Gazillions of broadcast messages from PBs

[Vitaliy]

@wizard

I have about 17 active PixelBlaze projects running around the clock. Recently I noticed some sort of instability on the WiFi network. I was suggested to check a network for potentially flooding with broadcast messages. Sure, WireShark immediately revealed gazillions of broadcast messages. All they are coming from PixelBlase devices:

Now my BIG question is:
How do I stop this broadcast flooding messages from PBs?

Attempt to disable “Discovery” service did not stop this unwanted messages but I REALLY have to stop this unwanted PBs activity.

[wizard]

A follower will stop broadcasting is discovery beacon packet, but that isn’t likely going to help.

Each Pixelblaze does a broadcast once a second which is how both other Pixelblazes and the app can find them on the network. It’s a very small packet, and uses very little bandwidth. Thats 56 bytes including all the frame headers. With 17 PB, thats all of 952 bytes a second, a tiny fraction of even the slowest wifi network possible.

ARP broadcasts are normal networking for anything that uses IP addresses, just devices looking for other devices, and you will have tons of those just having devices on the network.

[Vitaliy]

@wizard

Each Pixelblaze does a broadcast once a second which is how both other Pixelblazes and the app can find them on the network.

Well, at least one PB does this more often. Here is a WireShark capture screen:

Do you have an idea why?

[wizard]

Those are normal ARP packets. That is how devices figure out how to talk to each other over IP protocols. See:

Address Resolution Protocol

Given the timestamps on the left, you can see that the total bandwidth of your network wouldn’t be impacted.

You are not being flooded with broadcast messages. Something else is causing your wifi issues.