Bridger internet issues when roaming between multiple APs with bridger installed

[gssjshark]

I have a MT6000 as my main router and 3 MT6000 as dumb APs. It seems something broke with bridger in the 2024.04.15 update. I am having issues with the internet not working when I’m bouncing between multiple APs around the house, even though the AP shows I’m connected with a great signal. When I remove bridger from the dumb APs and turned WED off on all units, everything works perfectly. Fast roaming works great, and I don’t loose internet connectivity when I’m bouncing around the house. Been up 24 hours and no issues, but with Bridger installed on the dumb APs and WED enabled or disabled on all the units… it lasts 5-10 mins before I lose internet walking around the house. I also turned off fast roaming and that made no difference. I am using r26047 on the main router, and r26060 on my dumb APs and was using Bridger 2024.04.22~40b1c5b6. Kernel 6.1.86 with the default firmware on all MT600.

[nxhack]

I am exactly the same with you.

I had a problem when moving between two dumb APs. Then I restarted the bridger of the two APs and the problem was fixed.

However, the same action was required if I moved again.

[gssjshark]

I have the same issue, and restarting the AP solves the issue. As soon as I start moving from dumb ap to dumb ap, this issue occurs again. I hope we can help and get this issue resolved.

[APCCV]

Same (or similar) issue. Same setup as that above.
It takes 2-3 days for the issues to appear, not minutes.
Devices connected to the AP having issues lose all connectivity. If they roam to a different AP they regain network access, and if they roam back to an affected AP they lose connectivity again.
The affected AP remains online and can be reached via ethernet. Restarting WiFi (wifi down && wifi up) restores normal operation without having to reboot the router which suggest the issue may be with WiFi driver (and WED) or routing.
Routing tables always looked OK.
Nothing useful appeared in logs.
Disabling WED but leaving bridger on seemed to also trigger the issue although usually both were being used at the same time.

[gssjshark]

@nbd168 would love to get your thoughts on this and how we can help! Thank you.

[CharlesMengCA]

Similar issue on ASUS TUF-AX4200. built with bridger included, fast roaming stop working. Removed bridger, the fast roaming works again.

Looks like after a client disconnected from an AP, the bridger or something on the AP still sends the MAC alive token to the DHCP server. When the client try to get IP from the DHCP server from another AP, since the MAC still assigned IP from the old AP. the new request failed.

[CharlesMengCA]

Strange enough, my other router LINKSYS E8450 has bridger installed and the fast roaming is working fine.

[Halry]

I have this issue too. Problem will surface if you switch between APs a few times. Then the internet connection will break(at least very slow).

[gssjshark]

I have this issue too. Problem will surface if you switch between APs a few times. Then the internet connection will break(at least very slow).

Exactly what happens to me. Thank you for sharing!

[gssjshark]

@nbd168 what would be helpful for you to look into this (if possible). Thank you!

[gssjshark]

Strange enough, my other router LINKSYS E8450 has bridger installed and the fast roaming is working fine.

What version of bridger are you using?

[CharlesMengCA]

My bad. Bridger only works when it is not in the middle of the topology chain.

Working:
Main router (dhcp server)->AX4200->E8450 (bridger)

Not working:
Main router (dhcp server)->E8450 (bridger)->AX4200

In the not working scenario, even my iPhone disconnected from AX4200, the bridger on E8450 still sent keep-alive to my main router and made it keep the lease in the dhcp table. had to reboot the E8450 to make the lease go away.

[gssjshark]

@nbd168 i was hoping to get your help with this bug! Please let us know if anything else is needed from us to help. Thank you

[gssjshark]

it seems Pesa’s (https://forum.openwrt.org/u/pesa1234) latest build has finally resolved the bridger issues i was experiencing with my APs not giving internet to my devices anymore.

mt76: imported new mtk patch
do not report ACK when TXS is lost
refine twt mcu update flow

Seems like this patch doesn't break bridger anymore. I am wondering if others can test. I have been up for 2 hours without issue. Usually only had 2-5 mins before bridger would break.

https://github.com/pesa1234/MT6000_cust_build/tree/main/2024.10.24_r28037_6.6.58_next-r4.3.6.mtk