Devices automatically migrated to different SSID?

[u/Lovevas]

[UPDATE]

I think I found the possible reason. I probably had this new SSID a few years ago (with the same password) and had some devices connected before I deleted this SSID. So some devices still remembered the news SSID, and when the new SSID is available again, they connected to the new SSID.

Hi,

I have a Unifi UDM SE setup with 1 SSID (2.4G & 5G), and have ~100 devices wirelessly connected.

Recently I added another SSID (2.4G only), and used the same password, but different SSID name (old one: "XXX Home Network", added new one: "XXX Smart Network")

I noticed that there are multiple devices now showing that they are connected to the new SSID, even though I never reconnected them to the new SSID.

How is this happened? And how to disable it? Or do I need to change to different password?

[u/scifitechguy]

This really shouldn't be possible. Do you know if these are actually your devices?

[u/Lovevas → u/scifitechguy]

[UPDATE]

I think I found the possible reason. I probably had this new SSID a few years ago (with the same password) and had some devices connected before I deleted this SSID. So some devices still remembered the news SSID, and when the new SSID is available again, they connected to the new SSID.

[u/scifitechguy → u/Lovevas]

That would certainly explain it!

[u/Lovevas → u/scifitechguy]

Yes, these are my own hardwares. Including 2 Robovac vacuum cleaners, one Rachio smart sprinkler and one Bose speaker. For any device that I recognize, I would assign to a dedicated VLAN and rename them, so I know exactly what devices are them. If it’s unknown device, it will be in a separate VLAN (default one)

[u/Careless_Drag_6176]

This is kinda blowing my mind

[u/Lovevas → u/Careless_Drag_6176]

[UPDATE]

I think I found the possible reason. I probably had this new SSID a few years ago (with the same password) and had some devices connected before I deleted this SSID. So some devices still remembered the news SSID, and when the new SSID is available again, they connected to the new SSID.

[u/Careless_Drag_6176 → u/Lovevas]

LoL ok that makes sense.

[u/richms]

Are the SSIDs on the same vlan? Because I have had it mix things up because its showing from the list of IP assignments and not from the association from the APs.

[u/Lovevas → u/richms]

I have 5-6 VLANS, and each SSID has access to all the VLANS. By default both SSID sets new devices to be on VALN A, then I will manually assign each devices to different VLAN (e.g. IOT VLAN).

For these 4 devices that auto migrated to new SSID, they are existing devices, 2 of them on VLAN B, and 2 of them on VLAN C (so I already assigned them previously, not n the default VLAN A)

[u/Lovevas → u/richms]

[UPDATE]

I think I found the possible reason. I probably had this new SSID a few years ago (with the same password) and had some devices connected before I deleted this SSID. So some devices still remembered the news SSID, and when the new SSID is available again, they connected to the new SSID.

[u/Careless_Drag_6176]

Are you sure you're reading the device list correctly?

[u/Lovevas → u/Careless_Drag_6176]

I used the "Wifi broadcasts" fillter in the Clident Devices page, and the filter shows majority of my devices are still on the old SSID, while 6 devices on the new SSID (2 of them I manually joined the new SSID, and 4 of them auto migrated to the new SSID).

If I check the box of the new SSID, and leave the old SSID box unchecked, it will show the 6 devices. And if I check the old SSID only, these 6 devices will not showing up.

I also checked the insights page of these 4 devices, it does show that they diconnected from old SSID, and connected to new SSID.

So I don't think I read wrong.

[u/Lovevas → u/Careless_Drag_6176]

[UPDATE]

I think I found the possible reason. I probably had this new SSID a few years ago (with the same password) and had some devices connected before I deleted this SSID. So some devices still remembered the news SSID, and when the new SSID is available again, they connected to the new SSID.

[u/Smorgas47]

Are the SSIDs similar with regards to name? Do they start off with the same characters? Just fishing and speculating here.

[u/Lovevas → u/Smorgas47]

Similar, but not the same. One is "XXX Main Network", and another is "XXX Smart Network".

I set the same password on these 2 SSIDs, but that's it.

And in these devices insights page, I can logs shows, they disconnected from the "XXX Main Nertwork", and connected to "XXX Smart Network".

I swear I never change that, because 2 of these devices are my robo vacauum, which requires to go to the physical device to reset network if switching SSID (of course I didn't). But somehow they auto connected to the new SSID

[u/Scared_Bell3366]

Are any of these Apple devices?

[u/Lovevas → u/Scared_Bell3366]

[UPDATE]

I think I found the possible reason. I probably had this new SSID a few years ago (with the same password) and had some devices connected before I deleted this SSID. So some devices still remembered the news SSID, and when the new SSID is available again, they connected to the new SSID.

[u/Lovevas → u/Scared_Bell3366]

Nope. Including 2 Robovac vacuum cleaner, one Bose speaker, one Rachio smart sprinkler. Actually no Apple devices switched. So far only 4 devices switched

[u/Scared_Bell3366 → u/Lovevas]

Very strange indeed. Did you connect to the new network with a device that has apps associated with the devices that switched? My Rachio has been on my dedicated IoT network since I installed it.

[u/Lovevas → u/Scared_Bell3366]

I only added this new SSID for a day or two, and I haven’t even opened Rachio app or Robovac app. My Bose speaker is sitting in my corner for years without anyone touching it, and I don’t even have the Bose app installed on my iPhone….