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Address reservation outside DHCP pool

Address reservation outside DHCP pool

Address reservation outside DHCP pool
Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-05-01 18:41:43 - last edited 2025-05-01 18:46:32
Tags: #Feature Request #Client Devices #DHCP
Model: Deco XE75 Pro  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 1.2.14 Build 20241223 Rel. 16551

Let me begin by stating that I will attempt to explain my issue and its proposed solution as clearly as possible. I am looking to avoid rehashing other discussions which have taken place on this forum, as you will see below. I am describing a legitimate use case, and would like for my questions to be answered directly rather than quibbling over the necessity of such actions. Please bear with me on these terms when answering.

 

I would like to have the ability, whether through a) the router's web management page, or b) the Deco app on my phone, to set static IP addresses which are outside the range of the DHCP address pool, but inside the range of my network's subnet, for any device on the network, up to and including satellite router nodes.

 

I am not looking for a solution which involves setting IP addresses manually on each individual client device, as this is not only time-consuming, but in some cases outright impossible (including, for example, the satellite nodes I currently own which are of the same make and model as the main router).

 

I am also not satisfied with the current workaround, described by other forum users, which is to:

  1. Expand the DHCP pool in the Deco app, 
  2. Set static IPs as desired, and 
  3. Contract the pool to its original values. 

 

This is also time consuming, and it has been noted that routers from both other manufacturers (e.g. Google), and older TP-Link product lines, are able to perform the desired functionality without using this method.

 

Reasons this would be desired include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • The aforementioned impossibility of setting IPs for certain clients
  • Separating devices for important functionality within the network
  • Clarity in organizing network topology
  • Avoiding collisions in cases where DHCP reservation is in error, or a DHCP system separate from the router (e.g. Pi-hole DHCP) is being used

 

Note that I have collected multiple instances of other users on this forum requesting such functionality:

 

In several cases, it was suggested that this functionality would be passed on to the TP-Link team for further consideration. There appears to be no substantial follow-up to this. It has also not been clearly explained why this functionality is absent as of now.

 

Thus, my questions are as follows:

  • Why is this functionality not currently present, given its inclusion in other routers?
  • Can you provide a concrete timeline for this feature to be worked on?
  • If it is not possible to do so, can you explain why?

 

Please assume I and other forum users will be able to follow along with any technical details you are able to divulge. If nothing else, I'm sure many people facing this issue would appreciate a clear explanation. 

 

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

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#1
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10 Reply
Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-15 21:17:33 - last edited 2025-07-15 21:18:32

I have owned several dozen routers in my lifetime because I had a startup company where we made a wireless product that needed to be tested against everything we could get our hands on. The TP-Link Deco I just set up today is the only router out of every single one of those that hasn't implemented this feature correctly. The whole point of limiting the DHCP pool is so that you have a range of IPs you can easily assign manually because they are outside of that pool. TP-Link, though, seems to think otherwise. They are wrong. 

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#2
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Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-15 23:50:32
I'm very disappointed in the fact that this post hasn't been so much as acknowledged by support staff since I posted it over two months ago. If not for the limit of Best Buy's return policy, I would've bought a different setup by now. As it stands, I'm still waiting for an answer, one way or the other. I would hope that the developers could at least provide a justification for the lack of functionality.
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#3
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Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-16 03:08:19

  @ObinnaOnyeije 

 

I have sent this post to David he is a member of the TP-LInk staff, As i do not work for them just helping out I have no idea if/when your request will be added as an option for the deco mesh routers. 

Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#4
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Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-17 23:22:41

  @ObinnaOnyeije 

 

While we would like nothing more than to respond to every thread in the community, that is just not possible.  It's also not cohesive for a community like ours where user engagement with each other is the encouraged focus.  That said if you are seeking a direct answer from a TP-Link moderator, just tag one of us.  It will send us a notification, and we will review and respond as soon as we can.  When @HelpFixDecoApp messaged David, I was notified, and I am reaching out now. 

 

The feature you are asking for is called ARP Binding.  ARP Binding operates at layer 2 of the OSI model and associates a specific IP address with a MAC address.  Its primary purpose is to protect against ARP Spoofing.  DHCP Address reservation, while it also associates an IP with a specific MAC, it does so at the application layer (layer 7), but is basically a layer 3 operation.  It serves the same purpose as ARP Binding, but does so through the DHCP Server.   Its main purpose is to ensure a device gets the same DHCP address each time.    

 

That is just a quick overview for the users who may be interested in the main differences.  

 

 

Sadly, Deco does not support ARP Binding.  I cannot say if it's a hardware limitation or software, but at this time, it is not a supported feature, and it's not on the roadmap to be added anytime soon.  Your request has been recorded and submitted for further evaluation.  If I get something back, I will be happy to share that with the community.  

 

What's New? Sync Your Tapo Doorbell and Door Lock Optimize Your Network with the Wi-Fi Toolkit App Join our Official Subreddits: r/tplink, r/tapo, and r/omada_networks
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#5
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Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-18 00:21:21 - last edited 2025-07-18 04:45:44

@Carl Thank you for your response. When I registered for this forum I was not made aware that I could ping moderators directly; otherwise I would have done so. I had assumed that posts here would be treated as support tickets rather than community submissions.

 

I would appreciate it if you could ask a developer directly whether the functionality is restricted by hardware or software. Given the other posts which I mentioned, I'm sure many people would appreciate a more detailed explanation as to why it's not included in this specific product line. Thank you in advance. I look forward to hearing from you. 

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#6
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Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-18 14:55:47

  @ObinnaOnyeije 

 

My pleasure.  Tagging or sending a moderator a direct message is the best way to bring attention to a thread for which you would like an official response.  While we do actively moderate the community, we may not always be able to hit every thread.  Additionally, we strive to let the community do what it does best and help each other out first.  A mod jumping into a thread right away does tend to hinder the discussion between users.   

 

I have already requested confirmation of this limitation, and as soon as I get word back I will jump over here and let you know.  

What's New? Sync Your Tapo Doorbell and Door Lock Optimize Your Network with the Wi-Fi Toolkit App Join our Official Subreddits: r/tplink, r/tapo, and r/omada_networks
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#7
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Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-21 22:04:23

  @Carl Does expanding the DHCP pool, manual assignment, then shrinking the pool actually work to keep the manual assignment outside the pool?

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#8
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Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-21 22:39:19 - last edited 2025-07-21 22:40:36

  @jzchen - Yes. This does work.

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#9
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Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-22 14:42:38

  @jzchen you know I never tried or asked that question myself, but it looks like @cmaterick  has and can confirm it does work, so I appreciate you coming in and helping out Cmaterick.  

What's New? Sync Your Tapo Doorbell and Door Lock Optimize Your Network with the Wi-Fi Toolkit App Join our Official Subreddits: r/tplink, r/tapo, and r/omada_networks
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#10
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Re:Address reservation outside DHCP pool
2025-07-22 20:03:05

  @Carl No problem. I have 8 devices with static IPs assigned (200+) above the DHCP range (2 to 199).

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#11
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