## Describe your changes The AllowedIPs reference counter ([refcounter/types.go#L9](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/e1a24376a/client/internal/routemanager/refcounter/types.go#L9)) was keyed only by prefix and stored a single active peer set by the first registrar, never swapped. When two networks advertised the same prefix via different routing peers, removing the one whose peer was installed in WireGuard left the prefix pointing at the removed peer instead of the surviving one — traffic kept flowing to the old peer until a manual `netbird down/up`. Made the AllowedIPs counter peer-aware: it tracks a per-peer reference count per prefix plus the installed peer, and swaps WireGuard to a surviving peer when the active one releases its last reference (removes the prefix when none remain). `Decrement` now takes the peer key so the exact incremented peer is released; the static handler records its selected routing peer like the dynamic and DNS handlers already did. The generic `Counter` (routes, exclusion, ipset) is unchanged. ## Issue ticket number and link No public issue — reported internally (routes not updating without `netbird down/up` when two networks share a subnet). Root cause is the prefix-only key at [refcounter/types.go#L9](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/e1a24376a/client/internal/routemanager/refcounter/types.go#L9). ## Stack <!-- branch-stack --> ### Checklist - [x] Is it a bug fix - [ ] Is a typo/documentation fix - [ ] Is a feature enhancement - [ ] It is a refactor - [x] Created tests that fail without the change (if possible) > By submitting this pull request, you confirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the [Contributor License Agreement](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/CONTRIBUTOR_LICENSE_AGREEMENT.md). ## Documentation Select exactly one: - [ ] I added/updated documentation for this change - [x] Documentation is **not needed** for this change (explain why) Internal client-side routing fix. No public API, CLI, or config change — only the WireGuard AllowedIPs hand-off when overlapping-prefix networks are removed. ### Docs PR URL (required if "docs added" is checked) Paste the PR link from https://github.com/netbirdio/docs here: N/A <!-- codesmith:footer --> --- <a href="https://app.blacksmith.sh/netbirdio/codesmith/netbird/pr/6799"><picture><source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="https://pr-comments-assets.blacksmith.sh/codesmith/view-with-codesmith-dark-v2.svg"><source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="https://pr-comments-assets.blacksmith.sh/codesmith/view-with-codesmith-light-v2.svg"><img alt="View with Codesmith" src="https://pr-comments-assets.blacksmith.sh/codesmith/view-with-codesmith-dark-v2.svg"></picture></a> <a href="https://backend.blacksmith.sh/track/enable-autofix?expires=1786796229&installation_id=146802194&pr_number=6799&repository=netbirdio%2Fnetbird&return_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fnetbirdio%2Fnetbird%2Fpull%2F6799&signature=322d6950b4f664b1cb3421f2efa039fbbb7946de9b79f2a1b1b131dc182ada2c"><picture><source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="https://pr-comments-assets.blacksmith.sh/codesmith/autofix-with-codesmith-dark.svg"><source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="https://pr-comments-assets.blacksmith.sh/codesmith/autofix-with-codesmith-light.svg"><img alt="Autofix with Codesmith" src="https://pr-comments-assets.blacksmith.sh/codesmith/autofix-with-codesmith-dark.svg"></picture></a> <sup>Need help on this PR? Tag <code>/codesmith</code> with what you need. Autofix is disabled.</sup> <!-- codesmith:autofix:disabled --> <!-- /codesmith:footer --> <!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai --> ## Summary by CodeRabbit * **Bug Fixes** * Improved routing behavior when multiple peers share the same Allowed IP by making Allowed IP reference tracking peer-aware. * Allowed IPs now correctly decrement using the active peer key and transfer to another surviving active peer when the current peer is removed. * Prevented stale routing and incorrect reference cleanup during route and DNS-driven teardown. * **Tests** * Added/extended coverage for peer handoffs, repeated references, non-active peer removal, flushing behavior, and self-healing after swap add/remove failures. <!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai -->
Start using NetBird at netbird.io
See Documentation
Join our Slack channel or our Community forum
🚀 We are hiring! Join us at https://netbird.io/careers
🤖 NetBird Agent Network (Beta)
Identity-aware access control for AI agents — keyless access to LLM APIs and private resources over the encrypted NetBird tunnel. See
agent-network/or read the docs at netbird.ai.
NetBird combines a configuration-free peer-to-peer private network and a centralized access control system in a single platform, making it easy to create secure private networks for your organization or home.
Connect. NetBird creates a WireGuard-based overlay network that automatically connects your machines over an encrypted tunnel, leaving behind the hassle of opening ports, complex firewall rules, VPN gateways, and so forth.
Secure. NetBird enables secure remote access by applying granular access policies while allowing you to manage them intuitively from a single place. Works universally on any infrastructure.
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/10cec749-bb56-4ab3-97af-4e38850108d2
Self-host NetBird (video)
Key features
Quickstart with NetBird Cloud
- Download and install NetBird at https://app.netbird.io/install.
- Follow the steps to sign up with Google, Microsoft, GitHub or your email address.
- Check the NetBird admin UI.
Quickstart with self-hosted NetBird
This is the quickest way to try self-hosted NetBird. It should take around 5 minutes to get started if you already have a public domain and a VM. Follow the Advanced guide with a custom identity provider for installations with different IdPs.
Infrastructure requirements:
- A Linux VM with at least 1 CPU and 2 GB of memory.
- The VM should be publicly accessible on TCP ports 80 and 443 and UDP port 3478.
- A public domain name pointing to the VM.
Software requirements:
- Docker with the Compose plugin (Compose v2 or higher). See the Docker installation guide.
Steps
- Download and run the installation script:
export NETBIRD_DOMAIN=netbird.example.com; curl -fsSL https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/latest/download/getting-started.sh | bash
A bit on NetBird internals
- Every machine in the network runs the NetBird agent, which manages WireGuard.
- Every agent connects to the Management Service, which holds network state, manages peer IPs, and distributes updates to agents.
- Agents use ICE (via pion/ice) to discover connection candidates for peer-to-peer connections.
- Candidates are discovered with the help of STUN servers.
- Agents negotiate a connection through the Signal Service, exchanging end-to-end encrypted messages with candidates.
- When NAT traversal fails (e.g. mobile carrier-grade NAT) and a direct p2p connection isn't possible, the system falls back to a Relay Service and a secure WireGuard tunnel is established through it.
See a complete architecture overview for details.
Community projects
- NetBird installer script
- netbird-tui - terminal UI for managing NetBird peers, routes, and settings
- caddy-netbird - Caddy plugin that embeds a NetBird client for proxying HTTP and TCP/UDP traffic through NetBird networks
Note: The main branch may be in an unstable or even broken state during development.
For stable versions, see releases.
Support acknowledgement
In November 2022, NetBird joined the StartUpSecure program sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of the Federal Republic of Germany. Together with the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security, NetBird brings security best practices and simplicity to private networking.
Acknowledgements
We build on open-source technologies like WireGuard®, Pion ICE, and Rosenpass. We greatly appreciate the work these projects are doing, and we'd love it if you could support them too (e.g., by starring or contributing).
Legal
This repository is licensed under the BSD-3-Clause license, which applies to all parts of the repository except for the directories management/, signal/ and relay/. Those directories are licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3.0 (AGPLv3). See the respective LICENSE files inside each directory.
WireGuard and the WireGuard logo are registered trademarks of Jason A. Donenfeld.



