keep getting browser "server not found" error message with more lan internet traffic.

[nelsonm]

Hi all,

For a while now i and some of my customers keep getting more and more of the following error messages with installed browsers as internet network traffic (familys accessing the internet from their lan) increases:

1. Firefox - "server not found" try again
2. Explorer - "cannot display the webpage"
3. Chrome - "this webpage is not available" reload

I'm suspecting that my and my customers modem/routers are not able to handle or balance the internet traffic load.

I tested this idea by initiating the download of multiple files simultaneously from the internet via uTorrent. As long as internet traffic was low, the browsers had almost no problem accessing pages. But the more files i downloaded simultaneously or the more family members got on the internet, the more trouble we had accessing pages.

I'm using AT&T's 2701HG-B modem/router. My service plan gives me 6Mbps max download and .8Mbps upload max. Other than upgrading to a higher speed package from the service provider, Is there any tweaking that can be done to the modem/router to better balance the load for myself and my customers?

thanks.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I'm using AT&T's 2701HG-B modem/router.

There's your problem right there......
Can't recall how many of those I've seen this problem with.
I can't stand 2Wire BRouters at all, as a brand, and I've seen tons of this issue with that model. I always put a better router behind it (different LAN IP range), and then log into the 2Wires funky web admin and stick the router in the "DMZ Plus" mode of the 2Wire. Therefore avoiding a double NAT setup.

Google that router and your exact problem...you'll find pages and pages and pages of results of people complaining about it.

 

[nelsonm]

Thanks for responding...

AT&T now offer only two gateways:
1. Netgear DSL Gateway Model 7550
2. PACE DSL Gateway Model 4111N

While costing the same amount, 100 bucks, The Pace gateway appears to be the most advanced.

What do you think?

 

[nelsonm]

I also found out that unchecking PACKET FLOOD DETECTION and possibly EXCESSIVE SESSION DETECTION in the gateway's firewall advanced settings will help with the gateway dropping connections.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

You can keep that 2Wire "gateway"....I call them "BRouters"...nickname for bridge (modem)/Router.

What you do is configure you own (better) router...different LAN IP address for your own router, like 192.168.0.xxx or 192.168.2.xxx or 192.168.10.xxx...anything BUT 192.168.1.xxx (which the 2Wire is).

Uplink WAN port of your own router to LAN port of the 2Wire
Put computers all behind your own router...LAN ports, and wireless. Configure your own router like normal, wireless security, etc. Give it's WAN interface a host name (which you'll use later). Notice that your own router picks up a 192.168.1.xxx address on its WAN interface...but not for long.

Now...from one of your computers (even while behind your own router)..log into the 2Wire, 192.168.1.254 (should be, but check yellow sticker on bottom), log into the web admin, go disable its wireless, and go to firewall section...find your own router (made easier by looking for its Host name which you set above)...and enable "DMZ Plus Mode" on your own router. Sometimes this takes 2 or 3 times. Power cycle both. Now...your own router SHOULD pickup a public IP on its WAN interface, since you did the DMZ Plus Mode on it. Now you're using the 2Wire pretty much just as a bridge (modem)..which it does fine with..and you're using the routing horsepower of your own router (hopefully you got a decent one so it's an improvement).

Those 2Wires have low amounts of RAM, wimpy CPU, slow performance, supports only low amount of concurrent sessions, slow throughput, weak wireless. You really can't do much to improve them...a pig is a pig.

 

[nelsonm]

Those 2Wires have low amounts of RAM, wimpy CPU, slow performance, supports only low amount of concurrent sessions, slow throughput, weak wireless. You really can't do much to improve them...a pig is a pig.

ok... I'd rather go with a better gateway. Is the PACE DSL Gateway Model 4111N gateway a better gateway or show i look elsewhere?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

That's exactly what I mean.....use your own router and put it behind the 2Wire. If you follow the instructions I gave above, you've converted the 2Wire to run only as a bridge...(sorta a modem)..it is doing zero routing, it is no longer your gateway...it is no longer your bottleneck. They are fine as a bridge. A bridge doesn't really need horsepower, it's not doing any routing.

I prefer to use my own router with ANY ISP supplied gateway...I don't like any of the gateways they provide, all very limited.

 

[nelsonm]

ok... i get it.

I'll look into the current crop of better routers out there although I've always liked ZyXEL routers.

thanks.