Archer C4000 and C3200 - DHCP Server Fails after using Address Reservation

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
12

Archer C4000 and C3200 - DHCP Server Fails after using Address Reservation

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
Archer C4000 and C3200 - DHCP Server Fails after using Address Reservation
Archer C4000 and C3200 - DHCP Server Fails after using Address Reservation
2018-08-22 10:51:02 - last edited 2020-03-12 15:37:41
Model :

Hardware Version :

Firmware Version :

ISP :

I previously had a C3200 and replaced with a C4000. On both units, when I reserve multiple IPs outside of the DHCP pool range for my LAN, DHCP stops working. All DHCP clients can no longer get an IP from the pool. When I disable the address reservations, the DHCP Client List once again floods with clients that have been unable to get an IP. All the sudden, they work again. This is the strangest thing. Toggling the DHCP server and power cycling the router have no effect. The only way to restore DHCP server function is to disable the address reservations for all but 1 client.

IP Pool: 192.168.101 - 192.168.1.199
Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Address Reservations for 192.168.1.2, 192.168.1.3, 192.168.1.5 and 192.168.1.50.
Static IPs are assigned to an iMac, MacBook Pro, a home built FreeBSD server and an IP Camera.
All other clients (27 of them) are assigned via DHCP, ranging from Chromecasts, to echo devices, iPads, kindles, etc..

Knowledge background: I've worked over 10 years at a major telco provider on Layer 2 / Layer 3 access network management (DSLAM/VDSL/PON) and have extensive knowledge of IP.
  0      
  0      
#1
Options
1 Accepted Solution
Re:Archer C4000 and C3200 - DHCP Server Fails after using Address Reservation-Solution
2019-10-08 02:50:01 - last edited 2020-03-12 15:37:41

@archerboy not sure if you are having the same problem, but there is a major design flaw of the Archer software. It will allow you to assign a name to reserved IP's with spaces in them. But the spaces will cause a DCHP error and will stop assigning IPs.

Recommended Solution
  0  
  0  
#12
Options
14 Reply
Re:Archer C4000 and C3200 - DHCP Server Fails after using Address Reservation
2018-10-14 07:23:13
Model : Archer C4000

Hardware Version : V2

Firmware Version : 1.0.3 Build 20180322 rel.2657(5553)

I'm having this *exact* same problem -- when I reserve multiple IPs outside of the DHCP pool range for my LAN, DHCP stops working. All DHCP clients can no longer get an IP from the pool. The only way to recover is to do a hard-reset.

I've contacted TP-Link Tech Support. In the meantime, I installed a DHCP server on my LAN and disabled the DHCP server on my Archer C4000. Pretty sad workaround for a higher-end router.
  0  
  0  
#2
Options
Solved!
2018-10-19 22:18:59
TP-Link technical support was able to help!

The problem was that my Address Reservation hostnames had a space in them. They recommended not having special characters or spaces in the hostnames and then the DHCP server should work normally. It doesn't sound like they will post a revised firmware to do this check in the configuration screen so I'm posting it here in case anyone else has this problem.
  4  
  4  
#3
Options
Re:Archer C4000 and C3200 - DHCP Server Fails after using Address Reservation
2019-06-04 09:18:11

My model is C4000

Model: ArcherC4000 v2.0

Firmware: 1.0.3 Build 20180322 rel.2657

 

I had the same problem until you shared the tips. It's real shame that it has been months and TPLink hasn't fix it :) 

 

But I am still sold by the Quad Core CPU : )

  0  
  0  
#4
Options
Re:Solved!
2019-07-10 12:40:20

Hi @ThePol,

Many thanks for the hint but can you clarify what you mean by "hostnames"? Do you mean client names or SSID? I tried to reserve the addresses with this logic and avoided using spaces/special charracters for client names but after saving/restarting my router was completely factory reset.

In other words all the hours I spent setting it up for the first time was wasted. Perhaps I'm not following what exactly it needs to be done to avoid the DHCP crash,

I'm replacing my old ASUS router with C4000 and so far it's been a complete dissapointment.

Thanks in advance.

 

Cheers

 

  0  
  0  
#5
Options
Re:Re:Solved!
2019-07-10 12:53:30
when you create the dhcp reserved list. make sure the name is non space or special character. i.e Julia PC, just put juliapc, it's ugly but it just works. So far i am satisfied with the quad core and the speed the wifi can deliver. just the dhcp reservation is a culprit.
  1  
  1  
#6
Options
Re:Re:Re:Solved!
2019-07-10 13:19:34

Thanks @TCJ,

Does it mean I should avoid even capital letters?!!!

The reason I'm asking is because the names I set had no space or special charracters but still after saving/restarting the router, everything crashed and the router was factory reset!

Cheers

  0  
  0  
#7
Options
Re:Re:Re:Re:Solved!
2019-07-10 14:04:29
May be it's other bugs, not related to DHCP Reservation :(
  1  
  1  
#8
Options
Re:Solved!
2019-09-02 17:04:51
Just brought my AC4000 and was having a hard time getting it setup where no IP address were being given out. Sure enough when I turned off address reservations dhcp started working again. So taking your advice I removed all spaces (ie synology NAS to synologyNAS). I took it one step further and limited the name to 8 characters. DHCP works now. Thanks
Emil
  0  
  0  
#9
Options
Re:Re:Solved!
2019-09-03 06:56:48

emil4902 wrote

Just brought my AC4000 and was having a hard time getting it setup where no IP address were being given out. Sure enough when I turned off address reservations dhcp started working again. So taking your advice I removed all spaces (ie synology NAS to synologyNAS). I took it one step further and limited the name to 8 characters. DHCP works now. Thanks

 

Forgot to mention i did that too. no space, no special character, just on word.

 

Apart from this, I think overwall it's fine. Quad core CPU with this pricing. worth it. 

  0  
  0  
#10
Options
Re:Archer C4000 and C3200 - DHCP Server Fails after using Address Reservation
2019-10-02 19:30:01
  0  
  0  
#11
Options

Information

Helpful: 0

Views: 5065

Replies: 14

Related Articles