[OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

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Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	[OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS Have an iMac and use OPen DNS. Use a Apple Wireless Router too. Do I need to run that "DNS Updater" often ? I think that fixed the issue last time. Never had any issues before using Open DNS.
	permalink · 2008-11-01 13:27:46 ·

Dominokat "Hi" Premium join:2002-08-06 Boothbay, ME clubs:	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS I'm using Open DNS on my router. Never had an issue with it. I Just set up the router to use Open DNS instead of my ISPs. Been like that for a couple years and never even think about it.
	permalink · 2008-11-01 13:38:18 ·

TearAbite

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using openDNS could never cause your connection to "drop", however it's possible that if for whatever reason the DNS stopped working, you would not be able to connect by name.

Next time your connection is "dropped", see if you can connect to a site by IP instead of name. For example, try »/ instead of »dslreports.com

if you can connect by IP but not by name, then you have a DNS issues. if you cannot connect via name OR IP, then it's not a DNS issue.

permalink · 2008-11-01 13:43:07 · Print ·

scots
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When did this start for you? I've been using OpenDNS for a while now, and just this week have started having a lot of problems with my internet connection dropping. Every time it happens I check out all my networking gear and everything looks fine. I can get to things on my network, just can't get out on the internet. At first I was power cycling my Time Capsule and that seemed to fix it every time, but last night I went in to AirPort Utility and clicked on the "Renew DHCP Lease" button and then the internet started working again without restarting anything. I have the OpenDNS server addresses in my Time Capsule for the DNS servers so it automatically gives those out to all the computers on my network.

permalink · 2008-11-01 13:43:40 · Print ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	Just started having issues within the last week. The DNS numbers they give you are the same for everyone, right ?
	permalink · 2008-11-01 13:45:00 ·

scots Can we have Twinkies? Premium join:1999-12-06 Raleigh, NC ·AT&T U-Verse ·ooma ·RoadRunner Cable ·AT&T CallVantage	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS said by Heelfan71 : Just started having issues within the last week. The DNS numbers they give you are the same for everyone, right ? That's when mine started! I first noticed it on Monday evening. It happened again on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and again last night.
	permalink · 2008-11-01 13:46:06 ·

nixen
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said by Heelfan71

:

Just started having issues within the last week. The DNS numbers they give you are the same for everyone, right ?

Do you two have the same ISP? Assuming your location identifiers are correct, it might be a PoP issue. One of you bing in NC and the other in Georgia, it's possible that your local peering point is having issues.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell

permalink · 2008-11-01 15:31:43 · Print ·

scots
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

said by nixen

said by Heelfan71

:

Just started having issues within the last week. The DNS numbers they give you are the same for everyone, right ?

My ISP is TWC Road Runner. Haven't had any problems so far today.

permalink · 2008-11-01 21:47:03 · Print ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS Scots, are you running an Airport Extreme router by chance ?
	permalink · 2008-11-02 07:18:29 ·

scots Can we have Twinkies? Premium join:1999-12-06 Raleigh, NC	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS Yeah. Well...a Time Capsule, which is an AirPort Extreme with a hard drive inside it. Haven't had any problems yesterday or today, so maybe it was something temporary that's cleared up?
	permalink · 2008-11-02 20:05:58 ·

Hilbe join:2002-12-13	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS Did you recently install the AirPort Extreme update? I did and backed out the update because of flakey connectivity...
	permalink · 2008-11-02 20:45:30 ·

scots
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

said by Hilbe

:

Did you recently install the AirPort Extreme update? I did and backed out the update because of flakey connectivity...

I did on the 26th, but I don't think that had anything to do with it. NOTHING on my network can get out to the internet when the internet goes out. This includes my MacBook, my iMac (which is wired), my iPhone, my AT&T CallVantage VoIP, my Windows laptop from work, my Xbox 360...everything. When it goes out I can access anything on my network including my NAS, network printer, etc. It's just the internet that becomes inaccessible.

permalink · 2008-11-02 22:21:37 · Print ·

wxboss This is like Deja vu all over again. Premium join:2005-01-30 Jacksonville, FL clubs:	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS You're not alone. This post in the RR forum shows that RR has been having some issues as of late. »Raleigh-Durham crap download speeds once again
	permalink · 2008-11-02 23:59:27 ·

scots
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

Hmmmm...I haven't been having speed issues that I know of. Every time I've done a speed test they've been right up where they're supposed to be. When I had problems last week they weren't speed issues. Internet was totally gone, and a power cycle of just the Time Capsule would bring things back.

That post you referenced was from today, and I haven't had any problems at all today that I'm aware of.

permalink · 2008-11-03 00:31:22 ·

wxboss This is like Deja vu all over again. Premium join:2005-01-30 Jacksonville, FL clubs: ·Comcast	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS I realize that the dates were off, but the 8th hop on the post from that forum shows a time out which I thought could have been part of the problem. From your latest post, it sounds now like there is some other issue. I don't have any with experience with Time Capsule, so I'll leave any other suggestions up to the pros.
	permalink · 2008-11-03 01:07:53 ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	same here. I would get it working and then it would stop within 10 minutes. The ones the website gave me were 208.67.222.222 208.67.220.220
	permalink · 2008-11-01 13:47:35 ·

scots
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

Mine seems to only go out once or twice. I think Thursday night it might have gone out about 3 times. When it's gone out more than once I think it's been a little longer than 10 minutes before it goes out again. It seems like when it goes out there's some major traffic going on. Like I'll be connected VPN to work, or more than one person using the internet at the same time and at least one of us is doing something like streaming video or something like that.

Those are the same DNS addresses I use. They're the only ones for OpenDNS that I'm aware of. I never thought of it possibly being OpenDNS until I saw your post. I don't think I've ever really had any problems with it before.

permalink · 2008-11-01 13:50:38 · Print ·

tmpchaos Requiescat in pace Premium,Mod join:2000-04-28 Hoboken, NJ clubs:	I use it as well, but I haven't seen any issues.
	permalink · 2008-11-01 14:01:48 ·

rexbinary Mod King Premium join:2005-01-26 Plano, TX	The DNS Updater application is totally optional and not required, so it would have no effect on your issue.
	permalink · 2008-11-01 14:08:57 ·

wxboss This is like Deja vu all over again. Premium join:2005-01-30 Jacksonville, FL clubs:	Have you tried a tracert to your ISP, for example, and see if that reveals something?
	permalink · 2008-11-01 15:42:47 ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	what does the DNS updater program do? I just opened up my Airport Extreme and had it auto detect everything and the DNS Updater box popped up saying it updated and had my IP address.
	permalink · 2008-11-01 19:23:56 ·

rexbinary
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

said by Heelfan71

:

what does the DNS updater program do? I just opened up my Airport Extreme and had it auto detect everything and the DNS Updater box popped up saying it updated and had my IP address.

If you use OpenDNS features, such as content blocking, OpenDNS needs to know your IP address so it knows who's content to block. Most home Internet connections have IP addresses that change all the time, so that's what the OpenDNS updater if for, to let OpenDNS know what IP your using.
--
Verizon FiOS 15/15 subscriber since 11/26/07 | Mac owner since 1990 | FreeBSD user since 2005 | Fedora user since 2006 | "Anyone who is unwilling to learn is entitled to absolutely nothing." - graysonf | EDIT: I seldom post without an edit.

permalink · 2008-11-01 19:50:25 · Print ·

Sebehk I am my Avatar. Premium join:2002-02-09 Chula Vista, CA	I, too, have been using OpenDNS for 2 years, and no problems. --->Robert 8-)
	permalink · 2008-11-01 19:38:22 ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	on my Airport Extreme, I think I changed the connection from "Automatic" to "Always on" not too long ago. Wondering if that is causing some type of issue.
	permalink · 2008-11-01 20:34:37 ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	mine went down last night. Just went through the auto configure stuff in the Airport Extreme and it started working.
	permalink · 2008-11-03 08:32:45 ·

scots Can we have Twinkies? Premium join:1999-12-06 Raleigh, NC	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS Last time I had problems was Friday night, so hopefully it was just a temporary thing for me that's gone now.
	permalink · 2008-11-04 14:08:18 ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	mine went down this evening. Just went to "Airport Utility" and kept hitting "continue" and everything works again. Getting frustrating. I think I might just delete everything and start from scratch.
	permalink · 2008-11-04 17:55:15 ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	something strange is going on. My OpenDns is set to "medium" but it is not filtering anything. And I am not having any issues with a dropped connection.
	permalink · 2008-11-05 08:22:21 ·

scots Can we have Twinkies? Premium join:1999-12-06 Raleigh, NC ·AT&T U-Verse ·ooma ·RoadRunner Cable ·AT&T CallVantage 1 edit	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS UGH. My internet has started dropping again. Power cycle of the Time Capsule or going into AirPort Utility and clicking on the "Renew DHCP Lease" button makes it come back. This is starting to drive me nuts. Is there any kind of diagnostic utility that will check the Time Capsule for any issues or anything like that?
	permalink · 2008-11-10 23:20:26 ·

wxboss
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1 edit

Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

said by scots

:

UGH. My internet has started dropping again. Power cycle of the Time Capsule or going into AirPort Utility and clicking on the "Renew DHCP Lease" button makes it come back. This is starting to drive me nuts. Is there any kind of diagnostic utility that will check the Time Capsule for any issues or anything like that?

Time to take your TC to Apple. Considering your problems in the thread you started and this one, I would bet you a winning Lotto ticket that TC is to blame.
--
"A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills
than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study: Duh."
--Conan O'Brien

permalink · 2008-11-10 23:24:09 · Print ·

scots
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

Hmmmm...just found something which mentioned the WAN port on the TC/AEBS sometimes has issues with some cable modems and the internet dropping. It suggested setting the WAN port on the TC/AEBS to 10Mbps/Full or 10Mbps/Half rather than Automatic. I guess I'll give it a shot and set it to 10/Full, although I don't see how this could be the problem. I've had the TC for about 11 months now, and there's been no change to the cable modem or anything else on my network since I first got the TC. This all just started happening last week (or was it week before last?), so not sure what could have all of a sudden happened to start causing this.

permalink · 2008-11-10 23:37:05 · Print ·

wxboss
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

Give it a shot and see what happens.

My first router was a Dlink. Worked great for almost a year and then just crapped out on me.

Initially, I thought it was the pc, Internet connection or the modem until I finally narrowed it down to the router.

To better isolate the issue, try bypassing TC and plugging your Mac directly into your modem - that will rule out some possible causes.
--
"A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills
than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study: Duh."
--Conan O'Brien

permalink · 2008-11-10 23:49:04 · Print ·

scots
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

I'll try plugging directly into the cable modem if it happens again, although I don't think it's the cable modem. All I have to do to get the internet back is either power-cycle the TC and nothing else, or go into AirPort Utility and click on the "Renew DHCP Lease" button a time or two. Don't have to do anything to the modem. Whenever this happens all the lights on the cable modem are on like they're supposed to be. In the past if the internet has gone out due to some issue with the modem or TWC, not all the lights have been on or lights have been flashing/cycling on the modem.

permalink · 2008-11-10 23:56:08 · Print ·

wxboss
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

The point of plugging directly into the modem is to bypass any possible issues in case the TC is to blame. If your Internet connection works without issues when your Mac is directly connected to your modem, then you're able to isolate the problem further.

It could be that your TC isn't headed South, but you have to rule out certain factors in order to get closer to the actual problem.

Sometimes these issues can be frustrating and time consuming, yet in order to get closer to the real issue, you need to take some rudimentary steps.
--
"A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills
than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study: Duh."
--Conan O'Brien

permalink · 2008-11-11 00:30:18 · Print ·

scots
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Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS

Yeah...I know all that. I work in computers/networking.

TWC came out to my house about 2 years ago and replaced EVERYTHING...the cable modem, all inside wiring, outside wiring, cable from pole to house, and a bunch of stuff on the other side of the pole too. My internet has been rock-solid and problem-free since they did all that.

I've been trying to think of something that might have happened since all this started that could have caused it, but can't think of anything. All my gear is on a UPS, so a power surge or something like that is very unlikely. Nothing major in the logs in the cable modem either, and none of the events in the cable modem logs have occurred at the same dates/times that I've lost internet.

permalink · 2008-11-11 00:54:35 · Print ·

Titus Pullo I came, I saw, I slept join:2004-06-26 ·Embarq	Re: [OS X] Dropping Internet Connection using Open DNS said by scots : Yeah...I know all that. I work in computers/networking. I've been trying to think of something that might have happened since all this started that could have caused it, but can't think of anything. I'd suspect the TM then. Can you get your hands on another router to use for awhile to eliminate the TM? --
	permalink · 2008-11-11 00:59:32 · Print ·

Titus Pullo
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The next time you experience this, try connecting to your cable modem via its web interface; just because your modem lights are flashing normally doesn't mean your WAN connection is up. Then I'd turn on your Mac's firewall and connect directly to the modem, but I'd try these first:

Check the modem logs for lease requests; your WAN connection could be in suck mode for any number of reasons.

For kicks, clone the TC's MAC address in the router's clone config (should have it somewhere). Most, if not all, cable companies are beyond this, but it's worth a shot.

Reset the TC - have you done this?

PS: I run OpenDNS as a primary DNS on the clients and the router as the secondary. IOW, I don't override the modem's DNS - leave it as is. I don't use anything other than the IP addresses, I don't use their services (don't even know what they are!)

Good luck.

permalink · 2008-11-11 00:53:03 · Print ·

scots
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said by scots

:

Hmmmm...just found something which mentioned the WAN port on the TC/AEBS sometimes has issues with some cable modems and the internet dropping. It suggested setting the WAN port on the TC/AEBS to 10Mbps/Full or 10Mbps/Half rather than Automatic. I guess I'll give it a shot and set it to 10/Full, although I don't see how this could be the problem. I've had the TC for about 11 months now, and there's been no change to the cable modem or anything else on my network since I first got the TC. This all just started happening last week (or was it week before last?), so not sure what could have all of a sudden happened to start causing this.

Well...looks like this may have been the issue rather than my last post about the DNS proxy dying. I had originally set the WAN port to 10/Full, then changed it to 100/Full, and had no drops. I changed it back to Auto and my internet dropped again last night. I tried going to a web site via IP address rather than name when the internet dropped and it wouldn't work. Set the WAN port on the TC back to 100/Full and it's been working fine again. Nothing's changed about my setup since I first got the TC a year ago, so not sure why it would all of a sudden start having an issue with auto-negotiating on the WAN port.

permalink · 2008-11-19 11:09:39 · Print ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	I am starting to think something is wrong with my Airport Extreme router. I keep loosing connection. I have swapped between the Bellsouth and Open DNS servers and the same thing keeps happening.
	permalink · 2008-11-10 23:36:55 ·

scots
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Just found this on the Apple support forums where a few people are having a similar issue:

»discussions.apple.com/thread.jsp···#8306744

From what I read it looks like the DNS proxy is dying in Time Capsule, and one person has had the issue happen on 3 different TC's. People in the thread say that when the internet "dies" they're still able to get to places on the internet if they use IP address rather than name. If mine dies on me again I'll try going somewhere via IP and see what happens.

permalink · 2008-11-12 13:48:16 · Print ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	I think something is wrong with my APE. I keep getting drops (no time capsule). Resetting the APE always fixes the problem
	permalink · 2008-11-19 13:30:40 ·

See 6 replies to this post

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	I turned off IPV6 and haven't had any drops since. Only been 24 hours so we will see..
	permalink · 2008-11-20 13:08:14 ·

centc408 join:2008-11-08 Fort Wayne, IN	You don't need to use the DNS Updater. Any service provider I've ever had my ip address has NEVER changed. Once you configured your AEBS with OpenDNS.org's DNS Servers there's no need to mess with it again unless you reset the router.
	permalink · 2008-11-20 13:29:27 ·

Heelfan71 join:2000-11-08 Newnan, GA	I don't know either. But the option isn't there unless I switch to 'ethernet'
	permalink · 2008-11-20 18:01:51 ·

your comment..

Forums » Tech and Talk » OS and Software » All Things Macintosh	[ot]Happy Birthday ctgreybeard » « A cool application!
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