DHCP Broadband router problem 1

[skiflyer]

Not sure I'm in the right forum... but hey whatever, let's give it a try.

I have a small office, 20 or 30 computers.

DSL connection comes in, and a little 4 port Linksys router grabs it, and sends it out to the main switch. (Another linksys box, sorry I don't have the model numbers in front of me now.)

So, the little 4 porter has a DHCP server on board, and it's what hands out IP Addresses for the network. This used to be handled by a dedicated windows server, but the software that server runs sucks something serious, so the server had to be rebooted too frequently for my liking, and I didn't like the idea of the DHCP server being rebooted all the time.

Anyway... now things run fine, but once and awhile, a machine drops off the network and won't get a new IP address from DHCP... but the weird part is, if I dial up the number of allowed DHCP connections, it can get back in. But that number is already set to 2.5x the number of computers we have. So it would seem to me that somehow the table of connections is getting cluttered.

Has anyone run into this or know how to fix it? I ran into a similar problem in my home network (6 computers, an 8 port linksys box) but turning it to 15 connections was enough there that I never ran into it again.... at this point, we've just dialed it up from 70 to 100, and I suppose I'll see in a day or two if it's still a problem, but regardless I don't like this fix.

 

[bcastner]

This sound like you are using a BEFSR41. There have been repeated issues with DHCP lease renewal.

Upgrade the firmware.

 

[skiflyer]

oh boy, when I tried to upgrade the firmware on the 8 port one I used to use at home I ended up with a brick (and yes I followed the instructions to the letter)

But I'll give it a go on that one.... as I believe you're right on the model number.

 

[bcastner]

The BEFSR81 had firmware issues. (The newest version of the firmware does not).
The BEFSR41 is one of the best supported products by Linksys. You should have no issue using the latest firmware. There were some betas of 1.45.0 that would tank a V1.0 version of this, but that was a long time ago.

 

[rpearson]

Ive had nothing but success upgrading Firmware on the Linksys 41's. There tech support is very helpful on their products too.

 

[bcastner]

repearson,

Thank you for the comment. I have bought a ton (well, over 200) of the BEFSR41 model router by Linksys. I have had my up and downs with their firmware at times, but I swear by them more often than swear at them. One of the best computer products I have ever bought.

 

[skiflyer]

While we're on the topic... any ideas on how to resurrect the 81?

It's at home now I can't remember all the systems, but holding down the reset button didn't help at all, and if I remember right the status light just stays on red no matter what I do. And I connect connect to it.

I was upgrading the firmware on it, and the firmware updater exited abnormally, I won't say crash because I think it was actually an exit, but I could be wrong this was over a year ago now.

Perhaps I should just come back when it's in front of me and I have more info.

 

[bcastner]

Search here:

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/equip,16

Member "Frosty" had several ideas. You might want to join the site and send him a private message.

 

[skiflyer]

Well turns out I have a BEFVP41 here... and the firmware is 1.41.0 currently, and I can upgrade it to 1.41.1

The release notes don't look promising towards this particular problem, but I'll give it a go.