PPPoE problems with .374.39.0

[Sky1111]

Folks, I am on AC56U with the latest Merlin firmware - 374.39.0 on VDSL (PPPoE) 50/10 connection, and I am having a lot of problems with internet connection - basically I lose it while the modem remains in sync, and the only way to get it back to reboot the router (and occasionally the modem - SmartRG 505 - too).

Note that while the internet connection is lost, the router is not hang and internal network traffic continues to function properly - only WAN is down.

The line/modem stats seem OK (engaged ISP into investigation),and after ISP tech support checked my router logs (stupid modem does not seem to generate any meaningful logs), they believe quote "this seems to be authentication issue only"

Anyone else is having VDSL/DSL issues with the latest FW?

 

[asususer0009]

no problems here after upgrade to .39

Ian

 

[sinshiva]

ADSL without PPPoE i'm afraid, but; did you restore factory defaults after* upgrading to 39?

 

[RMerlin]

Folks, I am on AC56U with the latest Merlin firmware - 374.39.0 on VDSL (PPPoE) 50/10 connection, and I am having a lot of problems with internet connection - basically I lose it while the modem remains in sync, and the only way to get it back to reboot the router (and occasionally the modem - SmartRG 505 - too).

Note that while the internet connection is lost, the router is not hang and internal network traffic continues to function properly - only WAN is down.

The line/modem stats seem OK (engaged ISP into investigation),and after ISP tech support checked my router logs (stupid modem does not seem to generate any meaningful logs), they believe quote "this seems to be authentication issue only"

Anyone else is having VDSL/DSL issues with the latest FW?

Check the router's System Log for more details, see if the PPPoE session drops or anything.

 

[Sky1111]

Hi Merlin,

here is what I see repeatedly in the log:

Feb 11 18:11:00 pppd[595]: Timeout waiting for PADO packets
Feb 11 18:11:48 miniupnpd[1281]: Failed to get IP for interface ppp0
Feb 11 18:12:15 pppd[595]: Timeout waiting for PADO packets

and this one is a typical message:
Feb 11 15:08:50 pppd[595]: No response to 10 echo-requests
Feb 11 15:08:50 pppd[595]: Serial link appears to be disconnected.
Feb 11 15:08:50 pppd[595]: Connect time 402.4 minutes.
Feb 11 15:08:50 pppd[595]: Sent 26681549 bytes, received 216953504 bytes.
Feb 11 15:08:50 miniupnpd[1281]: Failed to get IP for interface ppp0
Feb 11 15:08:50 miniupnpd[1281]: SendNATPMPPublicAddressChangeNotification: cannot get public IP address, stopping
Feb 11 15:08:50 pppd[595]: Connection terminated.
Feb 11 15:08:50 pppd[595]: Sent PADT
Feb 11 15:08:50 dnsmasq[1260]: read /etc/hosts - 5 addresses
Feb 11 15:08:50 dnsmasq[1260]: read /etc/hosts.dnsmasq - 14 addresses
Feb 11 15:08:50 dnsmasq-dhcp[1260]: read /etc/ethers - 15 addresses
Feb 11 15:08:50 dnsmasq[1260]: using nameserver 4.2.2.2#53
Feb 11 15:08:50 dnsmasq[1260]: using nameserver 4.2.2.1#53
Feb 11 15:08:54 WAN Connection: Fail to connect with some issues.
Feb 11 15:08:54 stop_nat_rules: apply the redirect_rules!
Feb 11 15:08:55 dnsmasq[1260]: exiting on receipt of SIGTERM
Feb 11 15:08:55 dnsmasq[2289]: started, version 2.68 cachesize 1500
Feb 11 15:08:55 dnsmasq[2289]: asynchronous logging enabled, queue limit is 5 messages

 

[Sky1111]

I cannot post the whole log as it contains some private info - but to my uneducated eye I see two issues:

- definitely there is something going on with modem/VDSL - there is no reason for connection to be dropped by itself, correct?

- something is broken in "autoredial' function - my understanding is that router is supposed to try to reconnect/redial if it loses the WAN connection, but I have a feeling that the router simply stops after few attempts. Merlin, how does successful (V)DSL login shows up in the log?
The reason I suspect a firmware issue is that router reboot always helps to restore internet connection; and only in few cases I had to reboot the modem too.

 

[RMerlin]

I took a look at your first log post - it contained a lot of repeating timeout on PAD0 requests. Connection also always seem to terminate with the ppp client being no longer able to communicate with the ISP (the 10 ping requests not being answered).

See if you can catch the modem while this is happening - check if the DSL sync was lost. Also try replacing the Ethernet cable between modem and router just to be safe.

I assume you have installed the DSL line filters on all your other phone devices (unless your modem is connected through a line splitter with built-in filter)?

 

[Sky1111]

I took a look at your first log post - it contained a lot of repeating timeout on PAD0 requests. Connection also always seem to terminate with the ppp client being no longer able to communicate with the ISP (the 10 ping requests not being answered).

See if you can catch the modem while this is happening - check if the DSL sync was lost. Also try replacing the Ethernet cable between modem and router just to be safe.

I assume you have installed the DSL line filters on all your other phone devices (unless your modem is connected through a line splitter with built-in filter)?

Thanks Merlin,
- as far as I recall, the modem SmartRG DSL light was solid while internet was off - and when I logged into modem, it did show the sync
- replacing cable between modem and router - very complicated (part of the wire is inside of the wall. I will however re-plug all the connections
- the modem is connected where the wire comes to the house, and the rest of the house goes thru filter

Now I recall... I do have a fax connected to the phone line (actually MFC)... hmm... maybe I should unplug it as I do not use it often anyway!

 

[fantom]

I have VDSL, this modem, and RT-N66U with .39 firmware. This modem does not like when a router is connected to its "LAN1" port: make sure you are not using this port or PPPoE session cannot be re-established without rebooting the router. It is a known issue with SmartRG modem. LAN2, LAN3, and LAN4 do not have any issues.

 

[Sky1111]

I have VDSL, this modem, and RT-N66U with .39 firmware. This modem does not like when a router is connected to its "LAN1" port: make sure you are not using this port or PPPoE session cannot be re-established without rebooting the router. It is a known issue with SmartRG modem. LAN2, LAN3, and LAN4 do not have any issues.

Thanks - I am already using LAN2 port...

 

[fantom]

Did you try other ports on your modem?

 

[fantom]

You could also try to disconnect and reconnect the cable from the router to the modem. When a router is rebooted, the connection between the router and the modem goes down and then up. Unplugging the cable would do the same thing. Might be a bad LAN port. That is how I knew than LAN1 was the problem for me. I later learned that that is a known issue with SmartRG.

Another thing to try is to use SmartRG in a router mode (as PPPoE client) and put your router in a DMZ. If that does not work, you got a bad modem.

 

[Sky1111]

UPDATE:
- with the new login, the connection is much more stable. When I came home the internet was still up
- however, the router log reveals a lot of disconnections. I am attaching log file - appreciate feedback

QUESTIONS:
- are these dropped connections "normal"? I understand that it is possible to have dropped connection here and there, but there are too many of them...

I will switch the port on the modem, and replug the cables to the router...

 

[RMerlin]

DSL isn't as stable as cable (due to their frequent reliance on fairly old wiring), but it should still be more stable than this.

 

[fantom]

My VDSL connection stays up for weeks (cannot stay up longer because I do experiments once in a while, like upgrading firmware). This log is very bad.

You need to figure out if the issue is before your modem or after: make it a PPPoE client and configure your router to use DHCP; put the router in DMZ.

 

[fantom]

BTW, this modem has some logging, even though it is not great; you just need to enable it:

Advanced Configuration/Management/System Log/Configure System Log and then set Log & Display Level to "Debugging"; hit Apply.

Then you can go back to that same page and hit "View System Log". The see what the modem is logging around the time the router loses its PPPoE connection.

 

[Sky1111]

thanks fantom, will try both

 

[Sky1111]

Update: after some back and worth with ISP, they did something (not sure what) on thier side, and for last 27 hrs I see not a single disconnect!

However, there are few things I would like to clarify on router side. Merlin, did I get it right that the router will only try to dial in 10 times after the PPPoE connection got dropped?

My concern is that in 80% or more cases, rebooting the router (not the modem!) would restore Internet - even though router was not hung.

 

[RMerlin]

Update: after some back and worth with ISP, they did something (not sure what) on thier side, and for last 27 hrs I see not a single disconnect!

However, there are few things I would like to clarify on router side. Merlin, did I get it right that the router will only try to dial in 10 times after the PPPoE connection got dropped?

My concern is that in 80% or more cases, rebooting the router (not the modem!) would restore Internet - even though router was not hung.

Dunno, I never really studied the PPP section of the code.

 

[Sky1111]

Dunno, I never really studied the PPP section of the code.

I remember - I annoyed you about that part before... let me ask Asusnet - hopefully he can check with engineering...