topic Re: Ethernet port not working in Nest Wifi

Ethernet port not working

idearat — Thu, 19 May 2022 04:23:38 GMT

I've seen a couple posts with no resolution on this. I have a feeling it's a feature that's broken on Nest WiFi that worked with Google WiFi.

I "upgraded" by getting a new Nest WiFi system. I reset my existing Google WiFi devices and started from scratch. The Nest WiFi router is connected directly to my fiber modem. I have 2 Google WiFi devices configured and when using WiFi they work great.

The problem is the LAN ethernet ports on the Google WiFi devices. After hours spent troubleshooting, fiddling with DNS settings, etc I found the behavior. I can connect a PC or other device to the LAN port and access internal network devices, like my NAS box. But if I try to connect to any external site it fails. I even tried accessing Google.com via IP address, but that also fails. About the only thing I can do to access the outside world is to ping 8.8.8.8 That works, indicating that there is a network connection. I didn't find anything that responded to a ping besides the DNS.

It's very frustrating. The Google Home app shows the devices connected. The app doesn't show "wired", but it just doesn't say "great connection" for wired devices. I can see upload and download speeds when accessing my NAS box. But I cannot make any connection outside the house when connected via ethernet. The same device connecting via WiFi works great.

Is this a feature that was removed from Nest WiFi? It feels like it since I was surprised to find the Nest Point has no ethernet.

If this is how it's supposed to work, then I'll just remove the Nest WiFi from my system, return it, and go back to just the Google WiFi. The only "solution" I found was someone suggesting using a WiFi repeater as a WiFi-to-Ethernet device. For me, that's a lame fix versus just going back to Google WiFi that worked for years.

Re: Ethernet port not working

olavrb — Thu, 19 May 2022 19:39:44 GMT

How did you connet everything by wire? It should be modem -> primary puck WAN port -> primary puck LAN port -> unmanaged switch -> other devices, like secondary puck(s) WAN port. Avoid daisy chaining if possible.

Re: Ethernet port not working

idearat — Sun, 22 May 2022 15:59:40 GMT

My previous reply is missing.

Everything is wired correctly. The problem is that with Nest WiFi as the router and Google WiFi access points, the Ethernet LAN ports on the Google WiFi points don't work properly. Several other posts have mentioned the the same thing and close with no resolution.

The ports are functional. I can connect locally to NAS from more that one them, but cannot connect to anything outside my local network. I can ping 8.8.8.8 via Ethernet, but not any other IP addresses. If the same device connects via WiFi I can communicate. The Google Home app shows connectivity and bits transferred. Devices connected via Ethernet don't indicate a wired connection, just are missing the WiFi quality indication.

After hours wasted I've got an RMA to return the Nest Wifi. I need the Ethernet to work in other rooms as it has for years.

Re: Ethernet port not working

EdwardT — Mon, 23 May 2022 00:20:50 GMT

Hi folks,

@olavrb, thanks for the help!

@idearat, glad to hear that you were able to get an RMA with your Nest router. Please let us know once you received it and give us an update if it's working fine.

Thanks,

Edward

Re: Ethernet port not working

EdwardT — Sat, 28 May 2022 18:52:42 GMT

Hi dearat,

It's me again. I wanted to check back in to see if you have other questions and concerns. Feel free to let me know if you do.

Thanks,

Edward

Re: Ethernet port not working

EdwardT — Sun, 29 May 2022 20:50:47 GMT

Hi dearat,

Just checking in to make sure that you've seen our response. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns as I will be locking this in 24 hours.

Thanks,

Edward

Re: Ethernet port not working

idearat — Mon, 30 May 2022 01:35:04 GMT

It's not resolved, and not likely to be. There are multiple posts here complaining about the same defect in the Nest WiFi that prevents a Google WiFi point to use its ethernet ports. They've all been closed due to lack of activity.
It's a defect in Nest WiFi that has cost me many hours trying to sort it out. I've just decided it will never work and no one has suggested otherwise.

Re: Ethernet port not working

Mabio — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 20:38:01 GMT

I had a working ethernet port on a Google nest router for 14 months. It suddenly stopped working 3 weeks ago and I've spent many hours troubleshooting with Google support. Was finally approved for a replacement device which arrived today. Just tried it; no ethernet. Same exact behaviour as you describe. Some wired devices are visible within the Home app, but none of those devices can connect to the Internet.

Re: Ethernet port not working

EdwardT — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 03:24:22 GMT

Hi Mabio,

Thanks for letting us know. Could you share the case number of your interaction with our team?

Thanks,

Edward

Re: Ethernet port not working

idearat — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 04:09:29 GMT

This falls into the area of "known problem" that Google just ignores. Feel free to mix and match Nest and Google WiFi devices, but not if you plan to use the ethernet connections. They are functional, but only on the internal network, not for access to the outside world.

Re: Ethernet port not working

olavrb — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 08:50:19 GMT

The behavior is the same regardless of how the Google Wifi puck is connected to the primary Nest Wifi router: wirelessly vs. wired backhaul?

You said you've seen others having the same problem, I did a quick search, did not find any threads. Could you give me some references/ URLs?

I'll try to add this to a Google Sheet we PEs have access to for visibility, but will need more examples of people facing the same problem, and more info on how to replicate.

Re: Ethernet port not working

idearat — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:33:57 GMT

I spent days trying to get it to work. In my case it was wireless backhaul. You'll have to get better at searching because I found multiple instances. All closed with no solution. I've spent way too much time on this. I'm now using Eero mesh devices because I need the ethernet to work away from the router.

Re: Ethernet port not working

Mabio — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:38:25 GMT

Sure. It's case number 6-0088000032959

Re: Ethernet port not working

Mabio — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:57:12 GMT

Here are some of the requested reference threads of people having problems with the LAN port on their wifi router

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Ethernet-port-not-working/m-p/112847

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/ethernet-port-not-working/m-p/35779

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Ethernet-configuration/m-p/13546

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Ethernet-ports-on-google-nest-mesh-router-quit-working/m-p/138168

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Google-Nest-LAN-port-not-working/m-p/42608

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Google-Nest-LAN-port-not-working/m-p/157749

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Is-it-possible-to-use-the-LAN-port-of-a-nest-wifi-Point/m-p/207344

Re: Ethernet port not working

olavrb — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:16:21 GMT

I shall practice my searching.

Re: Ethernet port not working

BrainChild — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 13:23:55 GMT

I am now having this same issue with Google WiFi units that have worked for years!

Re: Ethernet port not working

BrainChild — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 13:27:53 GMT

Started having the exact same problem on a Google Wi-Fi unit. Can connect to internal devices but can't get to the internet

Re: Ethernet port not working

olavrb — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 14:23:04 GMT

What have your tried? Reboot/ power cycle? Factory reset and set up from scratch?

Re: Ethernet port not working

Mabio — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 14:27:51 GMT

Just as a follow-up, instead of further advice from the Google WiFi team they simply, and without comment, approved me for yet another replacement. I'm almost positive this problem is not hardware related, but what can one do if the team in charge doesn't want to explore it further?

Re: Ethernet port not working

olavrb — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 14:32:41 GMT

What IP address do devices connected by ethernet get? I read in following post that such devices might get a address of 169.254.88.x, a link local IP address.

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Is-it-possible-to-use-the-LAN-port-of-a-nest-wifi-Point/m-p/211744/highlight/true#M22299

If that's the case with you as well, we might finally have a pattern here.