I don't monitor my PPPoE connections, but I've never noticed a case where it was broken except by VDSL reconnection or my explicit intervention. Usually even VDSL reconnection has not broken the PPPoE connection, and I have had to go in manually to make sure my IP profile is correctly updated. That said, I see now a VDSL up time of 559 hours (23 days), but PPPoE of only 9 days; I may get several short PPPoE connection drops I never even notice.

VDSL connection has typically stays up for months at a time, except where there are significant line issues. The change 23 days ago was caused by DLM improving my profile and removing interleaving, and there was another about a week before when the modem firmware was updated ... probably the reason that DLM was later able to improve profile.

"except by VDSL reconnection"? Surely that would mean a break in your internet connection, like if you were connected to IRC it would drop out?

if the ip stays the same things like irc connecitons can survive, luck of the draw if falls between keepalive packets.

If the ip changes, then yes its a cert disconnection on irc etc.

Edited by Chrysalis (Thu 21-Nov-13 13:23:06)

In reply to a post by jez9999:

Looks like I'm on BT Wholesale.

And no, I don't see repeated changes.

If you were seeing repeated changes in line speed, that would indicate frequent VDSL2 resynchronisation, which would certainly cause problems.

It's probably worth talking to Zen to find out if there's anything in their logs indicating why PPP is dropping out. I know you've said previously when you asked for suggestions for LCP Echo Request/Reply parameters that it's as if data transfer stops sometimes, then the PPP session is torn down due to a lack of LCP Echo Replies. This suggests possible interference with the VDSL2 signal, but there could easily be another cause..


Unfortunately, without the use of a hacked modem (which would give you some local statistics) or some information from Zen, it's going to be hard to figure out what is happening.


As a point of reference. my current PPPoE session has been up since October 26, when my router rebooted after a lengthy power cut that exhausted my UPS batteries.

Already talked to Zen; they say that from their POV the PPP connection is stable. They also say that things are considered stable until you get up to about 5 dropouts a day because "VDSL is an imperfect technology".

In reply to a post by jez9999:

"except by VDSL reconnection"? Surely that would mean a break in your internet connection, like if you were connected to IRC it would drop out?

That's what I would have expected. BUT, if the VDSL connection and reconnection is quick enough, the higher level connection does not notice. It may be that if the higher level connection was more active at the time it would notice quicker? The usual VDSL reconnection is for DLM changes and happens in the middle of the night when I am asleep.

Some people see the same as me, and almost always need to do a manual PPPoE reconnection to reestablish correct IP profile. Others almost always lose PPPoE even for a quick VDSL reconnection. I'm not sure what makes for the different situations. (I'm on HG612 and HH3b)

In reply to a post by StephenTodd:

Others almost always lose PPPoE even for a quick VDSL reconnection. I'm not sure what makes for the different situations. (I'm on HG612 and HH3b)

I guess the PPPoE driver in the HH3b is quite relaxed about missing a few status packets, and so there is time for a VDSL resync. I've not seen the same on my line (HG612 with Asus RT-N66U, the HH3b is in its box in the loft). I've seen useful improvement in speed and latency since the firmware upgrade mid Oct to the HG612, but I had to manually reboot my router (easier to hit power switch on back than to login to web and restart PPP) to get the profile to update.

I've not seen the same on my line but I had to manually reboot my router to get the profile to update.

To me, that implies that you (like me) didn't lose PPPoE connection on VDSL resync, or else the IP profile would have updated.

Maybe there is a missing part of the system I don't understand, and the IP profile reset is not based on PPPoE connection, or ...?

In reply to a post by jez9999:

Already talked to Zen; they say that from their POV the PPP connection is stable. They also say that things are considered stable until you get up to about 5 dropouts a day because "VDSL is an imperfect technology".

I would say that as many as 5 drops in PPPOE or PPPOA sessions within say 7days isn't within normal limits, I wouldn't want or expect 5 within any month, So many drops would have a significant impact on any connection, IMO

Edited by tommy45 (Thu 21-Nov-13 22:04:56)

In reply to a post by StephenTodd:

I've not seen the same on my line but I had to manually reboot my router to get the profile to update.

To me, that implies that you (like me) didn't lose PPPoE connection on VDSL resync, or else the IP profile would have updated.

Yes, that makes sense, and I'd read that VDSL supported SRA - and its probable this is occuring but the IP profile doesn't update. Could be a good reason to move to Sky who don't use an IP profile

Maybe there is a missing part of the system I don't understand, and the IP profile reset is not based on PPPoE connection, or ...?

Others have reported improving speeds by just reconnecting PPP, forces the WBC IP Profile to update based on the Openreach DSLAM sync speed?