Nest Router Wi-Fi drops when connecting switch to extra port

[Josh2416]

My setup is cable coax to my ISP provided modem, which is connected to a nest Wi-Fi router. 2 years ago I purchased an 8 port unmanaged TP-link switch to connect to the one port on the Nest router and had 4 hardwire devices connected to the switch. It worked flawlessly until early this morning. I woke up to having no network connection at all, Wi-Fi or hard wired devices.  

ISP came through and swapped the modem even though it was working fine according to them. I ended up calling Nest Wi-Fi support and they were able to help me run through the setup that was initially failing after I restored the router. Once it was back online, I was pulling over 300MBPS.

I later noticed that I didn’t have the switch plugged in, but once I plugged it in, it dropped all of my devices. Wi-Fi and wHard wired devices had no network connection. Once I unplugged the switch and bounced the router, my wireless devices were all back online.

Has anyone else experienced this, and know of a fix? Please assist! Thanks I’m advance!

[olavrb]

What specific switch? It's recommended to use unmanaged switches only. If it's an managed/ "smart" switch, make sure STP (spanning tree protocol) is disabled. Sometimes it's called "loop prevention".

• https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleWiFi/comments/suz4fa
• https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Agooglenestcommunity.com+%22spanning+tree+protocol%22

[Josh2416]

It's an unmanaged switch.

[olavrb]

What specific switch? What specific cable? Any PC, server or VM acting as DHCP or other conflicting network functionality connected to that switch?

[Josh2416]

Switch: TP-Link 8 Port Gigabit Unmanaged (TL-SG1008D)

Devices connected to switch: TMobile Cell Tower, CCTV DVR, PS5, Sony Bravia TV.

All have been connected for the past 2 years with no issue.

[olavrb]

Interesting. Without logs it's hard to say whats happening.

One last question before I escalate this thread so Google reps can take over: Where do you plug the switch into? The ISP modem, or the Nest Wifi 2nd port?

Edit: I read 1st post again, says you plug it into the 2nd port on the Nest Wifi router. I'll escalate.

[Josh2416]

My setup form the begining has been the switch connected to the LAN port on the Nest router.

[EdwardT]

Hi folks,

@olavrb, thanks for the help!

@Josh2416, thanks for reaching out and I'm sorry to hear that you're having an issue with your Google Wifi. I'd love to know more about this. What troubleshooting steps have you done so far? Also, when you plug in a device to the Nest Router's LAN port, are you getting a connection?

Thanks,

Edward

[Josh2416]

Thanks @olavrb for your assistance. 

@EdwardT Just to clarify, I have the Nest wifi system not the 1st Gen Google WiFi, if that matters. The LAN port on the router still functions, as I currently have my CCTV DVR connected. I just ordered a new 8 port switch, which will be delivered Thursday. I will be testing the LAN port with the new switch when I receive it.

One question I do have is, is this a known issue. I have seen a post or 2 on here about the same issue I am experiencing, and a quick Google search pulls up a bunch of sub reddit posts of people that had/have the same issue I'm experiencing. Please advise. Thank you all.

[EdwardT]

Hi folks,

@Tuzza, thanks for the help!

@Josh2416, we don't have a known issue regarding this yet but please try the steps provided by Tuzza to isolate the issue. Please let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Edward

[EdwardT]

Hi Josh2416,

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

[EdwardT]

Hi Josh2416,

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

[Josh2416]

So I disconnected the originaly TP Link switch, plugged it into the LAN port on the Nest router, without any devices, then plugged in one device at a time as suggested. This worked fine and didn't bring down the entire network. Since I already ordered a new switch, I still ended up switching the switch for a brand new Netgear one I ordered, and repeated the above steps and everything seems to be good so far. 

Though everything is functioning as it once was, it still does not explain how the Nest router was freaking it about a switch with 4 devices connected that was functioning perfectly for 2 years. The TP Link switch was mounted on the back of the entertainment stand and never hit the floor.

We will see how long this setup lasts, only time will tell.

[EdwardT]

Hi Josh2416,

Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear that your new switch is working fine right now. We can't really tell what's wrong with the previous switch, but since the new one is working fine, there must be something with the previous switch that's affecting your network. Please observe it for now and let us know if anything comes up.

Thanks,

Edward

[Tuzza]

Can’t see it being your switch unless it’s taken a knock and damaged the ports. Always setup initially with nothing plugged into the LAN port (have had loads of issues with people trying to setup with switches (managed and unmanaged plugged in which seems to stop the router properly finding and connecting to your router). Then don’t just slam your switch on with all your peripherals connected. Just plug the switch in so that gets it address. Then plug your bits in one by one (assuming nothing had a fixed IP address and are all using DHCP to get their addresses). Might help

[Josh2416]

Same here. The switch never hit the floor, and it reconnected after plugging it in one device at a time. The router freaked out.

[NVG253]

@EdwardT I have the same TP-Link switch that just experienced the same issue as @Josh2416 described. I was using the internet on multiple devices without issue and then all of a sudden the entire network dropped connection and Nest Wifi reported as offline though the Google Home app. I had the same total network failure on June 24th and once before that about a moth or two prior. My network is relatively simple, consisting of the Nest Wifi Router, one Nest Wifi point, and the TP-Link switch. There are about a dozen wifi devices connected at all times with an additional six connected via the switch. I've had this same system since 2019 and have never experienced this issue prior to this year. These are the steps I've had to take to resolve the issues each time:

1. Unplug all ethernet cables and power to TP-Link switch
2. Unplug ethernet cable from the Nest Wifi's LAN port
3. Power cycle Nest Wifi router by unplugging power adapter
4. Power cycle Nest Wifi point
5. WiFi devices automatically reconnect and work as expected 
6. Return ethernet cable to Nest Wifi router LAN port
7. Return power to switch and wait for it to connect
8. Individually plug in each ethernet device, waiting each time for the devices to re-connect to the network
   1. If I quickly plug in all ethernet devices it will knock the whole system offline and I have to restart the process

There have be no changes to the network or the devices attached to it since these issues have started and as I mentioned previously this had never been an issue. What further information would you need from me to investigate?

Thanks!

[EdwardT]

Hi NVG253,

Thanks for the details of the steps you've done. We'd like to know more about this. Please fill out this form so we could investigate further.

Thanks,

Edward

[NVG253]

Submitted, thanks Edward!

[EdwardT]

Hi NVG253,

We got your form — thanks for filling it out. Our team will reach out to you via email to further assist you. Please keep your lines open as they may reach out to you anytime soon. Also, please be advised that this thread will be locked after 24 hrs.

Thanks,

Edward