Print

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

[Darkstep]

I replaced a Belkin router with a new DIR-815 and for the most part it is a great router and very easy to setup, but I'm having some major problems that may be related to one issue.  The symptoms are that the 815 seems to lose connection with my modem every hour on the hour (or sooner if VPN is running).

On the Status->Device Info page it shows connection up time. That up time can never go over 59 minutes 59 seconds.  It always resets to 0.  This also seems to drop connection momentarily for games that I'm playing.  Sometimes my PC (wired connection) playing the game stays connected, but usually the laptop drops connection.

My VPN connection (wired through a linksys router to the 815, setup for passthrough) seems to drop randomly, but definitely can't last more than one hour.  I can reconnect right away, there is a very small time while it resets.

Everything had been fine on the Belkin - it can no longer power up though.  These problems existed from Day 1 on the 815.  I've tried a lot of port forwarding and firewall rules, but nothing has changed.

HW version: DIR-815 A1
FW version: 1.00

ISP Service: Rogers Cable, Canada
ISP Modem: Motorola SURFboard

Ensure DNS IP addresses are being filled in under Setup/Internet/Manual?
Yes.

Turn off QoS options.
Yes.

Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option.
Don't think I have that option.

Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking.
Yes.

Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices on the router.
Yes.

Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.
Yes.

Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP.
I will try this... why do they always offer the "All" or "Both" option yet they never work? Argh.

What wireless modes are you using?
Mixed n/g/b (2.4Ghz) and mixed a/n (5Ghz). I think I'm only ever using 2.4Ghz with my devices.

Try single mode G or mixed G and N?
Have not tried that.  I don't think it's a wireless problem though.

What security mode are you using? WEP, WPA or WPA2? Preferred is WPA2. Cipher type to Auto
WPA2 - auto cipher.


Thanks for any help!

[FurryNutz]

I replaced a Belkin router with a new DIR-815 and for the most part it is a great router and very easy to setup, but I'm having some major problems that may be related to one issue.  The symptoms are that the 815 seems to lose connection with my modem every hour on the hour (or sooner if VPN is running).

On the Status->Device Info page it shows connection up time. That up time can never go over 59 minutes 59 seconds.  It always resets to 0.  This also seems to drop connection momentarily for games that I'm playing.  Sometimes my PC (wired connection) playing the game stays connected, but usually the laptop drops connection.

My VPN connection (wired through a linksys router to the 815, setup for passthrough) seems to drop randomly, but definitely can't last more than one hour.  I can reconnect right away, there is a very small time while it resets. Can you directly connect to the 815 with out being connected to the linksys router? Where in relation is this linksys router to the 815 and the ISP modem?

Everything had been fine on the Belkin - it can no longer power up though.  These problems existed from Day 1 on the 815.  I've tried a lot of port forwarding and firewall rules, but nothing has changed.

HW version: DIR-815 A1
FW version: 1.00

ISP Service: Rogers Cable, Canada
ISP Modem: Motorola SURFboard

Ensure DNS IP addresses are being filled in under Setup/Internet/Manual?
Yes.

Turn off QoS options.
Yes.

Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option.
Don't think I have that option.

Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking.
Yes.

Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices on the router.
Yes.

Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.
Yes.

Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP.
I will try this... why do they always offer the "All" or "Both" option yet they never work? Argh.
I see that the 815 doesn't have any EndPoint Independent options however you have the options of inputting more detailed information. Might have to set this up correctly for either the connecting PC or the linksys router, if thats in the mix or both.

What wireless modes are you using?
Mixed n/g/b (2.4Ghz) and mixed a/n (5Ghz). I think I'm only ever using 2.4Ghz with my devices.
If your only using the 2.4Ghz radio, turn OFF the 5Ghz radio if it's not needed.

Try single mode G or mixed G and N?
Have not tried that.  I don't think it's a wireless problem though.

What security mode are you using? WEP, WPA or WPA2? Preferred is WPA2. Cipher type to Auto
WPA2 - auto cipher.


Thanks for any help!



Maybe someone can review your router settings with you using teamviewer.

[Darkstep]

Thanks FurryNutz, I disabled the 5Ghz.  I had my VPN running and an online game when my magic 1 hour connection time rolled over.  Connection time reset to 0, my VPN went down, but my game stayed connected.  I kept an eye on the lights on both the router and the modem and they appeared normal.

When I say my VPN went down I should probably clarify.  That machine is running WinXP and the system tray indicates my VPN is still going and everything is fine.  However, I lose connection to my exchange server, I can't view drives over the VPN, I lose licenses, etc.  Basically it dropped, but I'm still connected.  It's like a very minor blip in the connection, but enough to lose access.

My network layout goes like modem->815->linksys.  The 815 is where I keep my personal machines and the linksys is for my work.  I need the linksys to be on a different network for working on other machines.  Do you want me to connect the linksys direct to the modem or take my VPN work machine on the linksys and connect it direct to the 815?

It looks like this:

                                       modem
                                           |
                                         815
                                        /  |  \
                                   PC ------- linksys
                                                  /  |    \
                                   VPN PC --- work PC --- target hardware --- etc...

I've never used teamview, but I have it installed now.  Would you be available to look at it closer?

[FurryNutz]

And this only seems to happen if your using the VPN? If you are not online with the VPN, does the router stay connected?

Since you have a router with another router online. I would like you to do the following, input the linksys routers IP address it gets from the 815 router and put that IP address into the DMZ on the 815, I believe the DMZ option is under the Firewall settings.

Let me know.

[Darkstep]

And this only seems to happen if your using the VPN? If you are not online with the VPN, does the router stay connected?

Since you have a router with another router online. I would like you to do the following, input the linksys routers IP address it gets from the 815 router and put that IP address into the DMZ on the 815, I believe the DMZ option is under the Firewall settings.

No, the magic 1 hour is omnipresent.  Even with nothing running except a PC overnight the router connection up time is never more than 59 minutes. It will always reset regardless of VPN, network access, etc.  I looked at the modem status and it seemed ok to me.  I have thought about upgrading my internet which involves a new modem so maybe that will solve it.

I can't find the linksys IP address.  I tried guessing at what it might be, but never found it.  The router reports the machines on the linksys network, but not the router itself.  Perhaps this is because of the bypass/passthrough mode I put it in?

[FurryNutz]

Hmm...wonder if there is a problem between the 815 and the modem.

Possible, however I think the linksys should get an IP address regardless, however I haven't used one of those before so I'm not sure. One thing you can check, the Status/Device Info/Connected LAN computers section, might turn off ALL pc's accept for the one you need to test this. Leave the Linksys on. the 815 should show an IP address for the Pc and the linksys there. I would ask Linksys if this is the case about passthru and IP address assignment. However if router seems to loose connection and reset every hour, I don't think the DMZ would help however it's worth a try.

Are there any log entries during the 1 hour or right before the 59 minutes seems to expired and the router resets that mention anything?

However I presume there is a problem between the router and modem possibly.
A few things to try if your willing:
1. Remove the 815 and directly connect the linksys directly to the ISP modem. Test.
2. If you have a nieghbor, friend or family near by with internet, take the 815 router to there place and test and see if the reset problem follows. If so then you'll know there is a problem with the router.
3. There is a FW update however I don't see any mention of it fixing any issues that your seeing, however last resort, we could try updating.


How long have you had the 815?

Can review the router settings with you if you like.

[FurryNutz]

Forgot to ask if you see the reset problem with the Linksys disconnected from the 815?

[Darkstep]

The log shows some promising stuff...

Thu Jan 19 10:32:30 2012    DHCP: Client receive ACK from 99.x.x.x, IP=99.x.x.x, Lease time=3600.
Thu Jan 19 10:32:29 2012    warning: no upstream servers configured
Thu Jan 19 10:32:28 2012    DHCP: Client send REQUEST, Request IP 99.x.x.x from 99.x.x.x.
Thu Jan 19 10:32:28 2012    DHCP: Client receive OFFER from 99.x.x.x.
Thu Jan 19 10:32:28 2012    DHCP: Client send DISCOVER.
Thu Jan 19 09:32:31 2012    DHCP: Client receive ACK from 99.x.x.x, IP=99.x.x.x, Lease time=3600.
Thu Jan 19 09:32:29 2012    DHCP: Client send REQUEST, Request IP 99.x.x.x from 99.x.x.x.

I'm guessing 3600 is seconds, which is 1 hour.  So I called Rogers and they said that doesn't make sense, it should be 2 weeks.  Also, fwiw, my IP address doesn't change when this happens.  I think it's changed once in the past few days.  I've had the 815 for about 5 days.

Rogers told me to take the router out of the equation and hook direct to my PC.  Setup the PC to be automatic, etc. and if the problem still occurs I should open a ticket and have them remote desktop to me.

I went to the router's FW update page, but it said none were available.  Although I don't think this is a router problem.  Do you think it's a Rogers problem?

Also, do you know how I can see the lease time when my PC requests an IP from the modem?  I bet it will be 3600, but I'd like to confirm that.

[Darkstep]

Forgot to ask if you see the reset problem with the Linksys disconnected from the 815?

No I haven't tried that yet.

[Darkstep]

I did Rogers test on my work machine.  I see that the lease expires in 1 hour!  Grrrrr....

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : phub.net.cable.rogers.com
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 82562V-2 10/100 Network Con
nection
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1A-A0-96-86-CA
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 99.236.x.x
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.254.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 99.236.x.x
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 99.255.148.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 64.71.255.198
        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : January 19, 2012 11:36:44 AM
        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : January 19, 2012 12:36:44 PM

So this is Rogers fault right?

[FurryNutz]

And this test was with the ISP modem and work PC directly connected with out the 815 and Linksys?

Ya, 1 hour? IP least times should be like days, 30 days or more at least. That explains why the 815 resets every 59 minutes. 

I would call them back and ask them about this.

Keep us posted.

[Darkstep]

Yes, that test was with my work machine plugged directly to Rogers' modem.

Holy cow... talk about useless customer support.  I phoned a couple of times and used their online support, but no one knows anything there.  I asked to speak to someone who knew the answers I wanted and they assured me everyone knows the same thing there and they don't know why the lease time is low.  They kept saying things like connect one device and wait for the connection to be lost and call back.  Umm... thanks for nothing.  They also said the lease time should be for several days, not one hour.  So I don't know... wait a bit longer and then perhaps cancel my Rogers.  bleh.

Thanks for the help, FurryNutz.  Now if you could go get a job at Rogers and tell them what's what I'd be a happy camper! 

[FurryNutz]

Eh, I would call back and ask for a manager or level 2 or 3 tech. Ya the lease times should be days man. Tech support like that wow. Thats all on them man. Not you or your HW. I wish I could help more.

Keep us posted on how it goes.

[Darkstep]

I had no luck with the three tech support people I spoke to yesterday so today I called account services.  Surprisingly that guy knew more than all of the tech people combined.  He recognized that the 1-hour lease time was a problem and forwarded me to a new tech support guy.  The new tech was helpful, but admitted he didn't know how to help me and forwarded me to a level 2 tech.

The level 2 guy had me test a single PC to modem connection to verify it was still 1 hour as he tried to fix it on his end.  It was still 1 hour so he opened a support ticket and said it should be fixed in 24-48 hours.  So hopefully this will be fixed soon.

[FurryNutz]

Wow, what a mess. Hope they fix it. Keep us posted. Any other ISP services there? Shaw available?