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Question

New Samsung TV is taking over 40 ip Addresses on my Network.

May 3, 2017 5:42AM PDT

So, I got a new Samsung TV last month and hooked it up to my network (Wireless). I have 3 other Samsung TVs also. After a couple weeks, when running a Scan of my Network, I noticed that this new TV was taking over 4 ip addresses on my Network and they were all showing as 'alive'. It turns out that every time I power up this TV, it takes a new ip address, but does not release the old ip address. My other TVs don't do this. I am guessing that this is not beneficial to my network. Does someone here understand what is going on here? I have already called Samsung tech support and searched the Internet and came up empty.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Sounds like a DHCP issue.
May 3, 2017 7:09AM PDT

OK, I'm going to take it you are a IT person and not define anything.

For this TV I'd just set the IP in the TV (hard assign) since Samsung didn't answer your call for a fix.

As to RELEASE, that's not the job of the TV but the DHCP server. Since power can be cut and no DHCPRELEASE message sent. That's all technical so I'm going with the answer is to assign the IP and be done with it.

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I actually have done this....................
May 3, 2017 7:30AM PDT

Thanks for your reply !

I did assign an ip address, and that does work. And you are correct, that I have been in IT for over 40 years (Probably too long), but I am no expert in networking. So, I was curious as to what was going on here. And I do not like manually assigning IP addresses, as it does tend to complicate things down the road when changing things on my network.

I have 4 routers in my house, one acting as the DHCP server, and 3 others as access points. I have other TVs attached to this same access point, as well as other devices, but this new TV is definitely doing something different than the others. So, I was hoping someone could shed some light on this situation.

One question I have, what is the ramification of having one device taking 40 IP addresses (all showing live) to the performance of the network ?

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Should have no performance impact.
May 3, 2017 7:47AM PDT

You might run out of addresses in the pool but from my high level view there are issues with why it grabs a new address (is the TV firmware current?, is there something odd about the network?) to my big question so I'll put it on one line:

Is the TV Firmware current?

The network is not flat so there are KNOWN issues some access points had with Samsungs and DHCP. I can't find the link but TP-Link had to fix it to accommodate Samsung devices. So it could be firmware updates in the network device could fix it. Not a sure thing.

I know I don't like to hard assign but when I do, it's for a reason like this where I want to close the ticket and move on to bigger issues.

Me? Wrote router code in the 90's.

Post was last edited on May 3, 2017 1:35 PM PDT

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Firmware is up to Date........ One thing Odd though.......
May 3, 2017 11:36AM PDT

TV Firmware is up to date - First thing Samsung had me check.

Nothing Odd about my Network.... I have many different devices on the Network, including 3 Samsung TVs.

One odd thing that I did notice, which may be a clue to my problem, is that when I turn off the New TV, the IP address still show 'Alive' on my Network. I just tested another Wireless Samsung TV and when it is turned off, the IP address no longer shows being alive and lists it as 'Dead'. So there is definitely a difference with the new TV compared to the older Samsungs.

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I have to disagree a little.
May 3, 2017 1:43PM PDT

When the DHCP is over a WAP I've seen troubles like this. Remember TP Link did have to fix their WAPs to live with Samsung's DHCP ways.

-> A little reveal here. Besides writing router code in the 90's later I went to Taiwan to help with bugs in a company product. It was interesting to see how a bug that we squashed would exist in clone products. Let's not kid ourselves about how they share code there.

Anyhow, if you want to take on Samsung, so far they program it "by the book" so it's unlikely it's plain wrong. Just something the DHCP server and WAP didn't handle.

-> About turn off the New TV. All that tells us is the Samsung didn't issue a DHCPRELEASE which while messy is usually not a problem as the DHCP server should on next assignment notice the MAC address and issue same IP.

BUT there's the rub. If it's on a WAP and the WAP bungles the message or subs in its own MAC address, things like this happens.

---> BIG THING TO CHECK. See what the MAC address is of the TV. There is an issue with some devices where the MAC was all zeros. Which is dead wrong.

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Checked the MAC address of the TV.....
May 3, 2017 2:00PM PDT

It is 40:16:3B:F0:EF:78 and Occurs on all IP addresses for that TV.

BTW - I also have another Samsung TV on the same Wireless Router that functions just fine.

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Something you learn over time.
May 3, 2017 2:13PM PDT

Is that just because another Samsung works, doesn't mean this will.

I've shared what I know about this, the quick fix so now it's up to Samsung and the router, network gear makers to fix.

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Yes, that is what I'm saying.....
May 4, 2017 5:40AM PDT

"Is that just because another Samsung works, doesn't mean this will."

Right, what I am trying to say, is that Samsung has Changed the way their TVs act with networks. And I have manually assigned the IP address to the TV, so I have already employed the workaround.

Thanks!

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Or they programmed it "by the book."
May 4, 2017 7:13AM PDT

TP Link did yelp about it but Samsung programmed it right and the WAP maker had to change.

Sorry but the article I had on this is not to be found. Wish I had it since it explained the bug and TP Link owned up and fixed it.

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Yes, that would qualify "As Changing the TV", and also......
May 4, 2017 4:51PM PDT

Unfortunately, my Work around has failed. I no longer have internet Access on my TV. It is connected to the Network, but no internet. Changing it back to Automatic no longer works either. The only way that I can get the TV to connect to the internet is to do a Factory reset and then let it Auto-Connect to an IP address.

I tried this manually assign an IP address and it works for a day or so, but eventually fails. I guess I'll just leave it on Auto and let it fill up my network with IP addresses at this point, unless you have a better suggestion.

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Tell more.
May 4, 2017 4:54PM PDT

As you are a network guru, did you set the IP and other items from outside your DHCP range? Otherwise there could be a problem.

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No "Network Guru" here.......
May 4, 2017 4:59PM PDT

Just a mediocre hack.......

I set the IP Address for one of the Dead Addresses that the TV had used before. So, it was in range of my DHCP.

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That should fail.
May 4, 2017 5:13PM PDT

You keep some addresses outside the DHCP pool but inside the LAN range for devices and servers. (short answer.)

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See, I told you I was a Hack............
May 4, 2017 5:15PM PDT

As, I was typing this I suspected I had screwed up. I remembered that I had set up my Access Points outside the DHCP pool also...... So, now I know what to do.

Thanks Again !

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"Now it dawns on me."
May 4, 2017 9:33PM PDT

We all need to bounce ideas off others. Let's hope it sticks this time.