DHCP DNS DSL Linksys question

OvenMaster

OvenMaster

VIP Member
It's stupid question time!

I have Verizon 768/128 DSL service through a Westell 6100 modem in pass-through ("bridge") mode going to my Linksys BEFSR41 router. It feeds two XP Home boxes. Since running the Linksys configuration CD didn't do anything, I configured everything manually.

The two PCs have 198.162.1.100 and 102 as fixed IPs. Subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 for both, as well as 198.162.1.1 as the Default Gateway IP for the router. So far so good. :)

I found Verizon's DNS server IPs, configured each PC's TCP/IP properties for their respective Network Connection Properties, overriding the "Obtain IP address automatically" and put the DNS server IPs into the boxes for "Use the following DNS server addresses" Again, so far so good.

When I'm in the router's Setup page, there's a place to enable or disable DCHP and enter the ISP DNS server IPs in there. Everything mostly works fine, except I have to keep rebooting the modem every now and then. Having the "Keep Alive" signal doesn't always work.

My question:
1. If I have configured everything manually in both the router and Windows, do I even need to have DHCP enabled?
2. If I DO need to have DHCP enabled, where should I enable it? The router Setup/Config page, or do I need to let Windows obtain IPs automatically and obtain DNS servers automatically?

What I'm looking for is the most stable connection. Entering my router's "Status" page and trying to reconnect by clicking "Connect" quite often doesn't work, and the only way to reconnect is to power down the router for 30 seconds and then reconnect power to it.

Sorry this is so long-winded but I figured I'd give too much info than not enough. Any insight would be most helpful. I have no trouble sharing files between the two PCs, nor is internet connectivity corrupted. I'm just looking to avoid all conflicts and stop the need for rebooting.

Tom
 
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If you weren't experiencing DNS issues, let Windows obtain DNS server addresses automatically. Upgrade router's firmware if there is a newer one. Enable DHCP in the router, setup MAC filter to "Allow Only Listed Computers to Access the Network". Untick "DNS Relay" if the option is available.
 
OvenMaster said:
It's stupid question time!

Everything mostly works fine, except I have to keep rebooting the modem every now and then. Having the "Keep Alive" signal doesn't always work.
Click to expand...

by this, do you mean that your modem tends to loose the lock on the dsl signal??? As aweful as it sounds i'd be soo happy if it did, i've been searching for someone with the same problem i have since i got the service.
 
1. If I have configured everything manually in both the router and Windows, do I even need to have DHCP enabled?
Click to expand...
you dont need to. I have mine turned of as it adds another layer of protection in the wireless world ( a mino layer )
2. If I DO need to have DHCP enabled, where should I enable it? The router Setup/Config page, or do I need to let Windows obtain IPs automatically and obtain DNS servers automatically?
Click to expand...
the DHCP would need to be turned on at the router (not that you have any choice where to turn it on). You can specify that windows should you a pre-determined IP address first and if that fails to go to the DCHP. To do this populate the "Alternative configuration" tab

I found Verizon's DNS server IPs, configured each PC's TCP/IP properties for their respective Network Connection Properties, overriding the "Obtain IP address automatically" and put the DNS server IPs into the boxes for "Use the following DNS server addresses" Again, so far so good.
Click to expand...
hmmm, normally you just specify the routers IP as the DNS. So you DNS on both the win boxes would be 192.168.2.1, which will point to the router. The router will know where to pass the domain look ups.

Subnet mask is 255.255.255.1 for both
Click to expand...
are you sure thats the right subnet and not 255.255.255.0

When I'm in the router's Setup page, there's a place to enable or disable DCHP and enter the ISP DNS server IPs in there.
Click to expand...
the router should pick up the ISPs DNS without the need for you to enter it
except I have to keep rebooting the modem every now and then. Having the "Keep Alive" signal doesn't always work.
Click to expand...
after all that we finally get to your problem....the internet connection keep timing out :) well if i knew how to solve that id be able to fix it at my end. My connection randomly times out every few days or so dispite my telling it not too. Are you sure you set the time out setting to infinate?
other than that i'm out of recommendations :)
 
apj101 said:
you dont need to. I have mine turned of as it adds another layer of protection in the wireless world ( a mino layer )

the DHCP would need to be turned on at the router (not that you have any choice where to turn it on). You can specify that windows should you a pre-determined IP address first and if that fails to go to the DCHP. To do this populate the "Alternative configuration" tab


hmmm, normally you just specify the routers IP as the DNS. So you DNS on both the win boxes would be 192.168.2.1, which will point to the router. The router will know where to pass the domain look ups.


are you sure thats the right subnet and not 255.255.255.0


the router should pick up the ISPs DNS without the need for you to enter it

after all that we finally get to your problem....the internet connection keep timing out :) well if i knew how to solve that id be able to fix it at my end. My connection randomly times out every few days or so dispite my telling it not too. Are you sure you set the time out setting to infinate?
other than that i'm out of recommendations :)
Click to expand...

Verizon is PPPoe, it needs to obtain an IP itself, you can't 'static' their IPs
 
2. If I DO need to have DHCP enabled, where should I enable it? The router Setup/Config page, or do I need to let Windows obtain IPs automatically and obtain DNS servers automatically?
Click to expand...

Is he not talking about static IP?
 
Yes, I am talking about static-ing Verizon's DNS servers. I have the IPs for two of them. I had everything with default settings for over a month, and checked to see what the info was in the Properties of the Network Connections. After a month of the displayed DNS server IPs never changing, I did IP searches and they were shown to belong to Verizon as DNS servers, one in Boston, the other in New York. :) And yes, the router's set up for PPPoE. (I remember setting up my old Win95 box for PPP dialup with static DNS server IPs as well. Worked beautifully, so I thought I'd try the same tactic for DSL.)

Yes, the subnet is 255.255.255.0 . My mistake... fixed!

I have the router set up to automatically check the connection every 30 seconds, and that auto-attempts to reconnect if the connection is broken. The DSL modem has only lost the lock on the signal once, during a thunderstorm. It's the router that occasionally goes nuts, and stops me from getting onto the internet.

I've tried the router with both DCHP enabled and disabled and noticed no real difference in stability. Noticeable increases in both speed and stability came when I switched Windows' settings on both PCs to manually entered static settings instead of searching for IPs.

Thanks for the input, gents. I was wondering if it just was a router problem. I was wondering if it was a conflict of some sort, or had to do with multiple browser windows open, or maybe even a heat issue. If I could reliably repeat the circumstances, I would. :) The router seems to be able to work for hours at a stretch, but when I get up and leave the PC, I usually come back to a lost connection!

Thanks again:)

Tom
 
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INTELCRAZY said:
Is he not talking about static IP?
Click to expand...
The dchp server is for internal IPs only.

i can see no reason why you feel the need to specify the DNS manually. Its pointless. You win boxes should point to the router as there DNS and the router will get the Verzion dns at the same time as picking up an external IP.
 
apj101 said:
The dchp server is for internal IPs only.

i can see no reason why you feel the need to specify the DNS manually. Its pointless. You win boxes should point to the router as there DNS and the router will get the Verzion dns at the same time as picking up an external IP.
Click to expand...

No I don't like to static the IP's, creates conflict with Verizon
 
apj101 said:
The dchp server is for internal IPs only.

i can see no reason why you feel the need to specify the DNS manually. Its pointless. You win boxes should point to the router as there DNS and the router will get the Verzion dns at the same time as picking up an external IP.
Click to expand...

The reason I specified the DNSes manually in Network Properties on each PC was that stability and speed both improved over automatically searching for them. There's been no noticeable difference by doing so in the router.
 
Well, after manually setting up DNS addresses and individual PC IP addresses within Windows on both PCs, and enabling DHCP in the router, I have yet to have to reboot the router since 4 July. Thanks for the input, people! :)
Tom
 
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