Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[buckyswider]

Hi all, I have a DIR-655 Rev B, in a typical cascaded config:  modem > dir-555 > switches & devices, etc.

One of the four dir-655 ports is connected to a cheap-o Belink Wifi router which I use as an access point (I only use this because there's one device that only supports WEP).  I was debugging a WiFi issue and I pulled the plug on this Belkin just to get it out of the picture.  Well, when I did that, EVERYTHING that was connected through the DIR-655 lost connection.  (Well, all the wired stuff anyway- not sure about WiFi devices through the DIR-655).  I noticed that the port link light for the powered-off device stayed on on the DIR-655.  When I unplugged the cable from the DIR-655, everything went back to normal.

So what I'm trying to figure out now is, is this a DIR-655 issue, or is it something screwy with the Belkin?  Or Both?  I've got to assume that there's some inherent flaw in the DIR-655 that allows something connected to a port to screw up everything that it's hosting.  Anyone ever seen something like this before?  I tried lots of searches on this forum, but couldn't find anything relevant...Thanks!

[FurryNutz]

Check cabling and make sure ALL cabling is in good condition.
Start with one device connected to the router and graduate adding devices. See if maybe you can isolate where the router might be having an issue.

Some other things to try:
What Firmware version is currently loaded?

Ensure DNS IP addresses are being filled in under Setup/Internet/Manual? You can copy and paste these from under Status/Device Info/Wan section.
Turn off ALL QoS (DIR only) GameFuel (DGL only and if ON.) options.
Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option under Setup/Internet/Manual.
Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking.
Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices on the router.
Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.
Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP.

What wireless modes are you using?
Try single mode G or mixed G and N?
What security mode are you using? WEP, WPA or WPA2? Preferred is WPA-Personal. WPA2/Auto TPIK and AES.
What wireless devices do you have connected?
Any cordless house phones?
Any other WiFi routers in the area?
Turn off Short GI under Advanced/Adv. Wireless.

[buckyswider]

Thanks for the reply!  I think I'v pretty much isolated the issue.

It's when the Belkin device has its power removed, but the network cable from the Belkin>DIR-655 is still in place.  When I either:

- restore power to the Belkin; or
- disconnect the network cable

everything returns to normal.  The weird symptom is that the link light on the DIR-655 stays lit when the Belkin is powered off.  In that state, all wired devices (even a couple hops away) lose connection ("Media State Disconnected"). 

So there could be some transient power in the Belkin (WoL via an internal battery?) that keeps the DIR-655 thinking that the link is active, but the DIR-655 can't handle the state it's in and loses its mind....

[buckyswider]

One potential clue I should add: 

If the DIR-655 is in its "bad" state, and I disconnect the network cable, the link light goes out, and operations return to normal.  If, with the Belkin still unplugged, I re-connect the network cable, the link light does NOT go on, and operations on the DIR-655 are still good.

So the more I think about it, I think this is some kind of DIR-655 issue, where it doesn't like the state change presented by the Belkin.  Or maybe the Belkin is presenting the state change in some out-of-protocol fashion that the DIR (or any other device) wouldn't be coded to recognize. 

[buckyswider]

Oh, and the hardware is A3, firmware 1.21 ("Latest and Greatest").

[FurryNutz]

How about try a different Cable modem? SB 6121 or 20 are great modems.  I have both.

[buckyswider]

Hmmm, possibly I've not been clear.. the Belkin is a cheap wifi device (run in AP mode) downstream from the DIR-655.  Only in the picture because I don't want to run the DIR-655 in WEP mode.  I keep the belkin locked down to the one device that requires WEP. I suppose I could try to replace the Belkin with a different $15 wifi AP, but that might just be a waste of $.

My next step is going to moving the Belkin down a hop- to a switch attached to the DIR-655, whereas now it is directly attached.  Need a bigger switch, though (should have it tomorrow).  I'll then see if the network behaves the same way when I remove power from the Belkin. 

[FurryNutz]

I probably miss understood you when you said "It's when the Belkin device has its power removed, but the network cable from the Belkin>DIR-655 is still in place." I thought you had the 655 connected after the Belkin.

Maybe a set up like this will help:
ISP Modem>655 router><switch><All other devices connected to switch.

This is how i have my network set up. Work well and helps remove some router management from the system and between devices thats not needed.

Keep us posted.