Baffling DHCP problem with one PC.

I can't solve this problem with a cabled system. Can you suggest anything?

SETUP
There is a Netgear 834GT connected to the ADSL line and providing DHCP.
That plugs into an 8 way switch, which connects to Cat5 cables that go to different places, including the study.
The study has a Netgear 834PN connected to the socket, and to two PCs. This router has DHCP turned off. It is just acting as a switch, (and also as a second wireless unit to provide better coverage because of thick stone walls, but wireless is not relevant to this problem).

PROBLEM
All the above works perfectly. Except that now and again one of the PCs, running XP, loses its network connection and reports that it has limited connectivity. If I disable the port and then enable it, it consistently fails to get the IP address from the DHCP every time. The other PC always works, no problem.

At this stage you are thinking that PC or its network card or its cable is faulty. But I can prove it isn't! If I go into the menu of the 834GT and simply turn off the DHCP setting and turn it on again, then go to the PC, disable then enable the port, it gets its IP address and always works perfectly again for a day or so.

I have tried setting the RIP direction on both Netgear routers to "Both", previously set to "None", that made no difference. (RIP-1 version for both).

Why would that PC fail to get issued an IP address, but toggling the DHCP setting on the router makes it work again?

It might be that your computer is trying to get an IP allready assigned. Have you tried configuring it so it obtains or trys to obtain the same one? This must be a LAN issue as you say the above works fine.

In reply to a post by krazykizza:

It might be that your computer is trying to get an IP allready assigned. Have you tried configuring it so it obtains or trys to obtain the same one? This must be a LAN issue as you say the above works fine.

I tried powering all the routers off and on. Mysteriously I then had the same problem but with the other PC instead.

When a PC requests an address the DHCP server will provide a new one. but it is refusing to do it - sometimes. I could used fixed IP addressing or force the same IP but that should not be needed. Something is wrong. It could be that the DHCP router has a fault, I could switch them around.

What happens if you issue the ipconfig /renew command on an affected machine?

What version firmware are you using on the DG834GT.

There is a problem with DHCP in 1.02.19

http://forum1.netgear.com/showthread.php?t=38150

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I had recently upgraded to 1.02.19 to get the improved WPA2 wireless security. The problems described in the Netgear forum are the same that I have.

I find it very bad that Netgear still offer 1.02.19 for download, although they must know that it is a disaster.

I have reinstalled to 1.02.16 and done a full reset. All good so far.

I had also put the latest appropriate firmware on a 834Gv1 and on a 834PN. Do you happen to know if either of those have suffered the same problem? I'm not using DHCP on them, but they are my fallbacks if the main one fails.

Thanks again, you have saved me a lot of problems.

Glad to be of help.

As far as I know it is only the DG834GT with 1.02.19 that has DHCP problems.

It would be good if you could log a support request https://my.netgear.com/myNETGEAR/support.asp

as the more requests the quicker they will be to fix the issue.

Netgears reply to me was they will let the correct department know and wanted to close the case. I refused to let them close the case and now have 2 open for the same problem.

I have logged a problem with them as you suggest. This is what I wrote:

7/6/2009 6:31:00 PM
I upgraded the 834GT firmware to 1.02.19. This has caused me many problems due to the severe DHCP bug in the software. PCs fail to be given IP addresses, and also lose them. I eventually learned this was caused by your firmware from the Netgear Forum. I assume you will fix the bug in a new release?
I have rolled back to 1.02.16 and all appears OK.
The point of this message is that you should have REMOVED 1.02.19 from your website once you learned it was totally unfit for use. By leaving it there you have wasted my time and no doubt many others.
Please tell your manager my comments. Thank you.

A couple of words of wisdom...DGTeam 0743

Is what I'm using on my DG834GT with no problems whatsoever and has some extra tweaks you might like

I think that is too scary for me. Thanks!

Here is their reply:

Thank you for choosing NETGEAR. My name is Gaurav and I will be your support engineer. I appreciate the opportunity to assist you.

I understand that you have faced DHCP issues with the latest firmware version: 1.02.19 of the NETGEAR Router DG834GT that you have resolved the DHCP issue by downgrading the firmware of your Router to version: 1.02.16. I apologize for the inconvenience this might have caused you and can imagine how frustrated you feel at this time. It is really unfortunate that some of the worst things happen to some of our best customers. I hope we can change your perception of our service.

Thank you for your feedback. I will forward this to an appropriate department.

Edited by deleted (Tue 07-Jul-09 08:43:58)