frequent router reboots necessary...

[johnnyzero]

I have several clients who use Linksys routers (WRT54G, BEFSR41, etc.),
mainly for simple broadband connection sharing. Unfortunately, the
router and internet connection insist on "crapping out" about once
every 10 days or so. As anyone who owns a router knows, the solution is
to have them power-cycle the router by unplugging/re-plugging the AC
adapter, and then usually doing a Network Connection "Repair" on each
machine.

I'm not really a network expert, so please excuse my ignorance. I don't
know if the problem is with DHCP Server issues or whatever. And yes,
they are all using the latest router firmware.

Does anyone know of a utility that will do the equivalent of a router
reboot,so that they don't have to yank the power cable?

Also, are there any router settings that I can change to make "crap
outs" less likely?

I appreciate any info or feedback.

JohnB

 

[Chuck]

I have several clients who use Linksys routers (WRT54G, BEFSR41, etc.),
mainly for simple broadband connection sharing. Unfortunately, the
router and internet connection insist on "crapping out" about once
every 10 days or so. As anyone who owns a router knows, the solution is
to have them power-cycle the router by unplugging/re-plugging the AC
adapter, and then usually doing a Network Connection "Repair" on each
machine.

I'm not really a network expert, so please excuse my ignorance. I don't
know if the problem is with DHCP Server issues or whatever. And yes,
they are all using the latest router firmware.

Does anyone know of a utility that will do the equivalent of a router
reboot,so that they don't have to yank the power cable?

Also, are there any router settings that I can change to make "crap
outs" less likely?

I appreciate any info or feedback.

JohnB

John,

The router requiring a power down (did you try a soft reset using the reset
button?) suggests either a problem with the service, or the router.

The computer requiring a connection repair suggests a stack problem, or maybe a
hibernation / idle power down of the network card.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/does-your-computer-lose-network.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/does-your-computer-lose-network.html

Is it possible that one problem is more common on some installations, and the
other on some others? The BEFSR41, for instance, was known for a long time as
having power supply problems. How old are the SR41s?

You could diagnose the problem a bit, using PingPlotter for instance.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/02/diagnosing-network-problems-using_11.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/02/diagnosing-network-problems-using_11.html

 

[Malke]

I have several clients who use Linksys routers (WRT54G, BEFSR41,
etc.), mainly for simple broadband connection sharing. Unfortunately,
the router and internet connection insist on "crapping out" about once
every 10 days or so. As anyone who owns a router knows, the solution
is to have them power-cycle the router by unplugging/re-plugging the
AC adapter, and then usually doing a Network Connection "Repair" on
each machine.

I'm not really a network expert, so please excuse my ignorance. I
don't know if the problem is with DHCP Server issues or whatever. And
yes, they are all using the latest router firmware.

Does anyone know of a utility that will do the equivalent of a router
reboot,so that they don't have to yank the power cable?

Also, are there any router settings that I can change to make "crap
outs" less likely?

We don't have enough information about your various clients' hardware
and networks to give you an answer. The "crap-out" behavior you
describe is not normal and is not necessarily related to the Linksys
routers. Naturally, you can get a lemon but my original Linksys router
lasted for 5 years and its replacement has been fine for a number of
years also. I would look to other factors such as:

1. Virus/malware-status of the computer
2. ISP connectivity problems
3. If cable Internet, problems with the cable equipment outside
4. Problems with the computer hardware such as the NIC
5. Problems with software installed on the computer that is non-viral
but nevertheless cause connectivity issues (firewall updates, antivirus
email scanning, etc.)
6. Power management settings on the NIC
7. Faulty ethernet cables
8. Faulty router
9. Faulty cable/DSL modem

I don't know of a utility to power cycle the modem, but even my
least-computer-savvy clients can do:

1. Pull the plug of the router.
2. Pull the plug (or push the switch) of the cable/DSL modem.
3. Wait 30 seconds.
4. Plug the modem back in.
5. Plug the router back in.

Malke

 

[johnnyzero]

Thanks for the excellent info & feedback, guys. You're right: at least
part of the problem may be caused by flaky broadband connections. One
client is using DSL in the rural hinterlands of Iowa; the other is
using cable broadband and I know for a fact her cable connection
quality is terrible (her cable TV reception looks like a snowy acid
trip, so either the house wiring and/or the cable "drop" is bad).

In either case, I suspect that I can make things more reliable by
disabling DHCP on the router & assigning their machines (semi)-static
IP addresses. I'm pretty sure they're losing their internet connections
periodically because of problems with DHCP lease renewal issues. Does
this sound reasonable? I've heard that DHCP can be problematic,
especially with wireles connections.

You're right Malke: even the least computer-savvy person can manage to
power-cycle their router & modem when necessary. However, it's hard to
explain to non-computer-people why they should have to do this every 10
days or so. After all, they don't need to unplug/replug their
-refrigerator- every so often to make it start working again ;-). They
have a point...

best,
JohnB