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Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

kb.netgear.com

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Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#21

Post by 4cao »

Zak wrote: post #17

It appears the registration is only required for "cloud" features managed through Netgear's subscription service. Here's what's possible without the cloud service: https://kb.netgear.com/000061174/What-features-of-my-NETGEAR... And here are the features of the cloud service: https://kb.netgear.com/000044342/What-can-I-do-with-Insight

Seems this applies to certain categories of devices [1] and then it's $5/yr for the Basic "Insight" plan (mobile app only) [2] or either $1/mo or $10/yr [3] for the "Premium" one (access via web browser as well and some additional features). First 2 devices are free.

From what I'm reading, it seems like you're required to register some devices or their functionality will be reduced, and then if the device can also be managed through the cloud interface (regardless of whether you actually want to be managing it that way), it will count against the free device limit (as long as you register it under the same account).

However, it also looks like these products were advertised as such from the start. I previously thought that this was forced upon the users through a firmware update.

1. https://kb.netgear.com/000048452/What-devices-can-I-discover...

2. https://kb.netgear.com/000053256/What-Insight-subscription-p...

3. https://kb.netgear.com/000053255/What-countries-and-currenci...

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#22

Post by ziml77 »

gogopuppygogo wrote: post #6
4cao wrote: post #2

> You can login and access all features through the local browser UI 3 times without registering the switch through your netgear.com account. How generous, for a device that people buy (not rent) from them, and pay actual money for (not receive for free). And apparently Netgear didn't even feel the need to bother including any contrived excuse as to why this is being introduced. What a time to be alive.

All low end proprietary network gear is going managed by cloud. Ubiquiti on the soho side and now consumer. Open source is the only equipment you can trust to not adopt this model as it’s much more profitable than shipping a box once every five years.

It's unfortunate that Ubiquiti is forcing telemetry on users. Having everything integrate into UniFi Controller is pretty neat. Like enough so that if I didn't already have an APU2 running pfSense, I'd very likely buy a UDM Pro despite it being immense overkill.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#23

Post by ziml77 »

Zak wrote: post #17

It appears the registration is only required for "cloud" features managed through Netgear's subscription service. Here's what's possible without the cloud service: https://kb.netgear.com/000061174/What-features-of-my-NETGEAR... And here are the features of the cloud service: https://kb.netgear.com/000044342/What-can-I-do-with-Insight

The very first bullet says that it's for the the local UI... Your first link predates this change as evidenced by the last updated date of 2019-08-22.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#24

Post by ziml77 »

stjohnswarts wrote: post #8

thanks for the heads up. I guess it's tp-link for cheap wifi routers then

Fortunately this does appear to be specific to managed switches which are sold as having cloud management functionality. I don't think you have to worry about their normal routers having this restriction.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#25

Post by starky »

4cao wrote: post #2

> You can login and access all features through the local browser UI 3 times without registering the switch through your netgear.com account. How generous, for a device that people buy (not rent) from them, and pay actual money for (not receive for free). And apparently Netgear didn't even feel the need to bother including any contrived excuse as to why this is being introduced. What a time to be alive.

How handy, that should be plenty of logins to install Fresh Tomato on the router.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#26

Post by foxdev »

4cao wrote: post #14
gogopuppygogo wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All low end proprietary network gear is going managed by cloud. Ubiquiti on the soho side and now consumer. Open source is the only equipment you can trust to not adopt this model as it’s much more profitable than shipping a box once every five years.

Netgear isn't (wasn't?) really low-end though. At least not priced as such. One would think they'd be making enough without having to resort to such tactics. You're right Ubiquiti did it though and I believe their devices are priced even higher. (Edit: note the post next to mine says you can opt out of this.) I agree replacing the stock firmware with an open-source aftermarket one like OpenWRT is the way to go but th…

You can get a $20-40 Netgear router at Walmart.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#27

Post by usr1106 »

Is that device sold in the EU? What about GDPR? Well, it seems to be a switch and private households are less likely to run a switch. But still some people might. So will the device still work after you ask them to delete your data?

For a company on the other hand you might want to have secure systems not connected to the Internet at any time.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#28

Post by gcb0 »

nokya wrote: post #9

Reminds me of years ago, when Microsoft started forcing players to be online when playing on xbox...which was minutes before I decided I would never need an xbox :)

Or when facebook, yesterday, went back on the promise that their acquired VR headsets would never require a facebook account.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#29

Post by m463 »

4cao wrote: post #2

> You can login and access all features through the local browser UI 3 times without registering the switch through your netgear.com account. How generous, for a device that people buy (not rent) from them, and pay actual money for (not receive for free). And apparently Netgear didn't even feel the need to bother including any contrived excuse as to why this is being introduced. What a time to be alive.

This is becoming the dark-pattern-du-jour.

I get this with videoconferencing too (webex, teams), where the app starts downloading and the ability to do what you want (use the browser) is hidden or delayed until you've failed.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#30

Post by m463 »

jlgaddis wrote: post #12

(ITT: Plenty of comments from folks who clearly didn't bother to RTFA.) This appears to be for one specific product, a "smart cloud switch" [0] (which comes with a "1-Year Insight Subscription"). I don't see anything to indicate that the product registration requirement applies to any of their other products.

I bought one of their 108 series managed switches, and "managed switch" always meant a management interface, vs an unmanaged switch. So there could be confusion.
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