Thread: Peculiar Problem with PPPOE / Bridge

Hi Everyone.

I am a long time BSNL Broadband user and have faced very few issues with their services so far. However, recently, a nagging problem cropped up.

A few sites that I used to visit regularly (techcityinc.com, ncr.com, maketecheasier.com, rttnews.com, lifehacker.com, and some external links from tuxmachines.org) suddenly stopped opening (these are the ones I remember, there are others that just don't open but have not noted down). I tried calling up the call center but to no avail; they kept replying that they will notify the exchange, but no action was taken.

I then visited the JTO at the exchange who then directed me to the local NIB center. When I spoke to them, they asked me to change the DNS, which I did, and which did not work. I had also tried using open DNS, which also did not work. They then asked me to bring the modem in for testing. They tested it at the NIB center, and found it working properly, but were also not able to open the above sites.

The person then tried changing the mode from PPPOE to Bridge mode and problem vanished. These sites were opening in Bridge mode, and they asked me leave the modem in Bridge mode.

I am a little perplexed why these sites do not open in PPPOE but do in Bridge mode. I have two PCs at home connected and hence do not want to use Bridge mode as it makes sharing internet a little complicated. Also I multiboot into Linux, am not a geek, and find configuring the dialer a little complicated. I have read through a lot of threads in these forums, and other websites, and in most similar cases, it's a matter of configuring MTU or changing the DNS. In my case, none of these seem to be working.

I know for certain that this is not a system issue because the problem is on both my machines, and crops up irrespective of the OS I use (XP or Linux). I also have a backup Airtel connection at home, and am not facing any problem whatsoever opening these sites. Also I used Miranda as my chat client. MSN does not work (Gtalk, AIM, and Yahoo connect) in PPPOE mode, but works in Bridge mode.

It's a long description, but I have tried to be as clear as I can be. Has anyone faced a similar problem and found a way out? Thanks for your patience in reading through this.

Regards

Bala

Broadband plan: BSNL Combo 1100 Unlimited
OS: XP2, Ubuntu 10.04, PCLOS 2010.2
Modem / router: UTSTARCOM WA3002-g1

When you use OPENDNS
what is the error message you get ?
Error 404 etc ?
Check your Firewall settings.
Also recheck modem settings from "BSNL links" for wa 3002-g1 .
Enter opendns Googledns 8.8.8.8 in modem also.
I can try , to give suggestions, ONLY for Windows OS.

Hi

Thanks for your reply. I do not get any error messages when I use OpenDNS (in PPPoE mode), the sites just don't open, the broswer shows "loading" forever.

In Bridge mode, I can open all sites, without making any changes to my firewall. So I doubt that firewall could be the issue when working in PPPOE mode.

I have been through most of the modem setting discussions in these forums, tried tweaking MTU, MSS, and other settings in my modem as adviced in the forums, but these particular sites just fail to load in PPPOE mode.

Regards

Bala

Switch back to PPPoE and use Opera Turbo for these sites., Opera Turbo will solve the problem. Try it.

Hi

As per essbebe advice I tried using Google DNS in PPPOE, but the results were the same. These sites just fail to load.

I also tried using Opera Turbo as per meetdilip's advice. techcityinc has been loading for about close to five minutes now, but still shows a few elements remaining. ncr.com is not loading at all. It's confusing that while I had no issues whatsoever opening these sites in PPPOE mode till about a couple of weeks back, all of a sudden this problem crops out of nowhere, and BSNL is unable to help me out (as far as PPPOE mode is concerned).

I guess I will have to revert permanently to working in bridge mode now.

Regards

Bala

Regards

Bala

Can you access these sites using proxy ? Try and feedback.

Check for virus in your system!!I faced this problem!!even gmail and orkut was not opening!!!

I reinstalled the Windows and everything was back to normal!!You may try!!

Hi

meetdilip: Your suggestion worked. I tried a proxy and these sites are opening normally in PPPOE mode. I am now googling to find if a proxy can be set up for xp as a whole, or even better if it can be set in the modem itself. Thanks.

imrock: I am sure there are no viruses in my system. I did a clean install recently after running into this problem, and still am facing the same issue.

Thanks

Originally Posted by baluvix

Hi

meetdilip: Your suggestion worked. I tried a proxy and these sites are opening normally in PPPOE mode. I am now googling to find if a proxy can be set up for xp as a whole, or even better if it can be set in the modem itself. Thanks.

Glad it worked. You may try Ultrasurf or Hotspot shield.

@baluvix
Mention your OS whether updated to SP3.
Support for SP2 ceases this July 10th 2010.
Linux no idea.
Using Proxy servers is temp measure.
Did you try in SAFE mode with Network connection ?
Both OS not working for certain sites, and messengers etc is sign of corrupted OS./settings.
If you have the Installation CD for XP
run sfc /scannow
and check integrity of files.
You have done a "CLEAN" install. Ignore.

Hi essbebe

I am still on SP2, am planning to switch to Win 7. I havent' tried safe mode yet. Will try and let you know.

Thanks

Problem XP SP2 also LInux
]Messenger etc certain web sites do not open
tried MTU dns etc. Ok in "Bridged" mode but not in PPP/PPPoE mode.
As this is an unusual problem, just remembered
we struggled one week to get MSN messenger
. The problem was in the time Zone SELECTED.
IN THE ROUTER.
MAY not work in this case. confirm.

essbebe: I checked my router/modem time zone. Did not find anything wrong there.

Thanks

Thanks for feedback.
1.
.tried Safe mode with networking?
2.
Checking up WA3002-G1 settings again.
Check MSS values . is it default 0 ?
IF 0 or below 1452
download TCP optimiser from speedguide.net
Set for default recommended values.
http://www.indiabroadband.net/attach...op-update1.jpg
`3. Reset. to Factory default the router and reenter again for PPP/PPPoE connection.

source : Google search.
Are you using old edition of MSN or new Window live /

Hi Essbebe

Thanks for your reply. I did run and apply TCP Optimiser settings before I posted my issue here. It did not work for me.

However, as you suggested I did run XP in safe mode with networking, but the results were the same. I could not open those pages. I also reset my modem to factory default settings and set up from scratch. Again, same results.

I do not use MSN/Windows Live directly. I use Miranda IM to log into my different accounts. Again, the peculiar issue is Miranda logs into MSN when the modem is in bridge mode but does not in PPPOE mode. Strange!!!

The reason I strongly believe that the issue has something to do at BSNL end is that the same issue crops up irrespective of the OS I use. On 4th May, my telephone connection went dead and was later rectified. I have a hunch that all these issues could somehow be linked to this incident as these issues started cropping up after this incident.

I've applied for switching my Airtel connection to unlimited and will be using BSNL as back-up June onwards. This should finally put this nagging issue to rest.

Now the only thing left for me to do is update to XP3 and see if the problem persists. Will keep you all updated.

Thanks

Thanks for feedback.
out of thread:
free download 12 hours left.
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@baluvix
The problem you describe in your thread I am thinking that could be from your Antivirus with Internet security. I dont know which antivirus with internet security you are using.

Why is in PPPOE mode some pages dose not open when in Bridge mode it's working fine

When you are useing PPPOE mode then you are in behind the NAT, you are not visible from the Public Network because you are in Private Network. NAT work as a firewall and as well as translate the packets from the Private IP to Public IP and Public IP to Private IP. You can say NAT are bridging between Public IP and Private IP.
Sometimes Antivirus with Internet Security blocking this translation in the Private IP section. You need some configuration to set in your Firawall settings on your Internet Security application.

You can try with Uninstall your Antivirus with Internet security and then set your Modem to PPPOE mode. If your web sites are opening without the Internet security in your computer, then you have to setup the configuration of firewall in your Internet security application after the installation.

Problem also can be from your Modem, If the settings are not correct then the same problem can be seen. Check the following settings.

Log in to your Modem GUI web pages

then go to Interface Setup - LAN
check the Dynamic Route It should be Rip 2-b
Direction NON
Multicast Disable
then check the DNS, DNS Relay it should be set into Use auto discover DNS Server only

Remember in your Internet section not in yout LAN section the Direction should be Both

All I describe above the possible reason, I dont know what is your settings and what is your connection you have made for your Internet. So not possible to resolve from a forum. But I can say that this problem not from your BSNL side, if from your BSNL side then you are not able to browse your Internet from Bridge mode. BSNL not providing NAT service, you are in Public Network when you are using bridge mode. Problem from your side. Call an expert if you are not able to resolve it.

In bridge mode you can share your Internet Upto 10 computers.

Hi Indranil

Thanks for your detailed reply.

I checked my modem settings and they match what you have provided in your reply. I tried disabling my XP firewall, my antivirus and the firewall in the router, but still the problem remains. Moreover, my Linux installation which does not have firewall or antivirus installed faces the same issue. What's really frustrating is my connection was working fine till a few days back. I started looking at the settings and tweaking the settings in the modem and my PC only after I started facing this issue, so there is no way that I could have done anything that brought this problem up in the first place.

Thanks and regards

PROBLEM

XP SP2 LINUX WA 3002-G1
Why is in PPPOE mode some pages dose not open when in Bridge mode it's working fine

1.
Did you try Ashampoo free download ?
2.
You had resinstalled the XP SP2 ( SP3 due).
How many partitions in your computer.
C assumed to be clean.
3.
Please post ipconfig /all without edit Windows OS only.
4.
Try with a different modem.

REP 15 points from me, for member giving correct solution)

5. Try Browser K-Meleon.

@baluvix
Try to reset your MODEM from RESET button, not from the GUI web pages.
After reseting the modem set PPPOE with your user ID and password. Check your Internet is working or not even check on your Linux OS.

And also set your LAN IP address to " Obtain an IP address automatically "
and DNS address also to " Obtain DNS server address automatically "

If this also not working then change your modem,
This is the only solution left on your hand.

You receive an error message in Internet Explorer: "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"
most of the steps already discussed.
LINUX with another browser may be tried.
The "sticky" point : all web sites open in " dialer mode "Bridged"!

Seems definitely it is a problem with BSNL. As the problem is there in linux as well there cannot be a reason to doubt the sites which are not opening.

I always use bridge mode as my plan is Home 500C. My primary OS is linux and I connect to internet in linux only. I have windows 7 ultimate which is for my children to play games. Only ploblem I faced so far is some sites will not support other than IE (most of them Indian sites)

But still I am not able to understand why the problem is in bridge mode?

The problem is in "Always On" PPP PPPoE
mode. All web sites open Ok with both windows and Linux OS when in "Bridged" Dialer' mode.
Please see thread from start.

The idea of completely RESETing the modem to factory default : May be NAT Firewall entries stored in Modem, blocking some web sites.
(IN ppp/pppOe MODE)

@indranil has also earlier suggested enabling UPnP for XP and above, if option available in Modem/router. ( for port forwarding etc )

A few sites that I used to visit regularly (techcityinc.com, ncr.com, maketecheasier.com, rttnews.com, lifehacker.com, and some external links from tuxmachines.org) suddenly stopped opening

Baluvix,
In the router page, set the MTU value to 1406 and MSS to o.

I had the same problem and this fixed it. Don't worry if you don't have MSS option in your router; just change the MTU value and things should go well.

Now it has almost been two years that i have been facing the same problem and i use to connect the same in bridge mode at the time of need, becoz i have searched a lot on this problem but found no permanent solution. I am using UT-STAR WA3002-g1 FW: 2.7.0.31(RUE0.C1)3.5.10.0 and the problem is with this modem only. Permanent solution would be upgrading the firmware of modem (which i am still looking for but have not found yet).
If anyone can helpme in getting the firmware upgrade for this buggy BSNL modem, i will be thankfull..
However below mentioned method of changing the MTU has helped me in past and may be helpfull to you too. Best of luck.....


If you're using Windows' built-in support for Internet Connection Sharing

, and your Internet connection is facilitated by PPPoE software (such as Enternet 300) or Windows XP's built-in PPPoE, you may experience this problem. Although any web site will be accessible on the "Host" computer, certain web sites will never load successfully from any of the "client" machines. (If you don't know what "Hosts" or "Clients" are with regard to ICS, read Internet Connection Sharing

.) The problem is caused by an incompatible MTU networking setting: Windows' default is 1500, but PPPoE uses 1492 or 1454. Here's how to fix it:

1. Find the IP address of your gateway. If you're using Windows 2000 or XP, run IPCONFIG at a command prompt on the Host computer. If you're using Windows 98 or Me, run WINIPCFG on the Host computer. Either way, you'll get an address that looks like xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (where the x's represent numbers).
2. Then, go to one of your Client machines, and type the following: PING -f -l 1500 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the gateway address you obtained in the first step). You'll probably get an error message indicating that it must be fragmented. If you do, type the following: PING -f -l 1492 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx If that doesn't work, try this: PING -f -l 1454 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
3. The numbers in each of these examples (1500, 1492, 1454) are the MTU values. Continue issuing this command with lower and lower MTU numbers until you get ping responses instead of an error message. The highest MTU value that works is the one you need to be using. If an MTU of 1500 (the first command, above) does not produce an error, then this solution won't work for you.

The next step is to configure all your Client computers to use the new, lower MTU as the default for all Internet communication. Windows 2000 and XP:

1. Run the Registry Editor

(REGEDIT.EXE) on one of your "Client" machines.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ Tcpip\ Parameters\ Interfaces.
3. There should be several subkeys under the Interfaces key; most likely, you'll find three. View the contents of each key by clicking, and find the one that corresponds to your primary network adapter; it will be the one with more values than the other two, and will have an IP address value set to something like 192.168.0.x.
4. Once you've found the correct subkey, create a new DWORD value in it (Edit -> New -> DWORD Value), and name the value MTU.
5. Double-click the new value, choose the Decimal option, and type the MTU value determined above.
6. Click Ok when you're done - you'll need to restart Windows for this change take effect.
7. Repeat this for each Client machine.

Windows 98/Me:

1. Run the Registry Editor

(REGEDIT.EXE) on one of your "Client" machines.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ System\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ Class\ Net\.
3. Under that branch, find a key (numbered, such as 0005) that contains has TCP/IP assigned to the DriverDesc value.
4. Select New from the Edit menu, then String Value, and type MaxMTU for the name of the new value.
5. Double-click the new value, choose the Decimal option, and type the MTU value determined above.
6. Click Ok when you're done - you'll need to restart Windows for this change take effect.
7. Repeat this for each Client machine.

For vista, use the following for updating the MTU.List all interfaces and the MTU Listing.
netsh interface ipv4 show subinterfaces

For setting MTU=1454, open the command prompt as administrator by right clicking on accessiories -> Command Prompt (Select Run as administrator).

netsh interface ipv4 subinterface "Wireless Network Connection" mtu=1454 store=persistent

netsh interface ipv4 subinterface "Local Area Connection" mtu=1454 store=persistent