Internet keeps dropping as torrents run

[TheBlackOut]

I am running uTorrent at half my upload and download speed. I have UPNP enabled on my router (Linksys WRT54GX2) but not on uTorrent.

I noticed that my internet keeps dropping every 3-5 minutes. I am not on wireless, I am wired. I do not notice it web browser because as soon as the internet drops, it reconnected. I notice it because XFire drops and reconnects as does mIRC.

If I exit uTorrent, the drops cease.

I am curious, what could be the cause of this? As far as I know, the firmware I am on, 1.01.22, is the most current for my model.

Cheers,
TheBlackOut

 

[drebo]

Bittorrent traffic overloading a SOHO router is a common occurance. You can try DD-WRT to increase stability, maybe. Otherwise, your only real course of action is to stop using bittorrent.

 

[TheBlackOut]

Originally posted by: drebo
Bittorrent traffic overloading a SOHO router is a common occurance. You can try DD-WRT to increase stability, maybe. Otherwise, your only real course of action is to stop using bittorrent.

DD-WRT doesn't support my model... as for stop using bit torrent, very unlikely.

I might just consider a new router if this persists.

 

[jordanclock]

Have you tried cutting down on the maximum connections BT is allowed to make?

 

[TheBlackOut]

Yes, to 50 even. Still did it... But...

I disabled the router's firewall, seemed to do the trick.

Cheers.

 

[Fardringle]

Originally posted by: TheBlackOut
I disabled the router's firewall, seemed to do the trick.

Cheers.

VERY, VERY, VERY bad idea! Disabling the firewall removes the protection that the router provides, and you might as well just connect your computer directly to the Internet modem and send invitations to hackers to take over your PC since that is exactly what is going to happen. You are exposing your computer(s) to intrusions from hositile entities on the Internet without that firewall in place.

 

[TheBlackOut]

I have software firewall and disabling the router firewall fixed the problem. If you care to help me diagnose it further so I can have the firewall on without issue with torrents, I'd love to hear it.

Edit: I enabled the firewall but disabled "Block WAN Ping" and it has stable thus far. Is Block WAN Ping really important?

 

[Motorheader]

Port forward on your router to you computer's IP address. TCP and UDP - check uTorrent faq or forum to see what ports need to be set to forward. This will likely resolve your issue so you can re-enable your firewall on the router and get rid of the software one.

 

[TheBlackOut]

Sorry didn't put in OP ports are forward. They always are.

 

[Motorheader]

Hmmm...

Most routers I've encountered have "block wan ping" enabled by default. This prevents the possibility of anonymous activity to happen to you - port scanning for malicious purpose, etc - think of the Code Red virus from 2001/2002. Also if you get so many pings/acks in a certain amount of time your firewall may think your being DoS attacked and shutdown activity - which if you were running uTorrent you are getting a great amount of activity when you join the "mesh" like network.

 

[TheBlackOut]

It did have it enabled but I disabled it and it's been running fine since. It sounds like I am putting myself up to a risk, but is it really that big of one? I mean, I already put myself at risk by just connecting to other computers via bit torrent and P2P, no?

 

[Motorheader]

Install and run Peerguardian. After updating it, then run any of your P2P programs - that will give you an idea of what you are connecting to at times.

Any P2P or torrent program has an inherent "danger" to the end user, but it also depends on what you downloading as well.

 

[jasezero]

Just out of curiosity, how fast is the upload speed of the torrents when they are active? If you are maxing out the upload speed of your broadband, you'll experience drop outs or what seems like drop outs very quickly when using torrents.

 

[TheBlackOut]

Overall it depends. When I am on the computer just reading, surfing, etc, it will be at around ~400kB/s. My max speed can reach all the way to 600kB/s, which I do use when I asleep or away. Leaving 200kB/s seems perfectly reasonable to me.

 

[Modelworks]

A firewall protects the user from allowing outsiders to connect to programs on their pc that they might not be aware of are running.
However, if you know your system setup well and know exactly what services are running and what ports are in use then , yes, dare I say it, you can run just fine with no firewall at all.

I set up a windows 95 box with no firewall, connected directly to a cable modem for two weeks.
no firewalls running, but all ports closed in windows so nothing on the win95 box was accepting connections.
If you scanned it , the ports showed as closed.
I logged lots of people snooping around, but never one intrusion.