Office network going down, need help BIG TIME

[The Mailman]

Sounds like the modem is failing.

ISP just came in, replaced the SciATL modem with a Motorolla, 20 minutes so far and perfect speed and performance, no drops

we'll see. if we make it past an hour we're in good shape.

It's the same model of router and modem as I had at home for years, so I can't see a conflict arising. Only problem now is getting a proper router/firewall installed.

where to star? right now the tech support company said they would make their own Linux based firewall/router for us, but itd be 2+ weeks. The person who called this tech guy in told him we'd order 1, should we NOT be buying something like this? Should we just go out and get a business grade firewall?

(the Freedom9 firewall that we had previously is password locked and is a brick now; has no factory reset)

 

[Crusty]

How many PC's and whats your internal topology like?

 

[The Mailman]

How many PC's and whats your internal topology like?

6 desktops connected to a switch

maybe 1-3 wireless connections; if we hire new people they'll likely be wireless as well on another floor

 

[drebo]

6 desktops connected to a switch

maybe 1-3 wireless connections; if we hire new people they'll likely be wireless as well on another floor

2 weeks to build a linux-based firewall? They sound incompetant.

Buy a commercial-grade unit. An Adtran NetVanta 3120 would fit your bill nicely, or if you wanted to go a bit higher in cost and performance, an ASA5505...the 50 user version can be had for ~$650. The NetVanta is about $400, depending on where you buy it. Both are adequate as far as security goes, and both will meet your performance needs.

If you intend to have more than 2-3 IPSec VPNs going, though, I'd recommend the ASA.

 

[The Mailman]

yeah?

they said they were backed up so it would take 2 weeks to finally get it in queue and out to us

also said that a "good firewal" is going to cost over a grand so to go with them. it wasn't my call, same person who hired this service told them okay...

question, since i know nothing about firewalls, but does this eliminate my router from the chain? or does it go in front of the router (and turn off router firewall)

 

[Crusty]

2 weeks to build a linux-based firewall? They sound incompetant.

Buy a commercial-grade unit. An Adtran NetVanta 3120 would fit your bill nicely, or if you wanted to go a bit higher in cost and performance, an ASA5505...the 50 user version can be had for ~$650. The NetVanta is about $400, depending on where you buy it. Both are adequate as far as security goes, and both will meet your performance needs.

If you intend to have more than 2-3 IPSec VPNs going, though, I'd recommend the ASA.

No kidding, assuming you've got the hardware already laying around that should be a few hours MAX for a setup as simple as the OPs. I second the recommendation for the ASA 5505, been running one here in the office for awhile now and it has been 100% rock solid on a dual WAN setup.

 

[The Mailman]

will do

thanks for all of your help, guys

 

[The Mailman]

well, its going down again. bought a linksys as a placeholder for the time being. holy crap FML.

 

[RebateMonger]

Is your power OK?

 

[The Mailman]

Is your power OK?

yeah

send/receive on the new modem stayed on this time, but same symptoms from router (it thought it was online, but wasnt) (i'm back on belkin #1 again when this happened)

rebooting the router fixed the problems both times, both in 1 shot. this morning the issue was resolved by rebooting the modem, multiple cycles of the router did nothing, usually.

installing the linksys now (where can I order one of these ASA 5505s?)

 

[Crusty]

At this point I would grab a hub and put in between the modem and router and attach a PC with a packet tracer on it to see WTF is going on between the two.

 

[Bashbelly]

Might have two dhcp servers fighting each other if you got them turned on on both router and switch.

 

[stlcardinals]

How much traffic are you using? Are you hosting web servers?

It's possible that you are generating so many connections that you are overwhelming that "home" networking gear.

 

[drebo]

(where can I order one of these ASA 5505s?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-072-_-Product

Sounds to me like you were having hardware problems with both the router and the modem. I'd check the power circuit they were plugged in to.

 

[klocwerk]

Totally off topic, but I strongly suggest you cough up the $10/mo or whatever it is for a static IP address from your ISP.