Nest Wifi Pro 6e is disconnecting devices and not allowing them to reconnect?

[JuanFromChi]

Background:

My condo building switched internet from AT&T fiber to Google Webpass(now gFiber) in the late April timeframe. gFiber included the Nest Wifi Pro 6e. After a few days I noticed that every morning different devices(tablet, phone, Ooma, Kasa smart switch/plugs, etc..) would be disconnected from the router and the only way to resolve the issue was to reset the Nest Wifi Pro 6e(either unplug or reset from the app). The tablet and phone would show the wifi signal but the connection was rejected.

Trigger:

On Memorial Day weekend I stumbled unto my trigger. My issue is triggered by my network switch(Netgear GS605NA).  I unplugged my network switch May 27th and the problem went away. The network devices never got kicked off for 2.5 weeks.  On the night of June 13th(Thursday) I decided to plug the network switch in and see if the problem returned. On the morning on June 15th(Today Saturday) I woke up and the issue had returned. My laptop, cellphone, Ooma, and some Kasa smart switches/plugs were disconnected from the router. My tablet was still connected. I went and unplugged the network switch and within a few mins all the devices were reconnected to the router. I didn't have to reset the router

Question:

How could a network switch cause wifi issues?  If there a setting I need to check?  The IPV6 setting is already disabled. The UPnP option is enabled.

I can buy a new network switch but want to understand this before I buy another one that has the same issue.

[MichaelP]

Hello @JuanFromChi 

That sort of thing can be puzzling. Can I ask for some more details on exactly how you have things connected?

You should have your primary Nest WiFi Pro unit's WAN (globe icon) Ethernet port connected to your internet service directly – no switch in between – and it should be the only thing connected to your internet service.

Then, that Ethernet switch should be connected to the primary Nest WiFi Pro unit's LAN (<-> icon) Ethernet port, and any other wired devices should be connected to that switch.

If this is not how you have things connected now, then I would start by connecting things like this first.

But, if that is already how you have things connected now, then I would try disconnecting everything from that switch, but leave it connected to the Nest WiFi Pro unit's LAN port and see if things work as expected. If they do, then connect one device at a time to the switch and give it time to be sure that isn't causing the issue. That should help narrow down which device is causing the issue. If the switch by itself being connected causes the issue, I would try a different Ethernet cable and a different port on the switch. If none of that works, I would return the switch and get a different one.

Diagnosing weird issues like this can be frustrating, but I like to break things down into the simplest possible working system and build back up from there so I can figure out where the issue is. I hope this helps!

[JuanFromChi]

I have the config you mentioned above with WAN cables goes directly to the Internet and the LAN cable goes to my network switch. There are only 2 devices connected to the Network switch so I can do some swapping and waiting this week.

[JuanFromChi]

I tracked the issue down to my work laptop. I pulled each item into the network switch and waited a week to see if the issue returned. When my work laptop is connect within a day the issue returns. I didn't go the next step and find the RCA. I just bought a new network switch and the issue hasn't returned in the 5 days.