This topic

smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 10:09:39 GMT

I have a 38meg superfast connection using an EE branded SH2 with the internal wifi turned off, CAT 7 connected to 3 x stand alone white BT wholehome mesh discs (i.e. NOT the ones that connect directly to the HH) and CAT 7 wired to several devices via Netgear switches ......all in all a pretty good setup for my home

In the SH2 under my devices, some are shown as static ip some as DHCP whereas in fact ALL my devices are set to DHCP.

Also in that list are several ghost devices that it will not let me delete - some are blue some are white but none are or have been connected for several weeks.

If I restart the SH2 it might let me delete some of the old devices but still shows static ip - sometimes the list "grows" and changes and although all devices remain set to DHCP the router says they are static and wont let me change their ip addresses etc.

I have tried a full factory reset which is a PITA as it also has 4 x digital voice handsets connected and they all need setting up afterwards but again this made no difference to the static/DHCP issue

It matters to me as I want to keep a close eye on what is connected to my network and theoretically it could eventually end up with no spare ip addresses although I appreciate that is highy unlikely

By chance I happened to re-start the MESH discs and most (but not all) of the devices then correctly showed DHCP but over a few days they seem to change back to static

I appreciate that doesnt make sense and "cant" happen.....but it is !

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

imjolly — Wed, 29 May 2024 10:17:14 GMT

The SH2 does not have facility for setting static IP addresses but you can set it to 'always use this address' which is not the same but similar

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 10:29:20 GMT

Yes, that's the whole point.....it doesnt have the facility to do so......but seemingly it is !

I always use the "always use this address" option but when it shows it as static that isn't an option.....clearly there is something amiss in the software

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

licquorice — Wed, 29 May 2024 10:32:05 GMT

The Smart Hub2 network map is about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. It reports all sorts of inaccuracies and can't be relied upon for genuine information.

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 11:25:48 GMT

Oh well that's OK then......not!

Why on earth cant they fix it....was never a problem on previous hubs....amd it does prevent several other operations

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

licquorice — Wed, 29 May 2024 12:16:43 GMT

It doesn't prevent anything, it's just an information page.

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 12:48:03 GMT

It prevents for example changing the ip address and also the device name.....they are both greyed out

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

licquorice — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:09:23 GMT

They are greyed out if they are not connected.

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:12:29 GMT

yes, I know that.... but some are still blue and havent been conmnected for weeks, the devices are over 10 miles away too so theres no way they can stil be connected!

Some of the greyed out devices simply cannot be removed, nor the blue ones as it still thinks they are connected

THAT, along with the DHCP/static ip issue is the problem

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

imjolly — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:19:18 GMT

@davidwf15

if it is causing you that much of a problem just factory reset hub and go back to square 1

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

licquorice — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:20:48 GMT

No idea why it is such a problem. Either leave DHCP to get on with things or give the devices static addresses on the devices themselves.

If your devices have MAC randomisation enabled, you are going to get multiple entries for them anyway.

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:21:29 GMT

I already did that - as mentioned in original message - and its still the same

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:22:51 GMT

no MAC randomisation

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:35:45 GMT

Its best to disable DHCP on the hub, and use your own DHCP server. Many devices, like wireless access points have this feature.

Better still, use Pi-Hole, that has a good DHCP server, and filters out ads and other rubbish. You can define reserved IP addresses, and name all your wireless and Ethernet clients.

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:37:58 GMT

Thanks......fully appreciate that and it IS something I have considered.......but why should I have to 🤬

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 29 May 2024 13:57:01 GMT

The DHCP server code has been faulty since the very first Home Hub 1. BT use a lot of GPL code, and the device IP addresses are stored in flash memory, which is only cleared by a factory reset.

There does not seem to be any process for freeing IP addresses when leases expire. I think that the core coding has not changed, only changes to hub manager to prevent invalid entries which used to crash the earlier hubs.

The Home Hub 1 had a Telnet interface, and it was easy to issue a commend to flush the DHCP table. That was until BT blocked Telnet access 😞

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

imjolly — Wed, 29 May 2024 14:09:52 GMT

@davidwf15

a factory reset should clear the DHCP did you press the recessed button on back and hold for 20/30 secs until hub lights flash?

as @Keith_Beddoe this ahs been a known problem since hub outset and unlikely BT will fix it

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:25:37 GMT

Yes, i factory reset with the button.....and every device came back as static and I couldn't do anything as regards changing ip addresses or renaming them

Only after restarting the whole home wifi discs and manually restarting every other (non wireless) device was i able to proceed .....that cannot be right

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

imjolly — Wed, 29 May 2024 17:10:28 GMT

Sorry but did you also hold the reset button for20/30 seconds until the hub lights flashed otherwise it is just a normal reset/restart

Re: smarthub 2 shows static ip addresses

davidwf15 — Wed, 29 May 2024 18:02:59 GMT

yes, I did....full factory reset...it had forgotten the connected digital voice phones