ZenWifi AX add mesh node fails - Disconnected & Red light

[formeroosid]

Hello,
I have a persistent problem with 3 ZenWIFI AX (XT8) routers. I have 1 unit as the primary (working well), but when I add the two as AIMesh nodes, I immediately get a red light and a Disconnected message. Here is the firmware I'm running.

After resetting the nodes to factory defaults, I run through the 'Add AiMesh Node' process, the router is added. However, within about 30 seconds a red light is displayed, and the added node shows this:

The log from the primary router shows this:

Aug 21 06:58:34 kernel: CSIMON:  CSIMON[1.1.0] Initialization
Aug 21 06:58:34 kernel: CSIMON: M2M usr already registered ...
Aug 21 06:58:35 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth4: Auth 32:10:8A:EC:24:50, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
Aug 21 06:58:35 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth4: Assoc 32:10:8A:EC:24:50, status: Successful (0), rssi:-55
Aug 21 06:59:32 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth4: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
Aug 21 06:59:32 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth4: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:-19
Aug 21 06:59:36 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth4: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-19
Aug 21 06:59:36 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth4: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-19
Aug 21 06:59:36 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth4: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
Aug 21 06:59:36 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth4: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:-19
Aug 21 06:59:37 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth6: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: Successful (0), rssi:-39
Aug 21 06:59:37 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth6: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: Successful (0), rssi:-39
Aug 21 06:59:40 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth4: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-19
Aug 21 06:59:41 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth6: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-38
Aug 21 06:59:41 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth6: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-38
Aug 21 06:59:41 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth4: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Unspecified reason (1), rssi:-15
Aug 21 06:59:41 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth4: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:-15
Aug 21 06:59:41 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth4: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:-19
Aug 21 06:59:44 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth6: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: Successful (0), rssi:-38
Aug 21 06:59:44 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth6: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: Successful (0), rssi:-38
Aug 21 06:59:44 kernel: Register interface [wds2.0.1]  MAC: 04:42:1a:c8:13:b8
Aug 21 07:00:03 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth4: Auth EA:D2:FB:24:27:8A, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:03 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(695): eth4: ReAssoc EA:D2:FB:24:27:8A, status: Successful (0), rssi:-83
Aug 21 07:00:03 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth5: Auth 00:A5:54:5A:D0:F2, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:03 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(695): eth5: ReAssoc 00:A5:54:5A:D0:F2, status: Successful (0), rssi:-70
Aug 21 07:00:06 rc_service: cfg_server 2022:notify_rc start_bsd
Aug 21 07:00:12 kernel: Flushing net_device wds0.0.1.
Aug 21 07:00:12 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): wds0.0.1: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:12 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): eth4: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:12 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): wds2.0.1: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:12 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): eth6: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:18 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth4: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:18 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth4: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:-19
Aug 21 07:00:22 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth4: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-19
Aug 21 07:00:23 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth4: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-19
Aug 21 07:00:23 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth4: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:23 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth4: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:-19
Aug 21 07:00:24 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth6: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: Successful (0), rssi:-39
Aug 21 07:00:24 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth6: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: Successful (0), rssi:-39
Aug 21 07:00:27 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth4: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-19
Aug 21 07:00:27 bsd: bsd: Sending act Frame to ea:d2:fb:24:27:8a with transition target eth5 ssid 04:42:1a:c8:13:b4
Aug 21 07:00:28 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth4: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-19
Aug 21 07:00:28 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth6: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-37
Aug 21 07:00:28 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth4: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:28 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth4: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:-15
Aug 21 07:00:28 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth6: Deauth_ind 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-37
Aug 21 07:00:28 bsd: bsd: STA:ea:d2:fb:24:27:8a no response
Aug 21 07:00:28 bsd: bsd: Sending act Frame to ea:d2:fb:24:27:8a with transition target eth5 ssid 04:42:1a:c8:13:b4
Aug 21 07:00:29 bsd: bsd: STA:ea:d2:fb:24:27:8a no response
Aug 21 07:00:30 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth6: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: Successful (0), rssi:-39
Aug 21 07:00:30 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth6: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: Successful (0), rssi:-39
Aug 21 07:00:30 kernel: Register interface [wds2.0.1]  MAC: 04:42:1a:c8:13:b8
Aug 21 07:00:31 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): eth6: Disassoc EA:D2:FB:24:27:8A, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:33 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): wds2.0.1: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:33 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): eth6: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:88, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:35 kernel: Flushing net_device wds0.0.1.
Aug 21 07:00:35 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): wds0.0.1: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:35 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): eth4: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:36 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(685): eth4: Auth 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:36 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(722): eth4: Assoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: Successful (0), rssi:-19
Aug 21 07:00:38 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth6: Deauth_ind 00:A5:54:5A:D0:F2, status: 0, reason: Disassociated due to inactivity (4), rssi:-69
Aug 21 07:00:38 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(645): eth6: Deauth_ind 00:A5:54:5A:D0:F2, status: 0, reason: Previous authentication no longer valid (2), rssi:-69
Aug 21 07:00:39 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): eth6: Disassoc 00:A5:54:5A:D0:F2, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:39 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): wds0.0.1: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0
Aug 21 07:00:39 kernel: Flushing net_device wds0.0.1.
Aug 21 07:00:39 wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event(662): eth4: Disassoc 7C:10:C9:06:16:81, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0

I've tried a number of things (wired connection, starting from firmware recovery mode, etc.) but I always seem to get the same result. Not sure where to go from here. Any help is appreciated.

Jamie

 

[formeroosid]

OK, my problem goes away if I have a wired connection between the WAN of the remote and the LAN of the primary. The docs don't state this is required, but I couldn't get it work any other way.

 

[jksmurf]

OK, my problem goes away if I have a wired connection between the WAN of the remote and the LAN of the primary. The docs don't state this is required, but I couldn't get it work any other way.

I’d have to agree the ZenWifi AIMesh setup details are more geared to wireless connections and not as clear as they could be for wired connectivity.

The basic wired Ethernet AIMesh setup shows the LAN to WAN cabling much better. The pic attached is from this site.

Finally, here’s a link to more complex AIMesh setups for completeness.