Internet connection mystery

Thought I would relate this sage of events as it may help others.

On Saturday I was happily using the internet when at 2pm I decided to go to the gym. On returning at 4pm I found I had no internet access. At first I thought it was an ISP outage, but further investigation showed that there was no problem here.

The Belkin router (150N) indicator lights showed there was no wired connection. I assumed it was a problem with the router and bought a new one, the Belkin 600N.

The new router came up with the same problem. I unplugged the Ethernet connection from my desktop and plugged it into the Ethernet port of my laptop and repeated the installation.

This again was reported as a failure. However, I noted that there was a connection and was able to access the router from the laptop and set up basic parameters.

I then attempted to restore a recently made backup of the configuration but to no avail as the new router did not recognise the back up made by the old router. Fortunately I had kept a record of the parameters so was able to use this to manually configure the new router.

There are a number of problems with the Belkin 600N and anyone thinking of buying it should google first, eg try Intellistream.

With the new router configured and successfully working for basic operations, I then plugged the Ethernet cable into the desktop only to discover the same problem!

The Ethernet port (RJ-45) is reported as working correctly and the link LED is blinking showing data activity and the speed LED is RED. The drivers are uptodate.

My next step will be to try a new LAN card in the PCI express port. Will let you now what happens.

Edited by Tantalus (Mon 28-Jul-14 21:29:32)

Had lightning in area?

Changed the Ethernet cable?

Does wireless work?

No lightening, although it has been very hot in London

Yes, I tried this earlier on. It should be noted that the existing cable works with the laptop.

Yes.

I thought you were in Sussex?

Did the 150N also work on wireless?

Edited by deleted (Mon 28-Jul-14 21:35:28)

I did not try it. However, I have been looking at the documentation for the LAN card, Atheros AR8121 PCI-E ethernet controller. The speed LED is RED. In the manual there are three settings: Off (10Mps); Orange (100Mps) and Green (1Gps). No mention of red.

Just been looking at possible replacements. OS is VISTA (32 bit).

Reconnected the cable to the desktop and then did a scan for hardware changes on the driver and the connection returned!

Light is still red.

I'm really not sure what is going on. But at least I have an internet connection for the moment....

Just had a look at the event log and I wonder whether this message have any thin to do with it:

NtpClient was unable to set a manual peer to use as a time source because of DNS resolution error on 'time.nist.gov,0x9'. NtpClient will try again in 15 minutes and double the reattempt interval thereafter. The error was: No such host is known. (0x80072AF9) - Thought I'd resolved this by setting clock to time.nist.gov

Edited by Tantalus (Mon 28-Jul-14 23:02:58)

Ntp is not the cause of the lack of connectivity

Tues Evening: Internet still accessible.

Found this in the log of the new Belkin router log ( this was before it miraculously started working in the afternoon)

Monday, July 28, 14 09:50:20.362 - A: Disconnected wired adapter found at startup
Monday, July 28, 14 09:50:26.179 - E: TZ setting error - API Call failed on set timezone
Monday, July 28, 14 09:51:34.573 - H: Wan connectivity check failed, no internet connection
Monday, July 28, 14 09:51:40.798 - L: User advised to restart modem
Monday, July 28, 14 09:51:40.801 - J: PPPOE failed: Unsupported Access Point
Monday, July 28, 14 09:53:51.711 - M: User advised to restart router
Monday, July 28, 14 09:53:59.792 - J: PPPOE failed: Unsupported Access Point
Monday, July 28, 14 09:53:59.816 - WnA1L1M1H1J2E1
Monday, July 28, 14 09:54:49.013 - E: TZ setting error - API Call failed on set timezone
Monday, July 28, 14 09:55:50.046 - H: Wan connectivity check failed, no internet connection
Monday, July 28, 14 09:55:56.295 - L: User advised to restart modem
Monday, July 28, 14 09:55:56.297 - J: PPPOE failed: Unsupported Access Point
Monday, July 28, 14 09:56:57.074 - M: User advised to restart router
Monday, July 28, 14 09:56:59.565 - WnA1L2M2H2J3E2
Monday, July 28, 14 09:56:59.569 - WnA1L2M2H2J3E2
Monday, July 28, 14 09:56:59.576 - J: PPPOE failed: Unsupported Access Point

And this comes from the security log. Note it starts DEC 31 then jumps to July 29!


Dec 31 23:00:06 started, version cachesize 150
Dec 31 23:00:06 compile time options: IPv6 GNU-getopt no-DBus no-i18n no-IDN DHCP DHCPv6 no-Lua TFTP no-conntrack
Dec 31 23:00:06 failed to load names from /etc/hosts: No such file or directory
Dec 31 23:00:10 load config file
Dec 31 23:00:10 recieve.c(60)start recieve loop
Dec 31 23:00:10 ------------------------------------
Dec 31 23:00:10 NetBIOS Name = router
Dec 31 23:00:10 Workgroup = WORKGROUP
Dec 31 23:00:10 Scope ID =
Dec 31 23:00:10 Comment = Belkin Router
Dec 31 23:00:10 WINS = 255.255.255.255
Dec 31 23:00:10 ------------------------------------
Dec 31 23:00:10 HEAP: addr=00000000 size=00800000
Dec 31 23:00:10 Thread start INIT(471)
Dec 31 23:00:10 Thread start NETLINK(473)
Dec 31 23:00:10 Thread start NBT_NS(474)
Dec 31 23:00:10 Thread start NBT_DM(475)
Dec 31 23:00:10 Thread start BROWS_RES(476)
Dec 31 23:00:10 Thread start TCP_ACPT(485)
Dec 31 23:00:10 TCPMAIN:No MACB to bind
Dec 31 23:00:10 TCPMAIN: IP:192.168.2.1 NetMask:255.255.255.0 GateWay:0.0.0.0
Dec 31 23:00:10 ACCEPT: wait_nic_init...
Dec 31 23:00:10 NBT: Regist Start
Dec 31 23:00:10 NBT: Use 192.168.2.1
Dec 31 23:00:10 UDP:Error in sendto()
Dec 31 23:00:10 UDP:Reason Network is unreachable(128)
Dec 31 23:00:10 UDP:Error in sendto()
Dec 31 23:00:10 UDP:Reason Network is unreachable(128)
Dec 31 23:00:10 UDP:Error in sendto()
Dec 31 23:00:10 UDP:Reason Network is unreachable(128)
Dec 31 23:00:10 21612 byte heap memory used.
Dec 31 23:00:10 CRM:Del task TCP_ACPT Thread ID:6151
Dec 31 23:00:10 udhcp server (v0.9.8) started
Dec 31 23:00:10 ### wan0_ifname vlan1, wan0_proto pppoe
Dec 31 23:00:10 udhcp server (v0.9.8) started
Dec 31 23:00:10 ### wan0_ifname vlan1, wan0_proto pppoe
Dec 31 23:00:10 start, pppoecd
Dec 31 23:00:10 PPPoE 2.4.1 started by (unknown), uid 0
Dec 31 23:00:10 Sent PADI..
Dec 31 23:00:11 load config file
Dec 31 23:00:12 NBTNS: No Response of Regist from 255.255.255.255
Dec 31 23:00:16 Sent PADI..
Dec 31 23:00:17 received REQUEST
Dec 31 23:00:18 received DISCOVER
Dec 31 23:00:18 Sent PADR..
Dec 31 23:00:19 Got connection: 7f16 vlan1 <--->2.449542E-317
Dec 31 23:00:20 read /etc/hosts - 2 addresses
Dec 31 23:00:20 using nameserver 78.151.235.4#53
Dec 31 23:00:20 using nameserver 78.151.235.131#53
Jul 29 10:15:40 sending OFFER of 192.168.2.2
Jul 29 10:15:40 received REQUEST
Jul 29 10:15:40 sending ACK to 192.168.2.2
Jul 29 10:15:45 DHCPINFORM
Jul 29 10:15:45 received REQUEST
Jul 29 10:15:45 received DISCOVER
Jul 29 10:15:47 sending OFFER of 192.168.2.3
Jul 29 10:15:47 received REQUEST
Jul 29 10:15:47 sending ACK to 192.168.2.3
Jul 29 10:15:48 NBT: Regist end 192.168.2.255, type 0x0100
Jul 29 10:15:48 NBT: Master Confirm
Jul 29 12:15:50 wan_status->atm_proto 3
Jul 29 10:15:59 NBT: Master name is ROUTER
Jul 29 10:15:59 received REQUEST
Jul 29 10:15:59 received DISCOVER
Jul 29 10:16:01 sending OFFER of 192.168.169.2
Jul 29 10:16:01 received REQUEST
Jul 29 10:16:01 sending ACK to 192.168.169.2
Jul 29 10:16:05 SMB: Send Eelection
Jul 29 10:16:05 NBT: Master Confirm
Jul 29 12:16:07 Internet Status: Connected
Jul 29 12:16:08 PING Success
Jul 29 10:16:16 NBT: Master name is ROUTER
Jul 29 11:16:22 192.168.2.2 login success
Jul 29 10:24:37 received REQUEST
Jul 29 10:24:37 sending ACK to 192.168.2.2
Jul 29 10:28:45 SMB: Send Eelection
Jul 29 10:28:45 NBT: Master Confirm
Jul 29 10:28:47 NBT: Master name is ROUTER
Jul 29 10:29:06 SMB: Change Master DALEK5
Jul 29 11:00:52 DHCPINFORM
Jul 29 12:53:02 NBT: Master Confirm
Jul 29 12:53:11 NBT: Master name is ROUTER
Jul 29 13:41:35 received REQUEST
Jul 29 13:41:36 received DISCOVER
Jul 29 13:41:38 sending OFFER of 192.168.169.3
Jul 29 13:41:38 received REQUEST
Jul 29 13:41:38 sending ACK to 192.168.169.3
Jul 29 13:41:50 SMB: Send Eelection
Jul 29 13:41:50 NBT: Master Confirm
Jul 29 13:41:52 NBT: Master name is ROUTER
Jul 29 13:42:06 SMB: Change Master DALEK3
Jul 29 13:44:38 DHCPINFORM
Jul 29 13:56:08 NBT: Master Confirm
Jul 29 13:56:17 NBT: Master name is ROUTER
Jul 29 13:58:10 SMB: Yield Master to DALEK3
Jul 29 16:17:29 received REQUEST
Jul 29 16:17:29 sending ACK to 192.168.169.2
Jul 29 18:14:42 received REQUEST
Jul 29 18:14:42 sending ACK to 192.168.169.2
Jul 29 18:15:14 SMB: Change Master DALEK5
Jul 29 18:30:12 received REQUEST
Jul 29 18:30:12 sending ACK to 192.168.169.3
Jul 29 18:30:49 DHCPINFORM
Jul 29 18:31:16 SMB: Change Master DALEK3
Jul 29 18:41:14 NBT: Master Confirm
Jul 29 18:41:24 NBT: Master name is ROUTER
Jul 29 18:42:02 SMB: Yield Master to DALEK3
Jul 29 19:14:35 NBT: Master Confirm
Jul 29 19:14:45 NBT: Master name is ROUTER
Jul 29 21:04:29 192.168.2.2 logout
Jul 29 21:04:50 192.168.2.2 login success