RT-N66U Looses WAN

[alon.albert]

Hi

My setup is:
ISP Modem/Router is configured as a Modem only and is not serving any NAT.
My RT-N66U gets my external WAN IP over DHCP directly from my ISP.

Every once is a while, my RT-N66U will loose the WAN connection. The "Network Map" screen will say:

Internet status:
Disconnected

I discovered that I could restore the connection simply by unplugging the WAN cable from the router and re-plugging it.

In the system logs, I see this:

# irrelevant older log entries
Sep 8 15:43:12 dnsmasq-dhcp[811]: DHCPRELEASE(br0) 10.0.0.75 e8:ab:fa:0f:af:87
Sep 8 15:43:12 dnsmasq-dhcp[811]: DHCPDISCOVER(br0) 10.0.0.75 e8:ab:fa:0f:af:87
Sep 8 15:43:12 dnsmasq-dhcp[811]: DHCPOFFER(br0) 10.0.0.75 e8:ab:fa:0f:af:87
Sep 8 15:43:12 dnsmasq-dhcp[811]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 10.0.0.75 e8:ab:fa:0f:af:87
Sep 8 15:43:12 dnsmasq-dhcp[811]: DHCPACK(br0) 10.0.0.75 e8:ab:fa:0f:af:87
Sep 8 15:43:14 WAN Connection: Ethernet link down.
Sep 8 15:43:14 stop_nat_rules: apply the redirect_rules!
Sep 8 15:45:50 WAN Connection: Ethernet link up.

The 15:45:50 corresponds to me re-plugging the cable.

Firmware Version:3.0.0.4.378_7410

Any ideas?

 

[ballibeg]

Which WAN connection mode have you selected on the n66?

 

[alon.albert]

Automatic IP

 

[john9527]

Have you tried replacing the modem-router Ethernet cable? Cat5e or Cat6.
Do any of the connectors appear 'loose' when plugged in?

 

[alon.albert]

I haven't tried a different cable yet. The existing cable is a factory made Cat5e (not self crimped) and all the connections are solid.

I suppose I could try different cable.

I've saw a suggestion on another thread that proposed putting a small switch between the router and the modem. I'll see if I can find a spare switch somewhere and give that a try.

 

[CooCooCaChoo]

What ISP? What model modem? Could also be a problem with those two.

 

[alon.albert]

This is in Israel. ISP is a combination of an infrastructure provider called Hot and a service provider called Bezeq. The Mode is branded as a Hot product Hotbox.

Screenshots of the Hotbox router can bee seen here:

http://setuprouter.com/router/hot/hotbox-v2/screenshots.htm

 

[bbunge]

Try DHCP query frequency to Normal

 

[alon.albert]

Set to normal. Will see what happens.
Even before I made the change, it's not happened for a few days. Seems pretty rare now.

 

[alon.albert]

Still happens occasionally.
Even with DHCP query frequency to Normal

 

[mstombs]

seems to be a spate of similar probs, this one could be a loose connector on router or modem, see also

RT-N66U does not auto-reconnect to WAN
Is this a bug on Asus firmware? WAN disconnections
WAN IP renew issue

All seem to be wan type auto dhcp

There are at least 2 known issues, one is the failure to renew the dhcp lease correctly on time, the other is a fundamental problem with the ancient dhcp protocol - if your ISP breaks the connection while there is still a valid lease, there is no way for the ISP dhcp server to communicate the fact to the client, it is up to the client to notice and ask for new connection details.

 

[gatorback]

Would automatic rebooting the device at 2AM every night solve this problem?

 

[alon.albert]

I replaced the ethernet cable, will see if that helps.

How do I reboot on a schedule?