Complete network blackout

[suszterpatt]

Got an ADSL modem hooked up to an STLab router hooked up to my comp.


For the past few days, I've been getting a strange error. All of a sudden every network activity would cease to exist. The modem shows both WAN and LAN link (no WAN act though), but the router doesn't show a link neither to the modem or my comp. Every second or two the router's connection and act lights to my comp flash as if it was trying to connect, but they go right back out. Meanwhile, on my comp the "LAN cable is not plugged in" thing in the lower right of the screen keeps popping up infinitely.


I tried turning off both the router and the modem, then turning then back on, but it doesn't change anything. Neither does a reboot. Eventually the network gets itself together, and is up and running an half an hour.


Is my router or modem dying? What can I do so that this doesn't happen? What other info do you need to diagnose the problem?

 

[suszterpatt]

Done a little more thorough investigation.


As far as lights go, both the router and modem behave normally until I turn them off, even after the connection's stone dead. After turning them off and back on, the "LAN Link" light on the modem is flashing in periodic intervals (on for about 0.5 seconds, then off for 1.5-2). While it's on, port 2's (on which my comp is) lights are on as well, but the three lights go out at exactly the same time. The "WAN Act" light on the router and the "ADSL Act" light on the modem are dark, but the "ADSL Link" light on the modem is always on.


I can't connect to (or even ping for that matter) the router until I reboot my comp. After that I still can't connect, but it seems that changing one of the DNS addresses in my connection's properties to 192.168.1.1 gets me to a point where at least the router's page loads, albeit very slow. Resetting the router restored the connection perfectly last time.

 

[Fardringle]

The "WAN Act" light on the router and the "ADSL Act" light on the modem are dark, but the "ADSL Link" light on the modem is always on.

That means one of three things:

Either your ISP is dropping the connection and not letting the modem talk to the router, the modem itself is dropping the connection to the router, or the router's WAN port is not functioning properly.

If you have a computer with a software firewall installed (and your ISP's PPPoE software), connect it directly to the modem to see what happens. If the connection never goes out, then the problem is with the router. If it still goes out, then the problem is with the modem or the ISP, in which case, call your ISP.

 

[suszterpatt]

I see. Will try taking the router out of the deal tomorrow, thanks.

 

[suszterpatt]

Ugh, looks like I forgot how to configure my settings to work with the modem only.


I'm setting my IP, DNS addresses and LAN settings to autodetect, but it doesn't load any page (standard "the page cannot be found, technical error or you need to modify the browser's settings" error). I'm pretty sure that's how it's supposed to work though... what am I missing? Service is PPPoE.

 

[suszterpatt]

Though I'm too raterded to set up the connection with the modem only, I'm prety sure the router is the culprit.


Would a normally working router not be able to load its own config pages? When trying to do anything using its browser interface, pages often don't load, images are missing etc. The only way this could be happening is if either the router's broken, or the cable between the router and my comp is defective, right? That along with the other errors would indicate that I need a new router, no?