Problems with router
 

I bought a router ( Planet Broadband Router xrt-401E ) and I've been struggling with it for some time but it's behavior is erratic no matter what. Sometimes, a site won't fully resolve or a download would start OK then after a few kb it stalls. For example my noip redirectme.net domain won't work.

I've set and unset just about every possible option from its web interface and it still didn't work. It's not an ISP problem as it all works fine when I route from the Mac. I've tried to email them 3 times, no answer. At the store that sold me they had the thing tested for 2 days and their PCs worked OK, so they say. I tried OS9 and the same problem happened, so I don't think it is OS related.

Today I gave up.
So I had this idea, could I set all macs in the network to have the same MAC address ? There is no need for file exchange, just web access. I could use an old hub I have, and all of them could have the same ip. Could this damage the the hardware ?
I thought I'd use the command
sudo ifconfig en0 ether aa:bb etc

Will it be set to the original address after reboot ?
Thanks

That would be a very bad idea.

If you have a problem because your cable or DSL modem disconnects when it detects a device other than your original computer hooked up to it, there's a very simple solution.

Disconnect all devices from the modem. Power-down the modem for 20 minutes by pulling the plug (even if there's an off-switch). Power it up again, then connect the router to the modem and power-on the router.

That should clear the modem's flash memory so that it picks up the MAC address of the router instead of the MAC address from your computer.

I think you should slow down and solve one problem at a time...
Assigning the same MAC to multiple computers won't work.

Tell us what settings you have in the router (except your ISP password of course), then tell us what settings you have in Network Prefs.

I would first try to reset your entire router. Erase all the settings that you have played with and start from scratch. You should not have such a problem as long as the network settings are correct throughout. You also need to provide as much information as possible regarding your current setup (i.e. modem type, settings you tried and that did not work, etc). If you have a modem connected to a router, then you'll want to turn DHCP off in the modem since you want the router to take care of all the routing functions. It almost sounds like a NAT problem, but you'll need to provide as much specific information as possible about your entire network config. so that we can make a good assessment.


(Note: MAC cloning is not a good idea, especially on a LAN since the router will have no way to discover the eventual destination of packets since your MAC address is your LAN address.)

Thanks everyone, yeah I thought duplicating the MAC address wouldn't work, but it was a last option kind of thing.

Well, my router is Eagles Planet Broadband Router XRT-401E, my modem is a WebStar DPC 2100 cable modem. Here is how it works, if you plug it directly to the Mac via ethernet it works great ( Network set to use DHCP ).

When I use the router I get the problems I mentioned. Things I tried:

changing every possible firewall setting, although I can't turn it off completely
http://www.estarque.net/router/firewall.jpg

adding demilitarized zone, special application what ever
http://www.estarque.net/router/DMZ.jpg

LAN settings:
-Changed from 192.168.0.1 ( router's default ) to 192.168.2.1 ( OS X Internet Sharing default )
-Gateway acts as DHCP Server
-DNS Proxy
http://www.estarque.net/router/LAN.jpg

WAN settings:
I tried MAC cloning, Static DNS Server ....
http://www.estarque.net/router/DNS.jpg

I also tried using the domain and DNS servers in the Network Control Panel but it also didn't work.
here is the main screen:
http://www.estarque.net/router/main.jpg

Thanks a LOT in advance

sorry missed one out

http://www.estarque.net/router/network.jpg

I still say Slow Down!
Do you have PPPoE Off on the Macs? It needs to be.
Have you entered the PPPoE username and password in the router's ISP setup section?

Can you reset the router to default? Default almost always works, after entering the ISP PPPoE info.

Sorry, but I get the impression you are just changing a lot of things at random, without thinking it through first.

One thing that I don't see that you tried...

As I mentioned, leaving the modem unplugged for long enough that its flash memory is reset will usually fix that problem.

Some cable modems "attach" themselves to the MAC address of the first device that's connected to them. They check periodically for that device and if you connect another device such as a router then it may work for a few minutes and then stop working when the modem "realizes" that there's a new device connected to it. At that point, changing the router's MAC address may be too late because the cable modem is already flaking out from having found the wrong device attached.

So reset the modem by leaving it unplugged for awhile. When you power it up again, connect the router to it. DON'T connect your computer directly to the modem.

Given all the other stuff that you tried, you should probably do a hard reset on the router, too -- get it back to the factory defaults BEFORE you connect it to the cable modem. Start configuring it from scratch and don't go nuts with it -- just use it in its basic configuration for awhile to make sure it's working.

Oh! And turn off IPv6 in your Network preferences. Sometimes it causes problems.

Thanks,
It's not PPPoE on the ISP side, it's DHCP.
There is no password, no nothing. When I connect directly to it I just set the Mac to DHCP and it just works™ ;)

I've set to default a few times. It's not like it started behaving funny lately, it never did worked properly.

I tried turning IPv6 on and off several time, still nothing.

and gsahli, you're right, I started turning things on and off at random after my reason worn out.

For example, it just happened now:

I try to connect to http://www.theappleblog.com/wp-conte...S-theSetup.mov and it stops at about 450k. It works perfectly if I connect directly.
However, if I go to apple.com I can see the entire .mov add just fine.

It's a problem with a few links, or servers, I don't know. Very strange...

Is there something that I can type ( like tcpdump maybe, I don't know ) that could give the errors so that I could post them here ?
Thanks

Maybe the Mac is having trouble negotiating with your router.

Did you ever try manually setting your Mac's Ethernet connection to 10baseT or 100base TX full-duplex in the Ethernet settings of the Network pref's?

By any chance are you running any software to "speed up" your downloads?
Or any 3rd-party firewall-type software like NetBarrier?

No, I haven't touched the full duplex nor the 10/100 stuff. I'll try when I get home ( I'm at work now )

hayne, no there is no software, no firewall. Standard OS X install.

Yesterday I used one Mac as router and it worked perfectly ( System Pref -> Sharing -> Internet -> Start )

So I guess the problem is indeed the router. I'm guessing it could be a DNS or firewall issue, but that's just a guess.

Any new thoughts ?
And moderadors, could you please change the title of this thread to "Problems with router" or something? thanks!

Done.

Could you perhaps supply a concise summary of the current state of the problem. I'm a bit confused as to exactly what the problem is at the moment.

And note that routers (like any other piece of hardware) sometimes just break and need to be replaced.

Thanks Hayne, sorry about the mess.

The problem is that some links can't be accessed ( like my no-ip domain ) or some downloads don't complete like this link:

http://www.theappleblog.com/wp-conte...S-theSetup.mov

it goes to ~450k and than stalls.

None of this happens when I'm connected directly to the modem.

I still think its a NAT problem.

What do you suggest I do ?

First, I would disable DHCP in your modem by logging into it, if its not already done. See what that does for you. If that does not work, then I would statically define the IP address/MAC address of your computer, that way DHCP will not disrupt things. You do this by logging into your router and the method varies given the type of router you have (specifics can be found in the manual).

I can not log into my modem, it has a usb driver for windows but I think even with that you couldn't do it, as there is nothing stating this in the manual.

I left it off the whole day and pressed the reset button for several seconds a number of times, but the only thing that really resets it is via the web interface in the "Restore Factory Default" button.

Than I did what you suggested ( I think ). I disabled "The Gateway acts as DHCP Server", and than I set the IP, DNS values on Network preferences manually. I got connected, but the problem remained. :(

I also tried many MTU values ( including 1492 ), 100/10, full/half duplex etc. nothing. I would even buy another router, but I'm afraid I could run into the same problem again. I don't think it's in the hardware, at least it doesn't make sense to me that it would pick certain sites only.

Connect directly to the modem with your computer. What is the IP address that the modem assigns your computer? (find this in the Network Prefs. Pane under Built-In Ethernet).

(Note: DHCP should be off in the modem, not the router. The router should have DHCP on.)

Connected directly
IP
201.37.240.242

check it out

http://www.estarque.net/router/directly.jpg

Ok, reset your modem so that you get a new IP for safety purposes. Looks like a problem with your router. Reset your router to its default settings. It should have a button somewhere to do that, not in the web interface (read the manual for specifics). To be honest, with a conventional commericially available router, you should not have any problems given your settings. I would carefully check andy set-up guides that came with both the modem and router.

Two simple things to remember: make sure your Built-In ether is Using DHCP and that your router's routing tables match that of your computer's once everything has been configured. The addresses, MAC, etc. You should be able to see how the router has your computer in its tables and then your computer should have that same address.

Just out of curiosity, what modem do you have?

It's a WebStar DPC2100.

I just discovered that you can indeed connect to it via Web Interface, through 192.168.100.1, only you have to use internet explorer, as it uses some asp ****, otherwise you get a blank gif.

I already tried everything you said, to no avail. I just quit, I tired of loosing sleep over it. I'll try to buy a new and set this thing on fire.

Thanks a lot for your help and patience

It might be a MTU problem. If your el-cheapo router somehow sets that value too high, things like that happen.

Try to set it from automatic to a really low value such as 1400 and see if the problem goes away. If it does, ask your ISP for the correct value (first-level script-monkey probably won't know).

I tried 1492, 1400 and even 72. Even at 72 the problem persisted.

PS: I really wish it was an el-cheapo, at least you can say to your self "you get what you paid for". I paid R$ 150 ( about 70 USD ). Welcome to the 3rd world.

So you can log into then; is there a way to turn off DHCP? Also, you may want to the router's site for any upgrades you may need, but i seriously think that the modem is not providing your router the actual IP address, i think it autodetects the router and gives it a DHCP for some reason. I'd be something to play with.

it doesn't let you do anything, it just shows that it's up and running watts etc.
Every setting I try to click claims my ISP doesn't support it etc.

I think you may be right to some extent about the modem not giving it a real IP.
When I connect to the modem directly, my first IP is 192.168.100.10, than it turns into 201.XXX...

But when I log into the router the real IP shows up.
If that's the case changing router might not solve the issue. however, when my mac does the routing it runs OK. Too bad my Performa 630 died, it would have been a nice decent retirement

Yeah, try going to the Planet Broadband site and see if you need any new fireware or anything. That MIGHT take care of the problem if it needs it.

Tried that too, the firmware update address an issue with L2TP. Not the case.
But apparently you need a PC to upgrade the firmware:mad:

I'll take it to work tomorrow and borrow my college's laptop and I'll post the results here.
Thanks a lot everyone once again.

May sound stupid, but did you use known good Ethernet cables ?

Yeah, he said it works fine when he hooks it up directly to his modem, which is the perfect indication that something is not configured right with the router.

For what it's worth: I'm just recovering from a router problem and I have a DHCP router connection too. Do you have PC's on your LAN? If so, you would have to first set up your router using the PC, then go to your Mac, delete all the PPPoE settings. Use Network Setup and create a new location choosing DHCP. When you reconnect your Mac should obtain all the info automatically. Normally you should have no problem after that, unless your broadband service provider has restricted your downloading to 450k for each file! ???

And if that is the case, SIGN UP WITH A NEW ISP!!!! :) Pedro's problems stems from the router's function. The one thing that really makes it strange is that everything works fine while hes directly connected to the modem. I'm still under the assumption that there is a NAT problem involved, which is classic to the on/off characteristics of his Internet functionality. Without being there though, its tough to try to really dial down to what is wrong.

It's a mac only network, and it doesn't use PPPoE at all. It uses DHCP all the way, either for direct connection and router.

It doesn't ;) and it does not happen with all links, for example yesterday I downloaded the combined 10.3.9 update, several MB with no problem at all.

I think it could be some firewall thing trying to "protect me" or a MTU deal.

Or maybe, some links poll from several server's IPs to provide the content and the router's DNS chokes. Like the first few Kbs come from one IP, than the servers is overloaded and handles it over to another server and my router loses track. Like an upload accelerator. And apple's akamai servers can handle just fine so my download goes OK. Could it be it?

Can downloading time out??

What tests would you perform? I can't turn DHCP off on the modem side, and I think that if I did my router wouldn't be able to get a new IP when my ISP changed it. I can't completely turn off firewall in the router, as even after switching all options off it still shows firewall "on" at the front page. :mad:
I can't see how much is the MTU of the router, much less change it.

I should have brought it to work as we have another connection here and PCs too, but I forgot. Well, on monday maybe...

As long as your MTU is set to 1500 and your firewalls are off in all the devices, there really is nothing that should cause your problems that would be related to firewalls or MTU sizes.

As per your DNS inquiry, that is not how DNS lookup works. Through the use of recursion and iteration, the DNS lookup scheme would not be treated as such. Your problem has the absolute classic look of a router than cannot resolve DNS-LAN address links. Bascially, your Network Address Translation(NAT) protocol is getting confused and your routing tables are a mess.

don't think so. as I said, I downloaded a big file from apple OK, while smaller files from some links don't. And it is not erratic as I first thought, some sites go and other simply don't.

Can downloading "time out"? Ha! But seriously, if the Mac works well with the modem, then the problem must stem from the router. Maybe the router was previously set up with a PC and is now acting snobbish when connected to a Mac!!

Windows sharing enabled?

It's a mac only network, and the router is PC virgin so to speak ;)

I tried setting fixed clients ( IP / MAC ) in the NAT table but it didn't help. I'll try to focus on that when I get home.

I would also examine the ability to log into the modem, first and foremost. In today's day and age, most manufacturers want to give the customer some configuration option, given their respective networking situation. I would be very surprised if you cannot log into it and change the DHCP settings in there.

I'd also go through this manual and see if it could help.

http://www.scientificatlanta.com/pro...s/DPC2100A.pdf

I tried bored28, but it didn't allow to change anything, probably due to my ISP.
I checked that manual too. The CD came with a director assistant ( OS 9.2 only ) that had an option "About my cable modem" that linked 192.168.100.1 through internet explorer. But all the setup was disabled.

even if I could disable DHCP, how would my router know my modem's IP changed ?
Router manuals, if anyone wants to take a look:

http://www.estarque.net/router/C-XRT401E-1.pdf
http://www.estarque.net/router/EM-XRT401Ev1.pdf

If you disable DHCP in your modem, it will only do the modulation/demodulation functions and would forward the IP address provided by your ISP to your router.