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[DavidJE]

Hi,  Using FW 1.11 and 1.20, my router (with nothing attached except my broadband modem) won't connect to the Internet.  I have to connect a specific powered-off PC to one of the ports on the router before the router will establish a connection.  After the initial connection, it's rock solid.  If I remove this specific PC from the router, the Internet connection drops immediately.
I have about 10 devices in our house and only the one specific PC (with an ASUS motherboard) causes this behavior.

In summary:

1) Disconnect all cables from DIR-655, then connect router to WAN and apply power:  No Internet
2) Connect cable from specific powered-off PC to router and all is well.
3) Connect all other devices and all is well.
4) Disconnect specific powered-off PC and the connection drops immediately.

Any ideas what the router is doing?  Is it some sort of 'authentication' setting?  It's driving me crazy.

Thanks,
David

[EddieZ]

You give too little info. Please specify the config of this specific PC and the router. Seems it acts as the domain server or perhaps DNS server. This can be configured in this PC and in the router (http://192.168.0.1/Basic/Network.shtml). Make sure Enable DNS relay is marked here and there is no reference towards the IP of the specific IP  in this section: http://192.168.0.1/Basic/WAN.shtml) When the IP of this specific PC is noted as the default gateway or dns server your troubles are explained. The default gateway should be the ip of the device connect directly to internet, the dns server can be any server except all devices in your LAN that are not explicitly configured as dns servers (which in a normal home situation is not the case; the modem or ISP dns addresses are used).

[dabceb]

.... The default gateway should be the ip of the device connect directly to internet, the dns server can be any server except all devices in your LAN that are not explicitly configured as dns servers (which in a normal home situation is not the case; the modem or ISP dns addresses are used).

So can the DNS server in a home be the defaulted router address (ie. 192.168.0.1)? Or would it be a specific ISP's IP address?

[davevt31]

Remove the power going to your broadband modem and the router.  Connect ethernet cable from modem to router.  Power up modem, make sure the lights are lit up then power on router.

You need to do this as your ISP gives you one IP address based on the MAC address of the item connected to the modem.  By powering everything of the modem will go out to the ISP and get an address from it, it will then see the first thing that is connected to it on your end and give that an address to acces the Internet.

[DavidJE]

Thanks for the replies.  Let me clarify.  Here is my setup:

Broadband Modem --> (WAN Port) DIR-655 (LAN Port 1 - 4) --> Powered-off PC

As long as this not booted PC is connected, the DIR-655 is connected to the Internet just fine.  When the PC is removed from the DIR-655, the DIR-655 loses its internet connection immediately.

If I unplug everything and then plug in the Broadband Modem and then the DIR-655, it doesn't establish an Internet connection (no status light on front) until the Powered-off PC is attached.

Notes:
1) The PC has A/C power to it and the Ethernet port's link light is flashing amber, but it is not 'cycled on'
2) Since the PC is off, no operating system is running and no DNS services are present on my network.
3) Any other PC doesn't have this effect.  The router has no Internet connection until this individual PC is attached (but not booted).

Does that help clarify what's happening?

Thanks,
David

[thecreator]

Thanks for the replies.  Let me clarify.  Here is my setup:

Broadband Modem --> (WAN Port) DIR-655 (LAN Port 1 - 4) --> Powered-off PC

As long as this not booted PC is connected, the DIR-655 is connected to the Internet just fine.  When the PC is removed from the DIR-655, the DIR-655 loses its internet connection immediately.

If I unplug everything and then plug in the Broadband Modem and then the DIR-655, it doesn't establish an Internet connection (no status light on front) until the Powered-off PC is attached.

Notes:
1) The PC has A/C power to it and the Ethernet port's link light is flashing amber, but it is not 'cycled on'
2) Since the PC is off, no operating system is running and no DNS services are present on my network.
3) Any other PC doesn't have this effect.  The router has no Internet connection until this individual PC is attached (but not booted).

Does that help clarify what's happening?

Thanks,
David

Hi David,

I am confused and perhaps others are too.  Try posting additional information.
Needed:
What are you trying to accomplish?
How many computers are attached to the Router? Wired and Wirelessly?
Any NAS Hard Drives attached?
Who is your ISProvider?
What is the Broadband Modem's Brand and Model Number?
Perhaps, the Broadband Modem needs the computer attached.

Is the wired computer needing to be attached, a Laptop Computer? Desktop Computer?

At least one computer, needs to be Wired to the Router in order to set up the Wireless Connection.

Also how are you acquiring the Date and Time for the Router? From the Router's Time Servers or from the computer?

[gshaghoian]

He made it pretty clear...

The router won't pull a WAN IP from the modem unless one specific PC is hard-wired to the router.

Go to the manual setup of the router, and click the CLONE YOUR PC'S MAC ADDRESS BUTTON.

If that still doesn't take care of it, the only thing I can think of would be to call your ISP and have them re-provision your MAC address on your modem.

[EddieZ]

He made it pretty clear...

The router won't pull a WAN IP from the modem unless one specific PC is hard-wired to the router.

Go to the manual setup of the router, and click the CLONE YOUR PC'S MAC ADDRESS BUTTON.

If that still doesn't take care of it, the only thing I can think of would be to call your ISP and have them re-provision your MAC address on your modem.

Looks like a solution indeed. Forgot about this one since this system isn't used anymore by any of the dutch ISP's  AFAIK

As to the DNS question to my suggestion: You can let the DNS notation in the Dlink direct to the internetmodem IP, unless this modem is configured as a bridge (does not do anymore than validate your access and relay the IP you get from the ISP to your Dlink router). IN that case It is always safe to enter the ISP DNS. There should not be a downside to this solution.

[DavidJE]

Thanks for the additional ideas.  I finally got time to try some more tests:

1) TEST: Connected one of my PCs directly to my broadband modem.  RESULT: gets an IP address immediately and works fine.
2) TEST: Clone the suspect PCs MAC address to the WAN interface of the DIR-655.  RESULT: No connection.  Status page still indicates Cable Disconnected.
3) TEST: Hard-reset the router.  RESULT: Back to default settings, but status page still indicates Cable Disconnected until the specific PC is connected to the router (but, remember, PC doesn't have to be booted)
4) TEST: Reapply Firmware 1.20 with specific PC not attached to the router (in hopes that it might lose its affinity).  RESULT: Same.  (WAN) Cable Disconnected on Status page until specific PC is attached to one of the four switch ports.

Guess I'll break down and call technical support.

Thanks again for all the thoughts and ideas.

David

[EddieZ]

I guess this means your PC is configured to be DNS or gateway in the configs of your other machines. Please check carefully (for ex. the host files on the  machines or other domain or network mappings)

[tipstir]

Modem
+
DIR-655
+
Switch Ports + PCs

[DavidJE]

Modem
+
DIR-655
+
Switch Ports + PCs

Yep, tipster, that's the configuration.   Nothing fancy. 

Modem
+
DIR-655
+
Switch Ports + any PC except the "key PC"
=
DIR-655 shows Internet Cable Disconnected

Modem
+
DIR-655
+
Switch Ports + "key PC (not booted)"
=
DIR-655 shows Internet Cable Connected

Thanks tipster for the alternate layout...that may be clearer to folks.

[tipstir]

I use external switches ports but still have to tap into the router switch port to external switches ports.  Everyone needs are going to be different based on what hardware needs you have to fulfill for connection.

Now if you have tried everything and still you're loosing connections either contact DLINK and go through the paces to help you return the unit back to them for repair or replacement. If you just got the unit then return it or exchange it.

Ports should not disconnect for the WAN/LAN

Re-flash firmware to 1.11
Then reset the router with power connected for 30 seconds

Try it again.. If now then follow what I had suggested.

[D-Linkuent]

1) TEST: Connected one of my PCs directly to my broadband modem.  RESULT: gets an IP address immediately and works fine.

Just to clarify: the key PC works fine, or other PC's work fine?  Or both?

Are any of the ethernet cables possibly defective, or crossover type?

[DavidJE]

Once the "key" powered-off PC is connected, the DIR-655 instantly connects to the Internet and all PCs can reach web sites.  Once the "key" PC is remove from the DIR-655, the router thinks the WAN cable is no longer connected.