It seems like some of my non-present WiFi devices are stuck as active devices and can’t be removed from the network.
The latest (?) Control-update introduced a safeguard against removing an active (wired?) device from the device list, which strangely pops up here for the WiFi device:
They (the devices) stay in the devices list also after trying to remove them. IP remains as the previous DHCP IP and it strangely shows up as associated to the default VLAN instead of the correct one.
Lease time for that particular VLAN was originally set to default but I changed it to minimum possible, 300 s, and waited that one to expire. Also, rebooted the Route10. Timeframe is set to Live and I have refreshed the window.
Unfortunately, still no luck in removing the devices/entries.
This is experienced on Cloud Control WebUI with Chrome Mobile on Android.
So, this might possibly be one or more related or completely unrelated issues/bugs to the devices list:
WiFi device is interpreted as wired.
WiFi device is stuck in devices list, and can not be removed (via the Trash-bin button and the following pop-up).
The pop-up text and slidebar selection and info is not relevant for a WiFi device.
Any idea if it drops off in 24 hours? This sounds like the same thing I’ve posted about previously where a device that’s no longer connected stays in the connected device list. Then it dropped off 24 hours later and it seemed to be regardless of dhcp lease time.
Update on this one for input to Alta troubleshooting:
One device (iPhone) re-appeared in the network and then disappeared (wife coming home and leaving again). The line content turned gray, whereby it became possible to perform a WiFi forget device with the Trash-bin. But, it then re-emerged as a wired and active device, attached to L1 on Route10 (where associated AP is connected) and with a bogus VLAN, see screenshots:
I’ve noticed the same issue on my MacBooks after a recent macOS update. My guess is that the “Private Wi-Fi Address” feature in macOS might be causing a conflict with the Alta controller. It seems that Alta registers the same device twice: once with the randomized MAC address as a WiFi connection and again with the actual (hardware) MAC address as a “wired” connection. However, the “wired” connection always appears as “active,” even when the device is asleep, despite no actual network activity being registered. Removing the “wired” device doesn’t work as Alta will automatically pick it up again. I have had these entries for a few weeks already, so it doesn’t seem like it will get dropped automatically.
@MapleBaconPoutine, there has only been issues with two devices, and we currently only have one Apple product (one iPhone) in the family. So that sounds like a winner. I’ll monitor it for some while more and see what happens.
I have monitored the Apple (iPhone) device/devices and it seems like it keeps repeating itself.
Either the actual/correct device is present, or both a wired, and incorrect, version and the correct version of the device are present. If the physical device leaves the network, and I attempt removing it it re-emerges as the wired device (if it was not already present before). The wired device is not removable.
Edit: The wired device is usually not removable, but all of a sudden it turned gray and I was actually able to remove it. But, it will probably repeat itself again once physically appearing in the network again.
Seems like this happens to non-Apple devices too. Don’t know if it is exactly the same issue, but the symptom is very similar. When temporarily logging on to my other SSIDs with random MAC set and then afterwards trying to remove the grayed out entries, they too re-appear as active wired “No name” devices that can’t be removed.
This definitely seems related to Apple’s “Private Wi-Fi Address” feature and I assume other non Apple devices that have this feature. In my case, someone in my household recently upgraded their work issued machine from a MacBook Pro 2020 to a 2024 model. The 2020 MacBook still shows up in Alta, incorrectly listed as a hardwired device — even though it only ever connected via Wi-Fi. The corresponding Private Wi-Fi entry is grayed out and removable.
As @ebuckland81 noted, these leftover entries behave like persistent ghost devices. I’ve found this can reliably happen when reinstalling macOS or after a system update.
Steps to reproduce:
Fresh install macOS.
Connect to Wi-Fi with “Private Wi-Fi Address” enabled.
Ensure the WiFi entry is recorded in Alta.
Reinstall macOS and reconnect the same way.
Each reinstall results in a new device entry marked as “hardwired,” while the Private Wi-Fi entry appears correctly.
These extra entries return as “Unnamed Device” and can’t be permanently deleted. While macOS updates may also trigger this, clean reinstalls consistently reproduce the issue in my experience. Unlike ebuckland81, I haven’t had these “hardwired” devices gray out, even when the physical machine is no longer present (e.g., MacBook 2020).
I’ll monitor it for some while more and see what happens.