Is There a way to Keep BEFSR41 Ver3 CABLE/DSLRouter from Disconnecting 1

[SQLLady]

Has anyone found a way to keep the Linksys Cable/Dsl router Version 3 from constantly disconnecting? I have had this router for 2 days with no luck. My configuration is as follows: OS = Windows XP Pro; Zonealarm, norton antivirus, 8-port linksys hub. I have connected 3 pcs. My firmware is the latest version 1.04.17. All machines can be connected and will suddenly no connections. I have spoken to Linksys tech support with no results. They know less than I. Any ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[mattjurado]

May just be the quality of your isp. What kind of connection do you have? Does it require pppoe?

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.

 

[SQLLady]

My ISP is Cablevision of CT and no problems with connectivity. I have no problem connecting pc's directly to the modem. Its the router.

 

[bcastner]

It is the router, and as you have only had it a few days see if you can return it for an exchange for a D-Link or some other router.

There has been on cable systems a consistent malforme packet attack on cable systems (not to date on DSL) that lead to your result with current Linksys firmware.

I can tell you at the moment there is not a resolution, but there is a lot of work being done to solve the issue.

But there is no killer firmware to date for your Version 3 router.

Discussion: (lengthy)

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,9702276~mode=flat

Note: This is becoming a serious issue, and one not ignored by Linksys. Several remedies have been suggested if you read the lengthy thread linked above:

. revert the firmware. If you revert to 10/2003 firmware for your router the problem disappears; see the discussion linked above.

. Swap the router from your sales dealer for another brand. It appears the attacks are squarly focused on Linksys firmware vulnerabilities for malformed packets.

Everyone who uses Linksys products would love a killer fix for this; it appears in waves on cable systems, and it is more than annoying.

Please read the linked material above and make your choice. Personally, I wish I could offer something more affirmatively to fix this issue, but I have yet to see it. When I do I will certainly post it here.

Best,
Bill Castner

 

[efcusa88]

I had the same problem (although I have a different gateway - BEFSR41) with my comcast cable internet. Nothing was wrong with my gateway and router and the connection kept dropping - sometimes for two days staright. I just about had it when I thought of replacing my cable modem. My original cable modem was an RCA which came free when I signed up for the service. I replaced the modem with a Motorola SB5100 SurfBoard and my connection has been on since then.

I don't know if this could fix your problem but it sure fixed mine.

 

[bcastner]

efocusa88,

A timely reminder on your part. Yes, the modem cannot be ruled out.

Nor can communications between the router and the modem; sometimes autonegotiation fails intermittently between the two. Sometimes placing an inexpensive switch between cable modem and router will resolve the issue.

 

[SQLLady]

Correct me if I am wrong but someone on another forum told me to re-connect the cable modem to my Linksys 8-port hub (uplink port) than connect the hub to the router. Apparently this fixed there problem with the same router.

 

[bcastner]

That was the suggestion I made above, if the issue is an autnegotiation one between modem and router, often placing an inexpensive switch between the two to arbitrate both voltage levels and autonegotiation logical issues between the two devices does resolve the issue.

In the alternative, there used to be people who put a 100' drop cord between the devices, coiled using cable ties.

Autonegotiation issues are fairly common between devices that should be able to sort this out. There has been suggestions in the past that the Linksys devices are voltage sensitive on their WAN ports, and some modems output other than specified TTL levels.

Whatever is the cause, interposing a cheap switch between the devices (or a long, coiled cable) does help in certain circumstances.

 

[SQLLady]

ok I am connected now with the Cablem modem connected to my 8-port hub(uplink port). this is one PC. Please tell me how to get the other 2 pc's connected to the internet. I am a newbie to routers and not sure of all of the details.
thanks in advance.

 

[bcastner]

SQLLady,

Unless your ISP has given you a set of static IPs to use, you cannot just connect the cable modem to a switch and share internet access. (This is what a router lets you do, but not a switch).

You could:

Add a second network adapter to one machine. Connect the cable modem to your first adapter. Connect the new second adapter to the switch.

Install and enable ICS on this host machine, and it would work. See:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/

But lets return to the original problem. The Linksys router you bought should have been the perfect solution. Take it back and purchase a D-Link, SMC, or whatever other broadband router the shop offers at the same price.

In the alternative, keep the Linksys and install an earlier firmware release: use Release 1048, dated 8/6/2003: ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pub/befsr41/

 

[bcastner]

SQLLady,

I will not be happy until we get this to work for you.
Ask any question, raise any problem.

Bill

 

[efcusa88]

I suggest connecting the modem to the router instead of the hub, this is the only way you can use multiple connections for your PCs.

here's my setup at my soho:

Motorola SurfBoard modem is connected to the WAN port of my BEFSR41 (not version 3) - configured as a gateway, and the uplink port is connected to my WRT54G broadband router (configured as a router and not a gateway).

Make sure that you have your router configured as a gateway and connect the uplink port to the hub. Turn on DHCP on your router.

It would also help if you configure your local network in Zonealarm as part of your trusted domain.

This is assuming that you haven't done any of what I've posted since you haven't stated any of them