Solution Powerline Extender Acting as the DHCP server
This Article Applies to:
TL-WPA7510, TL-WPA9610, TL-WPA8730/8630(P) V2, WPA4220 V3, etc.
Problem Description/ Phenomenon:
What is Smart DHCP, and How does Smart DHCP work? Visit TP-Link Smart DHCP Makes Network Configuration Simple.
Some users may find that after the power outage or router’s rebooting, even after router’s internet is back and up running, client devices still get IP address from powerline extender, and cannot connect to the internet.
Note: if router loses internet and then goes back afterwards, powerline extender will do a scan automatically, if it detects another DHCP Server is running, it will disable its own automatically (when powerline units remain paired), and the devices will get IP address from main router then access the internet through that.
Troubleshooting Suggestions:
1. Double check if the main router’s internet is actually back ON and working fine.
To confirm this, wire a computer or laptop to another LAN port of the router using an Ethernet cable, leave the main powerline adapter connected to the LAN port of the router as well, check if you can access the internet successfully on the computer or laptop. If yes, that means the router's DHCP server is up and running; If not, you will need to check what's wrong with the router after the reboot or power outage.
2. Make sure the powerline adapter and extender are still paired (house LEDs are ON), show us the IP address on the clients devices. Compare that when the internet is good and when it is not.
How to check the IP address on a computer: https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/669/.
If your model is not listed or the issue persists, please report back with the information below to help locate the issue.
Or send a support email to TP-Link technical support with title ‘[Forum ID 265692] Powerline Extender Acting as the DHCP server’ to get further assistance:
1. How did you find out powerline device's DHCP server does not work properly? Did you often reboot main router or is there often power outage in your house?
2. Does router’s internet work fine at that moment?
3. LED status on both powerline units.
4. Brand and Model of router, the network topology, for example:
ISP modem --- Router Archer C7 --- PA8010 .... <powerline> ...WPA8630P --- Asus laptop model X.
5. Model & OS of devices that connected to wireless powerline unit.
6. Model number & firmware and hardware version of your powerline KIT, update the firmware if it is not the latest version:
How to update the firmware of the powerline adapter using the tpPLC Utility: https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/1091/
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@Solla-topee @Zoltar74 @Jvmd @PC_60 @dunxd
I have applied firmware update
TL-WPA7517_V1 (EU) Beta
TL-WPA7517(EU) _V1_Build20220108
Device is now updated to:
Firmware Version:
1.0.2 Build 211229 Rel.60350n (6985/8575)
I then set static IP in Device Settings> LAN Settings
It didnt make any difference, connection still drops every 2 minutes or so to Power Line via eithernet cable
Turned on again 'Obtain an IP address automatically (Recommended)' and checked the logs:
DHCPC: Recv ACK from server XXX with ip XXX lease time 130
Instead of a work around, can you please release a firmware update that has the Powerline Extender DHCP server swithched off by default, or give users the option to turn it off themselves via the portal ?
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@Solla-topee it's embarrassing:
And without taking hundreds and hundreds of dhcp traffic blocks.
You can't even delete your account from the forum, by policy they can keep your data until they feel like it, read it.
There is less left to get tp-link out of my house forever.
I say goodbye to all of you, good luck with these people.
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Hello @ftt555._-2t2tfg
Thank you for your feedback on the beta firmware, the new beta will turn off DHCP.
If powerline disconnects every few mins, we need to look into the cause of the issue further. Can you start a new thread for unstable concern and provide some case details, like the House Led(Powe line Led) status on when issue occurs, the detailed network topology, how the connection recover etc. If House Led is On when the issue happens, please check the IPv4 address and gateway and send us a photo: https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/838/ Ping the default gateway and send us the ping result：https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/425/; you could share the full log file/ link of log file when power line use default settings in the thread or by private message.
Thank you.
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@Zoltar74 This seems to be requests for DNS and FTP server, as far as I know that happens regardless smart DHCP is ON/OFF.
If there is any new beta, I will let you know.
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thanks for your quick reply ! I have some good news ....
I had all devices switched off over night, tried this morning @ 8am via eithernet, it worked OK for 20 mins, then loss of connection (eithernet icon replaced with globe & web browser had error) for about 30 seconds, and it has wokred fine since with no major loss of connection (nothing like yesterday !).
There has been several short interuptions to my VPN within the remote desktop window, but it always had relablity issues anyway, and the web browser on my desktop could still access the internet during these times.
I have also noticed a couple of minor loss of connection for +/- 5 seconds, but the WIFI direct from the router was doing this yesterday also, so its not an issue with your equipment.
I will update you later today with a progress report, maybe it needed a long power off to clear the cached settings from yesterday ?
thanks again 
P.S. I had already reserved an IP address on my router for the Powerline unit & turned off power-saving mode on the Powerline devices before applying the firmware
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@Solla-topee it's true, but the dns provided by my dhcp is not google's. And the challenge of destinations where it connects?For that if you have time to program?
I forgot to remove the mark to warn me of the answers.
Bye Solla, bye tp-link.
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Understand how you feel. TPLink are liars and aren't doing anything to fix the problem.
All the Beta stuff is a sham put on for show. They said for Chinese new year or whatever they were on holiday but new firmware would be out in March ... now we're nearing May so after all the trail even just in this thread they have proved they are no longer trustworthy.
Just boycott their kit is the answer
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@Solla-topee The beta firmware most certainly does NOT disable the DHCP server. I have it installed on all my WPA devices.
Yesterday, a power interruption resulted in the powerline devices winning the race to boot before my TP-Link Archer VR600 and thus assign addresses to all the clients on the network. The resolution to this was to power down all the powerline WPA devices and then trigger DHCP refresh on all the wired clients, then power on the WPA devices and then DHCP refresh on the wireless clients.
It's been months...years... since customers have been requesting an option to fully disable the Smart DHCP function. We haven't even had any explanation for why Smart DHCP is even part of the WPA functionality. Surely just issuing some firmware that can be installed by people that don't want it isn't impossible or even that hard?
I am no longer asking only for firmware that has Smart DHCP disabled, but also why it is taking so long to make any progress. I remain deeply disappointed by this range of products from TP-Link.
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The new firmware doesn't disable the DHCP server:
##########################################################################
# TL-WPA4220 System Log
# Time = 2022-04-26 9:37:29
# H-Ver = TL-WPA4220 5.0 : S-Ver = 1.0.1 Build 210209 Rel.62933n
##########################################################################
0days, 00:00:00, LAN:Attach mirror0 to stack.
0days, 00:00:00, LAN:Set interface mirror0 ip=192.168.35.219 netmask 255.255.255.0.
0days, 00:00:00, DHCPS: Dhcps start
0days, 00:00:00, HTTPD: Http server start!
0days, 00:00:12, DHCPS: Recv DISCOVER from 98:39:8E:DE:AD:BE.
0days, 00:00:13, DHCPS: Send OFFER with ip 192.168.35.100.
0days, 00:00:13, DHCPS: Recv REQUEST from 98:39:8E:DE:AD:BE.
0days, 00:00:13, DHCPS: Send ACK to 192.168.35.100.
0days, 00:00:17, DHCPS: Recv DISCOVER from E0:D4:64:BE:EF:DE.
0days, 00:00:17, DHCPS: Send OFFER with ip 192.168.35.154.
0days, 00:00:17, DHCPS: Recv REQUEST from E0:D4:64:BE:EF:DE.
0days, 00:00:17, DHCPS: Send ACK to 192.168.35.154.
0days, 00:00:35, DHCPS: Recv DISCOVER from E0:D4:64:BE:EF:DE.
0days, 00:00:35, DHCPS: Send OFFER with ip 192.168.35.154.
0days, 00:00:35, DHCPS: Recv REQUEST from E0:D4:64:BE:EF:DE.
0days, 00:00:35, DHCPS: Send ACK to 192.168.35.154.
0days, 00:00:36, DHCPS: Dhcps stop
0days, 00:00:36, DHCPS: Dhcps start
0days, 00:00:41, DHCPS: Recv DISCOVER from E0:D4:64:BE:EF:DE.
0days, 00:00:41, DHCPS: Send OFFER with ip 192.168.35.154.
0days, 00:00:41, DHCPS: Recv REQUEST from E0:D4:64:BE:EF:DE.
0days, 00:00:41, DHCPS: Send ACK to 192.168.35.154.
0days, 00:00:43, DHCPS: Recv REQUEST from 98:39:8E:DE:AD:BE.
0days, 00:00:43, DHCPS: Send NAK to c0a81e64.
0days, 00:00:49, DHCPS: Recv DISCOVER from 98:39:8E:DE:AD:BE.
0days, 00:00:49, DHCPS: Send OFFER with ip 192.168.35.100.
0days, 00:00:49, DHCPS: Recv REQUEST from 98:39:8E:DE:AD:BE.
0days, 00:00:49, DHCPS: Send ACK to 192.168.35.100.
0days, 00:00:49, DHCPS: Recv REQUEST from 98:39:8E:DE:AD:BE.
0days, 00:00:49, DHCPS: Send ACK to 192.168.35.100.
0days, 00:00:50, DHCPS: Recv DISCOVER from 98:39:8E:DE:AD:BE.
0days, 00:00:50, DHCPS: Send OFFER with ip 192.168.35.100.
0days, 00:00:50, DHCPS: Recv REQUEST from 98:39:8E:DE:AD:BE.
0days, 00:00:50, DHCPS: Send ACK to 192.168.35.100.
Besides making the entire network unstable, as there is now two DHCP servers on it, it also doesn't obey the default gateway setting, announcing TL-WPA4220's web address as the default gateway, instead of honoring the one manually set.
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I dont understand; Just add a check box thats stops the DHCP dameon from starting up. It isnt rocket science TP-Link
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