Bicephale
join:2005-09-24
 ·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Velcom
| Disconnection TroubleShooting using an ST5x6
Hi everybody,
Every once in a while i see posts where the author
appears to be confused about who does what; those
users sound like nobody explained to them that the
3rd-party ISPs depend on our telephone company for
the DSL signal to reach home at all: they're just
unable to decide who must fix disconnection issues
when it occurs - especially the intermittent ones.
No customer appliances i know of will point at the
party who should take responsability by displaying
clear messages like "The ISP is faulty, call him"!
Devices like Thomson's SpeedTouch do provide clues
but one clever tool isn't advertised and i'm about
to publish a TelNet CLI script so the ST5x6 owners
can use it pronto if required: my Twin PPP Setup.
The concept is simple, we can all type "test@test"
for the UserName and "test" as the PassWord during
a secondary PPP configuration, it provides no real
access to InterNet but we get a 2nd ISP to compare
with. Of course, a working LogIn account can also
be used and even all three together, apparently...
Lets see how this works. Simultaneous failures by
multiple ISPs would be quite unlikely, this way we
can now tell when to call the telephone company or
not: if only one ISP is down it means the line is
OKay and it's reasonable to call this ISP instead.
I've tested my script under FirmWare v6.2.17.5-AA:
Take note that the FireWall is disabled by default
but i'm operating the ST5x6 in autonomous "Routed"
mode, without a separate router. Once booting got
time to complete, the PPP sessions are in progress
or already "Connected" on your home page (main GUI
page). It might be necessary to try to disconnect
and reconnect auxiliary ISP(s) through it or using
the "Broadband Connection" page when browsing does
not work normally. The speed tests should degrade
significantly since it appears the "Differentiated
Service Delivery" (or "Web Browsing Interception")
feature must be turned on in this configuration...
"Intrusion Detection System" is enabled by default
so you may wish to adjust this option as required.
Should SNMP support be necessary, it's a bit safer
to change your CommunityName (PassWord) just to be
sure. The command to achieve this is shown below:
Once this is done, you also need to activate SNMP:
There are some pieces of bloated SoftWare floating
around, for beginers who prefer things to be light
and simple i'd suggest ''JMibBrowser v1'' among many
but you must have JAVA installed or it would fail.
Sometimes there are sites like GRC.Com where we're
expected to be "pingable", use this when required:
Finally, keep additional changes by issueing this:
The new 'user.ini' configuration file can be saved
using the [Backup Configuration Now...] button via
the "Backup & Restore" GUI page or via FTP access:
ftp://speedtouch.lan/dl/
Use your "Event Logging" page for troubleshooting.
An early related post of mine:
»Thomson Speedtouch 516 (Double LogIn via CLI) |
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Bicephale
join:2005-09-24
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Velcom
| Hi everyone,
'STMTv0.7.2' is out and SpeedTouch owners will be
happy to learn that 24 h "noise" records are going
to be possible as this 3rd-party utility develops.
We'll get instantaneous captures of spectrographic
response and guys like me who got a roller-coaster
line will be able to evaluate flats against peeks.
Isn't it time to show appreciation to this author?
I think BoxFan has earned some feedback from us...
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Bicephale
join:2005-09-24
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Velcom
| Hi Rocky,
I seek help, i've been working on this setup for a
while and it seems this is all i can come up with:
TwinPPP - Home NetWork - Main Page
TwinPPP - Home NetWork - Devices Page
TwinPPP - Home NetWork - Interfaces Page
In it's present shape it allows me to use my ST as
a MoDem/Router to connect to a pair of ISPs over a
single phone line. The intent is to keep separate
two PCs by associating them to their corresponding
ISPs thru a set of physically independant EtherNet
LANs (using two RJ-45 outlets out of four)... The
present configuration feeds both PCs with the last
PPP session to have been established instead, with
half the bandwidth being lost to the unused ISP!!!
It started as a way to troubleshoot some problems:
Feed-Back from a grateful customer!, Bicephale, 2007-Jul-30
Then i realized i could push this concept forward.
Most unfortunately, even when i try hard there are
abilitities i'd need to acquire for this challenge
to be manageable and i'm thinking it's time to ask
for help so here's 'user.ini', if you're up to it!
Of course, this file must be edited so i'd suggest
a search for "password" and other specific details
as that of the 'hostmgr.ini' section, for example.
I've tried to interpret the result in drawing. It
isn't symetric like i expected - which may explain
why the machines both connect to the same last ISP
session that has been established instead of using
their own. It's the best i could do, please help!
loop -- loop
atm_Internet -- ethoa_Internet
ethoa_Internet -- RELAY
bridge -- RELAY, LocalNetwork1
OBC -- bridge
LocalNetwork1 -- bridge
ethport1 -- bridge
ethif1 -- ethport1
RELAY -- Internet1_ppp, Internet2_ppp
ethport2 -- RELAY, LocalNetwork2
LocalNetwork2 -- ethport2
ethif2 -- ethport2
Internet1_ppp -- Internet1
Internet1 -- Internet1_ppp
Internet2_ppp -- Internet2
Internet2 -- Internet2_ppp
ethif3 --
ethif4 --
ceoc --
atm_Internet
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ethoa_Internet
|
Internet1 == Internet1_ppp -----. | .----- Internet2_ppp == Internet2
| | |
loop -- loop RELAY -- ethport2 == LocalNetwork2
| |
LocalNetwork1 == bridge ethif2
|
ethif1 -- ethport1 -+- OBC
ethif3 -- -- ethif4
This is what i was able to infer from the reply to
the "interface list expand=enabled" CLI command...
Quite clearly, there's some assymetry here which i
don't trust... I didn't succeed trying to build a
configuration from the ground up by just using the
TelNet CLI commands. Isn't this goal challenging!
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R0CKY
TSI Rocky
Premium,VIP
join:2005-05-19
Chatham, ON | FYI... we're still discussing where to go with your request. We haven't forgotten about you.
Rocky
--
TSI Rocky - TekSavvy Solutions Inc. |
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Bicephale
join:2005-09-24
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Velcom
| Hi Rocky,
Thank you, i know that's not an easy one. If your
people could proceed with the TelNet CLI method, i
believe the underlying structure/syntax validation
process (by the Wizard, i presume) may guide them.
I checked .TPL samples from previous CDs in hope i
would find clues there, i read 'user.ini' captures
on the net hoping for inspiration but those always
take me back to a very different context where two
sets of VPI/VCI interfaces are available while i'm
using 0/35 only. Even ST620 documentation reading
doesn't provide much useful information, really!!!
If someone edits my attached .ini file to use real
parameters this guy will find that DSD must be on;
i can't say how it's related but the net result is
to split the total bandwidth in fixed equal halves
instead of sharing every available bandwidth until
the two LANs compete to obtain their fair share...
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dub16v
join:2006-02-24
z9z9z9 | reply to Bicephale
If you guys can pull this off with the ST546, it would be pure JOY  |
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Bicephale
join:2005-09-24
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Velcom
| Hi Dub16v,
Thanks for your concern! I didn't quit hoping for
developments in this area since January, i'll keep
my fingers crossed for a little while further! Do
you still get a connection as that of February 27?
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dub16v
join:2006-02-24
z9z9z9
| Pretty much 
»img484.imageshack.us/img484/7803···1lc1.png
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Bicephale
join:2005-09-24
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Velcom
| Hi Dub16v,
I'll say i hope you fully enjoy such good luck!...
Would you do me a service and describe in your own
terms what you like most in this project, exactly?
There's still time to submit ideas to TSI Steve...
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TSI Steve
TSI Steve
Premium,VIP
join:2007-01-12
Chatham, ON
| reply to Bicephale
said by Bicephale  :Hi Rocky, I seek help, i've been working on this setup for a while and it seems this is all i can come up with: This is what i was able to infer from the reply to the "interface list expand=enabled" CLI command... Quite clearly, there's some assymetry here which i don't trust... I didn't succeed trying to build a configuration from the ground up by just using the TelNet CLI commands. Isn't this goal challenging! Thank you for sending me the details through PM that we requested. Due to the fact that no one (at least none of our clients) has attempted to use the SpeedTouch in the manner, we are not exactly sure if this configuration is supported. We have emailed the information to our contact at Thomson to see if it is possible. It may take a business day or two to get a reply. The good news is, if it is possible to do this they will probably assist us with doing it correctly
Steve
--
TSI Steve - TekSavvy Solutions Inc. |
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Bicephale
join:2005-09-24
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Velcom
| Hi TSI Steve,
I'm afraid the very few "power-users" who would be
knowledgeable enough to provide some input in this
matter also happen to favour a configuration where
control is assumed by a separate router. If there
were any of those people around i bet they'd still
be debating over the best brand and model, anyway.
Well, i can't disprove your statement. Maybe it's
not suitable to draw any conclusion from snapshots
which result from an obscure FirmWare feature even
though i'd expect STs to compete with an old GNet:
There's no compromise on speed with my BB0060B and
it doesn't suffer from amnesia relatively to logs,
something i can't say of my ST546 at the moment...
Here are posts where i mentioned a Twin PPP setup:
Thomson Speedtouch 516 (Double LogIn via CLI), Bicephale, 2007-Jan-21
Westell MoDem model E99-610010-00, Bicephale, 2007-Jan-24
This was before i bought my SpeedTouch and there's
been a few more after that. As you pointed out, i
seem to be pretty much alone in this department...
 |
|
TSI Steve
TSI Steve
Premium,VIP
join:2007-01-12
Chatham, ON
| Well ... it has actually been 11 days now and unfortunately I have not received a response from the higher level technicians at SpeedTouch yet.
It is definitely possible to have a dual PPP config.
The problem is the device automatically switching all traffic from one to the other or balancing between the two.
I believe it can switch from one to the other .. but I do not believe it can balance the two.
I.E.: All traffic goes through ppp0 .. if ppp0 goes down, all traffic goes through ppp1.
I've never tested the config. I would imagine all traffic would continue to go through ppp1 until it went down.
Have you ever seen the Linksys RV042? It is a decent load balancing device!
Steve
--
TSI Steve - TekSavvy Solutions Inc. |
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Bicephale
join:2005-09-24
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Velcom
| Hi TSI Steve,
If the Linksys RV042 is a double WAN device like i
think it is then it would require a pair of MoDems
and two phone lines to match, this is the contrary
of what my setup file does... I'm quite confident
i can plug two routers into the SpeedTouch and get
what i've obtained through configuration (probably
even better, actually) but this is not acceptable:
the original goal was to trouble-shoot, after all!
The apparent support of multiple PPP sessions must
be a sign which indicates that i should be able to
use them both but i would agree it's not clear how
(e.g. at once vs alternately). Perhaps i've put a
finger on a non-documented backup feature and it's
only possible to switch ISPs but then i wonder why
the total bandwidth has to be cut to by half: try
my setup and you'll notice that both PCs are using
the same ISP, even while they're on separate LANs,
with the second PPP connection just going nowhere.
Shouldn't i conclude that the bandwidth splitting,
although defective, is a sign of "load balancing"?
If so, why then is it related to the DSD function?
I wouldn't expect such questions to be answered by
some guys in Brussels (the FirmWare designers), it
happens they require two sets of VPI/VCI pairs for
this type of configuration and those people aren't
mobile like we are, apparently: i read their line
was tied to the MAC address... In my opinion, the
persons who can debug my .ini file got to be here.
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Bicephale
join:2005-09-24
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Velcom
| reply to TSI Steve
Hi,
Just thoughts: if my Twin PPP configuration could
be adapted to switch ISPs automatically in case of
a disconnection then a customer who needs to reach
his home PC(s) remotely would have a better chance
to do so. I wonder if there are routers with some
modified FirmWare which can do it when combined to
a "dumb" MoDem but it's only of marginal interest.
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