session drops and reconnects in a loop - connections lasting a maximum of around 20 seconds
  • Logs show repeated authentication rejection and session reset cycles

 

With IPv6 disabled:

After disabling IPv6 in the router UI:

  • PPPoE connects immediately and consistently
  • PAP AuthAck succeeds reliably
  • IPCP completes normally
  • WAN connection becomes stable - 55 minutes so far and counting
  • No further disconnect loops observed

 

Even with IPv6 disabled in the UI, logs still show:

  • ppp receive IPV6CP ACK

This suggests IPv6CP negotiation may still be occurring at the PPP stack level even when IPv6 is “off” in IPv6 Internet settings.

 

Hypothesis

This looks like a possible firmware-level issue, involving PPPoE authentication timing instability when IPv6CP negotiation is active

Specifically:

  • IPv6CP negotiation overlaps with PAP authentication phase
  • Firmware may mishandle retry/backoff timing
  • Result is intermittent AuthNak responses and session teardown

 

Environment notes

  • Router: Archer BE3600 (BE230 EU/2.0)
  • Firmware: 1.3.1 Build 20260319
  • ISP: PPPoE (credentials verified working on other routers)
  • MTU: 1492
  • No VLAN changes
  • Issue reproducible consistently

 

Workaround (current)

Disabling IPv6 fully stabilises the connection.

 

Any solutions for IPv6 would be appreciated

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Re:Archer BE3600 (BE230 EU/2.0) PPPoE instability with IPv6 - PAP AuthNak + IPv6CP interaction
Tuesday

Hello @ThisIsAName ,

Thank you for your detailed testing and the corresponding results.

I noticed you're also contacting an engineer, and I believe they will be paying close attention to your case. Please feel free to update me with any progress you receive.

Also, we have a beta firmware version; I wonder if you've noticed it:What To Do If the OpenVPN Client Stops Working After Updating Archer BE230 V2 to 1.3.1?

 

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Re:Archer BE3600 (BE230 EU/2.0) PPPoE instability with IPv6 - PAP AuthNak + IPv6CP interaction
Friday
Unfortunately the latest firmware (1.3.2 Build 20260414 rel.9131(4555) still doesn't work. I think this is the 4th or 5th beta firmware I've been asked to install with no working resolution yet.
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