Prior Working WAN Connect Fails?

[rljames]

Made the mistake of upgrading Frontier ISP service from Max (6Mbps) to Ultra (12Mbps) and expecting prior stable connection devices to work OK without change.

dLink 2540B ADSL2+ modem seems correct (PPPoE) - I can get to internet OK and w/good speed. So I *think* I'm good here. Also have "Bridged" connection which serves the AC66U on specific modem port to router WAN port. Again, all as prior to upgrade and worked fine for months.

But my AC66U with Merlin firmware (.374.35.4) refuses to WAN connect if I use previous "Auto IP" config. Tried all the usual stuff including; AC66U reset, config reload, reboot, clear NVRAM. Also tried "Quick Internet Setup" which detects PPPoE service but when I follow through with this option the WAN connects but no DNS seems available. So I went back to "Auto IP" and tried Manual DNS with no improvement.

Probably (hopefully) missing something obvious and simple but I'm stumped...

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Bob

 

[RMerlin]

If the modem is properly bridged, then you must use PPPoE with the appropriate username/password on the router.

If the modem is NOT bridged, then you must configure the username/password in the modem, and set the router to Automatic IP, which will lead to a double NAT situation - not ideal.

 

[rljames]

If the modem is properly bridged, then you must use PPPoE with the appropriate username/password on the router.

If the modem is NOT bridged, then you must configure the username/password in the modem, and set the router to Automatic IP, which will lead to a double NAT situation - not ideal.

OK, Thanks. Your info seems consistent with what I'm currently experiencing but not with what was working under my Frontier Max service. However, it is possible that I'm misunderstanding how the dLink modem is actually providing connection to the ISP and LAN port to AC66U WAN.

In any case, if I use PPPoE on the AC66U then why am I not getting DNS resolution? (Is there an easy method to determine how my modem port to router is actually configured? Bridged or not? I know modem is PPPoE to ISP but not sure about modem to router...)

And assuming I have a choice, is PPPoE or Bridged best for performance/stability?

Thanks again for the help,
Bob

 

[rljames]

Problem is getting more confusing.

Linked AC66U to ADSL modem via PPPoE as "auto detected" and recommended in this thread. Everything on the router looks OK but successful webSite connection is sporadic. For instance, first few webSite connection requests will succeed then next couple will fail. If I wait or keep attempting connections I'll eventually succeed again. This behavior is consistent but variable in the number of success/failures.

PC only wired to router LAN, wireless ON but no connections. And again, everything worked fine a few days ago prior to upgrade of ISP from Max (6Mbps) to Ultra (12Mbps) service.

Here is a section of the AC66U Syslog;
(with some of my *** RLJ comments/notes)

Jan 30 08:12:23 pppd[652]: Modem hangup
Jan 30 08:12:33 pppd[652]: Interface eth0 has MTU of 1492 -- should be 1500.  You may have serious connection problems.
*** RLJ - AC66U PPPoE options will not allow 1500 value.

Jan 30 08:12:33 pppd[652]: PPP session is 61176 (0xeef8)
Jan 30 08:12:33 pppd[652]: Connected to 00:13:80:47:77:19 via interface eth0
Jan 30 08:12:33 pppd[652]: Using interface ppp0
Jan 30 08:12:33 pppd[652]: Connect: ppp0 <--> eth0
Jan 30 08:12:33 pppd[652]: PAP authentication succeeded
Jan 30 08:12:33 pppd[652]: peer from calling number 00:13:80:47:77:19 authorized
Jan 30 08:12:33 pppd[652]: local  IP address 74.47.151.179
Jan 30 08:12:33 pppd[652]: remote IP address 74.47.148.1
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[724]: read /etc/hosts - 5 addresses
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[724]: read /etc/hosts.dnsmasq - 0 addresses
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq-dhcp[724]: read /etc/ethers - 1 addresses
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[724]: using nameserver 74.40.74.41#53
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[724]: using nameserver 74.40.74.40#53
Jan 30 08:12:33 start_nat_rules: apply the nat_rules(/tmp/nat_rules_ppp0_eth0)!
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[724]: exiting on receipt of SIGTERM
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[753]: started, version 2.67 cachesize 1500
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[753]: compile time options: IPv6 GNU-getopt no-RTC no-DBus no-i18n no-IDN DHCP DHCPv6 no-Lua TFTP no-conntrack no-ipset no-auth
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[753]: warning: interface ppp1* does not currently exist
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[753]: asynchronous logging enabled, queue limit is 5 messages
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq-dhcp[753]: DHCP, IP range 192.168.1.5 -- 192.168.1.240, lease time 1d
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[753]: read /etc/hosts - 5 addresses
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[753]: read /etc/hosts.dnsmasq - 0 addresses
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq-dhcp[753]: read /etc/ethers - 1 addresses
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[753]: using nameserver 74.40.74.41#53
Jan 30 08:12:33 dnsmasq[753]: using nameserver 74.40.74.40#53
Jan 30 08:12:33 rc_service: ip-up 735:notify_rc stop_upnp
Jan 30 08:12:33 rc_service: ip-up 735:notify_rc start_upnp
Jan 30 08:12:33 miniupnpd[768]: HTTP listening on port 41001
Jan 30 08:12:33 miniupnpd[768]: Listening for NAT-PMP traffic on port 5351

Jan 30 08:12:37 WAN Connection: WAN was restored.
Jan 30 08:14:27 pppd[652]: No response to 10 echo-requests
Jan 30 08:14:27 pppd[652]: Serial link appears to be disconnected.
Jan 30 08:14:27 pppd[652]: Connect time 1.9 minutes.
*** RLJ - ??? Seems to represent actual internet coonection behavior - Sporadic DNS resolution, sometimes OK, sometimes Not.

Jan 30 08:14:27 pppd[652]: Sent 71990 bytes, received 1144725 bytes.
Jan 30 08:14:27 miniupnpd[768]: Failed to get IP for interface ppp0
Jan 30 08:14:27 miniupnpd[768]: SendNATPMPPublicAddressChangeNotification: cannot get public IP address, stopping
*** RLJ - ??? No idea but would seem to suggest some sort of problem.

Jan 30 08:14:27 dnsmasq[753]: read /etc/hosts - 5 addresses
Jan 30 08:14:27 dnsmasq[753]: read /etc/hosts.dnsmasq - 0 addresses
Jan 30 08:14:27 dnsmasq-dhcp[753]: read /etc/ethers - 1 addresses
Jan 30 08:14:27 dnsmasq[753]: using nameserver 74.40.74.41#53
Jan 30 08:14:27 dnsmasq[753]: using nameserver 74.40.74.40#53
Jan 30 08:14:27 WAN Connection: Fail to connect with some issues.
*** RLJ - ??? No idea but would seem to suggest some sort of problem.

Jan 30 08:14:27 stop_nat_rules: apply the redirect_rules!
Jan 30 08:14:27 dnsmasq[753]: exiting on receipt of SIGTERM
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq[790]: started, version 2.67 cachesize 1500
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq[790]: compile time options: IPv6 GNU-getopt no-RTC no-DBus no-i18n no-IDN DHCP DHCPv6 no-Lua TFTP no-conntrack no-ipset no-auth
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq[790]: warning: interface ppp1* does not currently exist
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq[790]: asynchronous logging enabled, queue limit is 5 messages
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq-dhcp[790]: DHCP, IP range 192.168.1.5 -- 192.168.1.240, lease time 1d
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq[790]: read /etc/hosts - 5 addresses
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq[790]: read /etc/hosts.dnsmasq - 0 addresses
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq-dhcp[790]: read /etc/ethers - 1 addresses
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq[790]: using nameserver 74.40.74.41#53
Jan 30 08:14:28 dnsmasq[790]: using nameserver 74.40.74.40#53
Jan 30 08:14:33 pppd[652]: Connection terminated.
Jan 30 08:14:33 pppd[652]: Sent PADT
Jan 30 08:14:33 pppd[652]: Modem hangup
*** RLJ - ??? THis snippet of Syslog seems to repeat.

Thanks again for the help,
Bob

 

[RMerlin]

Your PPPoE connection keeps dropping. If you are positive that the modem is really in bridged mode, then start looking at external sources: phone cord, make sure you have line filters in place in your house, check if the modem seems to lose sync, etc...

 

[downtown]

Hi,

i have similar situation here in Malaysia. vdsl2 Modem providing pppoe bridging and ac66u connects via vlan to internet - this is the original situiation (which works so - so).
A few days ago, i configured the modem to connect directly to provider (switched off pppoe brdiging) and switched also the dhcp server on. This worked and modem connected to internet. My laptop connected via cable to modem switch port gets ip from modem and laptop is online - perfect!

But i failed to configure the ac66u router to get an ip adress from the modem via auto-ip. Tried the standard things like configuration wizard, manual configuration, reset to factory default, another firmware, and and and....

I must say that i spend more time trying and configuring, resetting, searching this forum, *u name it* for this router than all other router togehter a had before this asus ac66u.

Thats really annoying.

 

[rljames]

More clues -

Just noticed the AC66U interface reporting these WAN cycling conditions. Occur unpredictably and automatically. And as far as I can tell, always in the same top-to-bottom order.

Notice the assigned WAN IP in the bottom image where things seem broken.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[rljames]

Your PPPoE connection keeps dropping. If you are positive that the modem is really in bridged mode, then start looking at external sources: phone cord, make sure you have line filters in place in your house, check if the modem seems to lose sync, etc...

Thanks so much for trying to help.

Not sure how to confirm "Bridging" mode on modem but a few things lead me to believe that "external sources" are not the culprit.

First, (and I know these are famous last words but...) nothing has changed in my environment since AC66U with same ADSL modem worked fine for months on Frontier Max speed. Working great on Monday morning, upgrade from Max to Ultra Monday noon and problems since then. No changes to anything else which would seem to discount external influences.

Second, when I connect to internet direct from modem LAN port, without AC66U even connected, everything works great. No disconnects, no DNS problems, no issues of any kind.

Finally, when I use Frontier supplied modem/router combo (which I'm hoping to replace) everything seems OK. So again, I would guess that if something "external" was causing these problems other methods of connection (modem direct, Frontier device) would also be affected.

Thanks again,
Bob

 

[jlake]

Thanks so much for trying to help.

Not sure how to confirm "Bridging" mode on modem but a few things lead me to believe that "external sources" are not the culprit.

First, (and I know these are famous last words but...) nothing has changed in my environment since AC66U with same ADSL modem worked fine for months on Frontier Max speed. Working great on Monday morning, upgrade from Max to Ultra Monday noon and problems since then. No changes to anything else which would seem to discount external influences.

Second, when I connect to internet direct from modem LAN port, without AC66U even connected, everything works great. No disconnects, no DNS problems, no issues of any kind.

Finally, when I use Frontier supplied modem/router combo (which I'm hoping to replace) everything seems OK. So again, I would guess that if something "external" was causing these problems other methods of connection (modem direct, Frontier device) would also be affected.

Thanks again,
Bob

To confirm if your DSL modem is in bridge mode, most people use google. Google search for "make model of your modem/router bridge mode". You should find instructions on the internet.

It doesn't sound like your modem is in bridged mode from what you described in your original post. Maybe some type of half bridge for one of the LAN ports. I'm not sure. I'm not familiar with your modem.

With a little googling, you can usually figure things out.

If you have other devices NATTEd or firewalled on other LAN ports of your modem/router, it might be best to contact your ISP if you don't know what you're doing.

 

[rljames]

<snip>
might be best to contact your ISP if you don't know what you're doing.

Well I DO KNOW one thing and that is I'm no expert and struggling with this. Especially frustrating because it all worked fine just a few days ago...

Sadly, Frontier ISP will NOT offer any support as soon as I introduce ANY 3rd party device.

Below is another AC66U Syslog generated immediately after configuring router for PPPoE (which assumes ADSL is in bridged mode). Seems to suggest PPPoE is either "timing out" or unavailable. In this configuration ADSL "Internet" light never activated and NO internet access was possible.

Any clues here?

The modem is a dLink DSL-2540B which has 4 LAN ports. When working OK with Frontier Max I had Ports 2,3 & 4 PPPoE configured and Port 1 setup as "bridged" which I successfully connected to AC66U. One thing that bothers me is that I'm fairly certain (and confirmed via prior working AC66U config file) that I was using "Auto IP" for connection to dLink under the Max environment which according to Merlin reply indicates PPPoE and should NOT have worked...

At this point, PPPoE WAN on AC66U offers best results which suggests I am correctly bridged to modem. But I can't get stable connection as seen in prior post Syslog. Seems to me this setup is close and there is a simple setting/switch I'm missing somewhere that is different and required by this change of service speed. I just not smart enough to figure out what and/or where!

Thanks,
Bob

AC66 Syslog w/Router configured as PPPoE, WAN Connection not established, ADSL modem shows no Internet connection.
Dec 31 19:01:48 pppd[366]: Timeout waiting for PADO packets
Dec 31 19:02:24 rc_service: httpd 298:notify_rc restart_wan_if 0
Dec 31 19:02:24 pppd[366]: Unable to complete PPPoE Discovery
*** RLJ - ???

Dec 31 19:02:24 dnsmasq[290]: read /etc/hosts - 5 addresses
Dec 31 19:02:24 dnsmasq[290]: read /etc/hosts.dnsmasq - 0 addresses
Dec 31 19:02:24 dnsmasq-dhcp[290]: read /etc/ethers - 1 addresses
Dec 31 19:02:24 pppd[366]: Hangup (SIGHUP)
Dec 31 19:02:24 pppd[366]: Terminating on signal 15
Dec 31 19:02:24 pppd[366]: Exit.
Dec 31 19:02:24 stop_wan(): perform DHCP release
Dec 31 19:02:25 kernel: br0: port 1(vlan1) entering disabled state
Dec 31 19:02:25 kernel: br0: port 1(vlan1) entering listening state
Dec 31 19:02:25 kernel: br0: port 1(vlan1) entering learning state
Dec 31 19:02:25 kernel: br0: topology change detected, propagating
Dec 31 19:02:25 kernel: br0: port 1(vlan1) entering forwarding state
Dec 31 19:02:37 pppd[377]: Plugin rp-pppoe.so loaded.
Dec 31 19:02:37 pppd[377]: RP-PPPoE plugin version 3.11 compiled against pppd 2.4.5
Dec 31 19:02:37 pppd[378]: pppd 2.4.5 started by admin, uid 0
Dec 31 19:02:37 pppd[378]: Interface eth0 has MTU of 1492 -- should be 1500.  You may have serious connection problems.

 

[rljames]

A couple last questions before I call it quits for today...
Getting tired of this mess but I gotta say "Don't know what I'd do without the great people in this forum" - Thanks again, I REALLY appreciate the effort and feedback!

(And BTW, just about all the vendors, ASUS, dLink and Frontier, in my situation tend to give me a hard time with, or downright refuse, support because of product brand mix...)

Where does the WAN IP shown by the AC66U in this information screen attached come from? It seems to change fairly often and sometimes completely. (Last I looked it was 65.37.44.230) I don't remember seeing this WAN IP line on this screen at all in the prior working configuration. Somehow I think this is big clue.

And long shot, desperate thought - Could my problems be caused by software, such as Avast! or Windows Firewall?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[RMerlin]

At least this IP confirms that you are indeed getting a public IP on your router, and not a DHCP IP from your modem. PPPoE IPs tend to change quite often when you disconnect and reconnect.

 

[jlake]

Your log says your MTU is wrong. And I would suspect that is why you are having problems.

 

[jlake]

Since you have wrong MTU, then more than likely the Ethernet port that you think you have bridged is only "half bridged". Full bridge is the best way to go. But I think you'll have to put the entire modem/router in to full bridge mode since the asus router will only do 1492 MTU max with PPPoE.

Edit: some older Motorola DSL modems with outdated firmware also have the same strange half-bridge whereas you must connect a cascaded router via PPPoE.

 

[jlake]

The link below shows you step by step how to put it in full bridge mode.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20559631?hilite=

 

[rljames]

At least this IP confirms that you are indeed getting a public IP on your router, and not a DHCP IP from your modem. PPPoE IPs tend to change quite often when you disconnect and reconnect.

Is any IP assignment possible or should I be seeing something indicating typical for Frontier ISP in my area? For instance. first number always the same - Like 174.something or similar.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[rljames]

Since you have wrong MTU, then more than likely the Ethernet port that you think you have bridged is only "half bridged". Full bridge is the best way to go. But I think you'll have to put the entire modem/router in to full bridge mode since the asus router will only do 1492 MTU max with PPPoE.

Edit: some older Motorola DSL modems with outdated firmware also have the same strange half-bridge whereas you must connect a cascaded router via PPPoE.

As I posted earlier, I noticed this MTU issue and tried to correct on the AC66U but as you indicated a "required" value of 1500 isn't supported on the router. And in general I can't help but keep returning to the fact that this modem and router worked fine with previous DSL speed service.

How about this - Let's assume I can figure out how to configure dLink as PPPoE and connect to AC66U via "Auto IP"

1. How do I prevent the "double NAT" problem mentioned by RMerlin in post #2 of this thread?
   
2. Is there a performance/stability penalty for this type of connection configuration?

(Asking 2nd question because when I originally setup the dLInk and AC66U some many months ago I recall dLink stressing the importance of Bridge connection mode but don't remember the details. Also wondering if perhaps "things" have changed over time making this recommendation less critical)


Anyhow, the adventure continues today... First thing on agenda - Call Time Warner cable for cable internet connection options and pricing!

Thanks again to everyone,
Bob

 

[rljames]

The link below shows you step by step how to put it in full bridge mode.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20559631?hilite=

Although a slightly different GUI for my 2540B, the above link you reference represents exactly how I have configured (before speed change when it worked and now for new service) my modem.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[RMerlin]

Is any IP assignment possible or should I be seeing something indicating typical for Frontier ISP in my area? For instance. first number always the same - Like 174.something or similar.

Thanks,
Bob

I checked at least one of those IPs (65.37.44.xxx) and it does belong to Frontier.

As long it's not a private IP (192.168.x.y, 10.x.y.z, etc...) it should be correct.

 

[rljames]

OK, although I can't seem to get prior setup (Bridge mode) working, I do have a potential solution in place.

1. Configured dLink ADSL modem with IP=192.163.2.1 and PPPoE only to all ports.
2. Connected modem LAN1 port to AC66U WAN port and configured router WAN as "Static IP"=192.168.1.1, DNS & Gateway=192.163.2.1 (modem IP).

(Forcing the x.x.1.1 IP on router allows all previously setup static IP peripherals on router side to not need update)

So far everything seems stable and speed is OK.

Now the question is;
How do I best "link" the dLInk (x.x.2.1) and AC66U (x.x.1.1) subnets so that all devices are reachable from each other?

Thanks everyone for hanging in there with me through this nightmare,
Bob