Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000 09:52:47 -0400 From: John Turner <john@drexeltech.com> To: "Doug Poland" <doug@polands.org>, "John Turner" <john@drexeltech.com> Cc: "ListServer FreeBSD Questions" <FreeBSD-Questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: RE: Cable modem ISP keeps timing out Message-ID: <4.3.2.7.0.20001013094428.00b078d0@mail.johnturner.com> In-Reply-To: <NDBBKMNOJKJGAEKJNLIAGEOBELAA.doug@polands.org> References: <4.3.2.7.0.20001013090407.00b1b810@mail.johnturner.com>
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Hi - FYI, I have the Toshiba PCX1100 DOCSIS Cable Modem (http://www.toshiba.com/taisnpd/products/pcx1100.html). I had to call them and add the MAC for my firewall's external NIC (for me its rl0) to their database. For grins, I also added the MAC for my primary workstation (normally firewalled and NAT'ed), in case I ever had to connect in an emergency without my firewall. In a pinch, you can use 'ifconfig ep0 down' followed by 'ifconfig ep0 up' as root to get back online, without having to do a reboot/shutdown. I believe this renews your lease (gurus please correct me as needed), however, if they don't have the MAC in the database, you may find your lease expiring quicker than normal. I tried clocking the expiration, and it was all over the place, sometimes 3 hours, sometimes 8 minutes. Now that they have the MAC address in their db, the lease seems to have settled down a bit, though I haven't tracked it since. Also, a rogue MAC trying to connect is probably causing a small amount of havoc elsewhere on their network, with IP address conflicts and such. HTH - John Turner At 08:33 AM 10/13/2000 -0500, Doug Poland wrote: >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >Hi John, > >I did a self-install kit and the tech took my >external cable modem's MAC address to the shop. >The address is in their database and I can >confirm it with a peek at my account management >screen. > >When you say you had them add your firewall's >external NIC to their database, are you talking >about the cable modem's MAC or NIC in your firewall, >i.e., ep0 MAC? > >Regards, >Doug > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: John Turner [mailto:john@drexeltech.com] > > Sent: Friday, October 13, 2000 08:14 > > To: Doug Poland; ListServer FreeBSD Questions > > Subject: Re: Cable modem ISP keeps timing out > > > > > > > > RoadRunner uses DHCP. Their terms of service do not allow a dedicated IP > > (unless you pay extra, I think the extra package is called "Home > > Networking"). > > > > I have RoadRunner, my firewall is FreeBSD 3.4 RELEASE. My external > > interface is configured using dhcp in rc.conf, and it works fine. When I > > first hooked the firewall up, after I moved, I experienced the same > > problems you're having. The solution for me was to call them and add the > > MAC address for my firewall's external NIC to their database. > > They use the > > MAC to determine if a certain NIC is allowed to access their > > network. They > > allow up to 3 different MAC addresses per account. Previously, the only > > MAC they had on file was the one for my laptop (which was all I had when > > the guy did the install). > > > > So, a default RoadRunner setup needs DHCP, and the MAC for your NIC needs > > to be in their database (max of 3 MACs). Make sure > > "ifconfig_external-NIC=DHCP" is in your rc.conf file. > > > > As a temporary fix, before I discovered their rule about MAC > > addresses, was > > for me to do > > > > bash# ifconfig external-interface-name down > > bash# ifconfig external-interface-name up > > > > A shutdown or reboot isn't necessary. However, this got tedious after > > awhile, so I researched and found the MAC restriction at > > http://help.rr.com. I've seen other posts saying that the MAC addresses > > don't matter with RoadRunner, and perhaps this is the case in some > > locations in the US. For me, however, over MediaOne cable in > > Michigan, the > > MAC address most definitely makes a difference, and DHCP is most > > definitely > > used (as of October 9, 2000). If you're looking for a dedicated IP, you > > will have to pay extra (if it's even available). > > > > HTH > > > > - John Turner > > > > At 07:58 AM 10/13/2000 -0500, Doug Poland wrote: > > >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > > > > >Gurus, > > > > > >Two or three times a day I will lose my > > >"connection" to the outside world with > > >RoadRunner cable service. I can ping > > >my NIC and cable modem but nothing else. > > > > > >I can "reset" by doing a shutdown <ctrl> d > > >Then I get the same IP address, netmask > > >(I think), and DNS's. Then connectivity > > >is back. > > > > > >So I have two questions: > > > > > >1. How can I re-establish connectivity > > >without re-booting. I've tried > > > > > > # dhclient ed0 > > > > > >but I lose the IP address I did have and > > >returns an error message (sorry can't recall > > >it right now). So I end up rebooting. > > > > > >2. I'd like to know what is going on so I > > >can start complaining to my cable ISP. It's > > >mildly inconvenient when I'm at home and can > > >work on the console of the gateway. When > > >I'm working away from home, it's a real > > >hassle. > > > > > > > > >Regards, > > >Doug > > > > > > > > >To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > > >with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message > > > > > > > >To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org >with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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