Linksys router: problems with Napster and other programs?

[Zone]

I've recently installed the Linksys Etherfast Cable/DSL router and, for the most part, I'm really happy with it.

I've found a couple of things, though, that I'm not too happy with:

1. DHCP requests from Win98 seem to take forever. At least in comparison to when I have my machine hooked directly to my cable modem. It seems to take up to a couple of extra minutes for my computer to boot. I'm assuming it's at the DHCP point there since it doesn't take that long when I'm not connected to the router.

2. Napster doesn't seem to want to work through this thing. I can connect (most of the time) and search for songs. However, when I try to download songs the following happens:

I get the first song I choose.
Every song after that gets a Transfer error. It will hang on the 'Getting info' and then time out.

I put my PC back on the cable modem directly and I could download to my hearts content. Switching it back to the router and I get the same thing every time.

I finally decided to try putting the Win98 PC on the DMZ. This seems to work although transfers seem a bit slow.

Fortunately, I still have ZoneAlarm running on that machine (useless when it's behind the router, I know) so I don't feel too exposed.

It has left me with the question though: what other programs will I have trouble with?

I got this thing because it:

had DHCP
had NAT
was a firewall
had 4 ports

I don't want to have to put my PC on the DMZ everytime I have trouble with this.

I know Napsters port is 6699 and I could always port forward it but the Linksys won't allow you to port forward with DHCP and DHCP was the primary reason I got it.

Has anyone else had trouble like this with this router?

 

[Zak]

Yeah, same goes for some games, you either forward the port or use DMZ, which I don't wan't to. There is no real reason to use DHCP though, just enter these private addresses manually. Just don't use DHCP🙂

I just got it today and still not sure if I'm gonna keep it. I've setup Q3A server but my friend was disconnected few times, which never happened before. Not sure if this was some net condition or Linksys router's fault.

Also, ftp seems very slow from my NT server. I will investigate tomorrow whether or not this is caused by the router NAT process.

Zak

 

[Zone]

Zak,

Check your firmware version. The latest versions have fixed problems with FTP access and may fix the connection problems with Q3A.

I also found this by browsing through the forums:

http://www.timhiggins.com/support/linksys_router_help.htm

It's got some good information on the page WRT port forwarding and such.

Unfortunately, not using DHCP isn't an option for me. I frequently hook my work machine up to this as well as my wifes. Both of those laptops are set for DHCP and it's a pain in the butt to have to reconfigure the network for use at home and then reconfigure again for use at work.

 

[frostgiant]

You can still port forward with DHCP on. But keep in mind that when you get disconnected and reconnect to the DHCP server, the port may not still be forwarded to you.

 

[Zak]

Well, I will be returning mine. Too many probs. People get disconnected from my Q3 server and ftp is slow. This didn't happen when I was routing through the NT box with WinGate.

Zone, yes, I tried the new firmware, even the latest beta version and it didn't help 🙁

Zak

 

[Zone]

I think mine is on it's way back too. It just seems too inconsistent. I have been able to put the machine using Napster out on the DMZ and that seems to allow me to download files but it's very flaky with keeping it connected.

One of two things happens:

1. I can get it on the DMZ and download without a problem and then put it back on the private network

2. I change the DMZ setting and it blows the connection for both PCs using the device. This stinks since it usually requires me to reset all devices, the Linksys AND both PCs.

This shouldn't happen and it's not what I want in a $150 device like this. I should be able to move a PC in and out of the DMZ without problems.

It's too bad. I like the device and didn't want to go back to a software solution. I don't want to go through the hassle of setting up a linux box to act as a server so I was using NAT32 on my Win98 PC but it needs to be reloaded and every time it goes down, I can't use my linux box while I wait for the Win98 gateway to come back up.


I'll try a few more experiments but I'm not hopeful.

 

[Zak]

I agree. By now all these bugs should have been worked out. In my case DMZ wasn't working consistently either.

Last night I've installed my second NIC back and put WinGate and ZoneAlarm on my NT box again and all my problems are gone🙂

Just like you, I liked the idea of having a harwdare router and my Internet connection being independednt from a computer (software solution) but this router was giving me too many problems to keep it.

Good luck to you Zone 🙂

Zak


PS.

Oh, by the way! Speaking of experiments... I forgot to mention this. I also have a block of real IPs that I bought from my DSL ISP and I used to route them through my NT server. The reason I wanted this Linksys box is that I will be switching to cheaper and faster DSL in a month or so, but with only one static IP, and I was looking around for ICS/NAT solutions.

Well then... I also tried routing my real IPs through this router, and everything worked fine! No problems! It seems to me that the problem lies in NAT software and Port Routing software of this router.

Zak