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  • Netnotworking

    Hey there, sorry to saddle all of you with my petty problems. =P

    Got a problem with my DSL home network, and it's driving me bonkers.

    I have two desktops and two laptops on the network. The router is a LinkSys, the desktop ethernet cards are RealTek, and the laptops are SMC. For some reason, when I'm in EQ the desktops (and ONLY the desktops) experience frequent, and often coincidal, drops from the server. It's almost always out to character select, and almost always with no problem getting back in for another ten to fifteen minutes.

    This happens whether or not I have both computers using EQ (i.e., I could be using *just* the second in Bazaar mode, or just the first hunting, or any combination thereof). The laptops, meanwhile, experience unbroken service throughout.

    Desktops and laptops are using ZoneAlarm, but it only once caused me any problem before I set up the network, and I took care of that.

    The best term I can use to describe these brief interrupts is a "hiccup". Anyone have ANY idea what could be causing it and how to fix it?
    Former player of:

    Ginea Leafspinner (Tailoring: 179); Xixsu Xikisci, the Culinary Reptile (Baking: 250 plus trophy!); Twenea Fairwinde (Brewing: 247)

    Now player of:

    Valanae S'Narystyn, Aspiring tradeskiller and apprentice Everquester

  • #2
    Operating System?

    Update Realtek drivers?


    -Lilosh
    Venerable Noishpa Taltos , Planar Druid, Educated Halfling, and GM Baker.
    President and Founder of the Loudmouthed Sarcastic Halflings Society
    Also, Smalltim

    So take the fact of having a dirty mind as proof that you are world-savvy; it's not a flaw, it's an asset, if nothing else, it's a defense - Sanna

    Comment


    • #3
      Sorry, I guess that was left out. =)

      The main system is a WinXP system, the other desktop and two laptops are Win98 systems.

      The RealTek drivers are fully up to date, that was one of the first things I checked.
      Former player of:

      Ginea Leafspinner (Tailoring: 179); Xixsu Xikisci, the Culinary Reptile (Baking: 250 plus trophy!); Twenea Fairwinde (Brewing: 247)

      Now player of:

      Valanae S'Narystyn, Aspiring tradeskiller and apprentice Everquester

      Comment


      • #4
        What do the desktop computers have in common, that the Laptops do not?

        The only thing you have mentioned is that they are using the same brand of NIC. I suggest you examine both systems, and see what programs you might have running on both desktops.

        Then call your router manufacturer, and tell them what's happening. If the ports on your router are numbered, make sure you know which ports are affected.


        Try switching the network cables around, at the hub. If the desktops are in port 1 and 3, try 1 and 4, or 2 and 4. This will see if the problem is with the ports on the hub.


        Lastly, try sending me a check for $50, and I will pray for you.

        -Lilosh
        Venerable Noishpa Taltos , Planar Druid, Educated Halfling, and GM Baker.
        President and Founder of the Loudmouthed Sarcastic Halflings Society
        Also, Smalltim

        So take the fact of having a dirty mind as proof that you are world-savvy; it's not a flaw, it's an asset, if nothing else, it's a defense - Sanna

        Comment


        • #5
          Well, to be honest, other than better specs (1 gig processor vs a 120 mhz on the laptop), the desktops are running EQ, and that's the similarity.

          I mean, they're using different hard drives (WD and Maxtor), they're using different motherboards (Soyo and Biostar), they're using different processors (relatively speaking, Celeron and Pentium... but the laptops have Pentiums, too), they're using different video cards (GeForce and Diamond), and different sound (soundblaster 128 in the main system, none in the mule).

          To be honest, the odd thing about this is that it *only* happens while playing EQ. I don't notice random interrupts at any other time.

          I know I haven't given a lot to go on... and to be honest, I demand about as much service as I'm paying for. =) I was just seeing if anyone who hasn't been starung at this for a while had any fresh ideas. I'll try switching the hub ports around... but it all seems to point back to EQ somehow.
          Former player of:

          Ginea Leafspinner (Tailoring: 179); Xixsu Xikisci, the Culinary Reptile (Baking: 250 plus trophy!); Twenea Fairwinde (Brewing: 247)

          Now player of:

          Valanae S'Narystyn, Aspiring tradeskiller and apprentice Everquester

          Comment


          • #6
            What about software like a virus detector? Screen saver settings? Have you checked for spyware?

            Alternately, have you run a diagnostic to see that kind of packet times you are getting on the connection? Some NICs are known to be "impatient" and EQ sure is.


            BTW, I LOVED the title.
            Morani
            Wanderer of Tunare,
            Protector of The Mother's children.

            Comment


            • #7
              Enable port fowarding on the Linksys router. Incoming and outgoing ports range 1024 to 7000.

              That will probably fix it.
              Arbelac Phoenixrider
              Lord Protector
              Saryrn

              222+5% Blacksmithing
              180 Brewing
              135 Fishing
              And other assorted skills

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              • #8
                NetWORKING! ...so far

                Okay, we haven't tested two systems long term, but...

                We have the network working to the point where I had two systems running concurrently for an hour. Also, I had my bazaar mule in while I slept, and it was still in when I woke up =)

                (Note to self: Make more MTPs today)

                Thanks for all the advice. It, um, didn't help directly, as stupid silly me had a hub instead of a router. <Smacks self> But, I *did* have a second ethernet card, which enabled m to use software routing, so everything's hunky-dory now.

                But your advice *did* help, because it pushed me to go look up doing what you guys said to do. If I hadn't seen that, I would never have known that I could even do software routing. =)

                Thanks again.
                Former player of:

                Ginea Leafspinner (Tailoring: 179); Xixsu Xikisci, the Culinary Reptile (Baking: 250 plus trophy!); Twenea Fairwinde (Brewing: 247)

                Now player of:

                Valanae S'Narystyn, Aspiring tradeskiller and apprentice Everquester

                Comment


                • #9
                  I had a similar problem a few months ago, I would select my server, then it would go through the load, and just as the character select screen was supposed to come up, it would crash to desktop...

                  I wrote EQ tech support and they suggested for me to update my video drivers (Creative Labs Anhillator 2).

                  Believe it or not, that worked, the problem stopped immediatly.

                  Interesting how something that may seem irrelevant (since I updated those drivers though CL's sirte before) could be a fix.

                  They've also had issues in the past with Sound Blaster Live! sound cards..
                  Draggar De'Vir
                  92 Assassin - Povar




                  Xzorsh
                  57 Druid of Tunare - Povar
                  47 Druid of Tunare - Lockjaw

                  Hark! Who is that, prowling along the fields! It is Draggar De'VIr, hands clutching two hardened pitas! He cries gutterally: "In the name of Thor the Mighty, I hereby void your warranty, and send you back to God!!!"

                  "No one can predict the future, so we all should eat our desserts first!" - Gaye from 'The Maelstorm's Eye" (Cloakmaster's Cycle book 3)

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Heh,

                    Just about the very first thing I do when things screw up repeatedly is check my drivers.
                    Former player of:

                    Ginea Leafspinner (Tailoring: 179); Xixsu Xikisci, the Culinary Reptile (Baking: 250 plus trophy!); Twenea Fairwinde (Brewing: 247)

                    Now player of:

                    Valanae S'Narystyn, Aspiring tradeskiller and apprentice Everquester

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      So did I, but they sent me some obsure (supposed) video driver, possibly an add on, that fixed it.

                      I'm not even 100% sure it was a video driver, but they said it was, and I should try installing it to see if that helps, and it did.
                      Draggar De'Vir
                      92 Assassin - Povar




                      Xzorsh
                      57 Druid of Tunare - Povar
                      47 Druid of Tunare - Lockjaw

                      Hark! Who is that, prowling along the fields! It is Draggar De'VIr, hands clutching two hardened pitas! He cries gutterally: "In the name of Thor the Mighty, I hereby void your warranty, and send you back to God!!!"

                      "No one can predict the future, so we all should eat our desserts first!" - Gaye from 'The Maelstorm's Eye" (Cloakmaster's Cycle book 3)

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I had the same problem of going LD every 10 to 15 minutes and it turned out to be related to the Linksys router. We had to go the the Linksys home page and download the most current Firmware. It fixed our problem. I hope it helps you.

                        Winterwind MorningLight
                        62nd Druid of Tunare
                        Officer of Second Age

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                        • #13
                          &lt;Whimper>

                          Okay, Netnotworking once again.

                          So it turns out I'm an idiot and I have a hub instead of a router. Okay, no problem, just get a router, right? Right?

                          So I buy a one port router... one line in, one line out. I figure DSL modem to router to hub. No problem, right?

                          Well, I can't even get on the internet with the router in the loop. Nothing we've been able to do has been able to get us online. In fact, it's only because I took the router out of the loop that I'm on now.

                          I'm *so* lost.
                          Former player of:

                          Ginea Leafspinner (Tailoring: 179); Xixsu Xikisci, the Culinary Reptile (Baking: 250 plus trophy!); Twenea Fairwinde (Brewing: 247)

                          Now player of:

                          Valanae S'Narystyn, Aspiring tradeskiller and apprentice Everquester

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Now you have a router .. need to check the connection area. There will be a setup area throught he software for the router, &lt;Mine is a LinkSys Router and use the IE web browser to call up the ROUTERS ip.> But gettign back to the point. Make sure you are connecting correctly. My friends have to eneter there DSL Server login information IN the router also. &lt;Don't quote me think it was the PPPoE connection type.> But anyways hoping this points you int he right direction. Also with the router and it being the connector, you compuers will obtain a IP from the router ..
                            Exarch Teledriel Miharu
                            The Relentless, Cazic-Thule

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Most direct cable services (ADSL, Broadband) are tied to the physical address of the network card that was first registered when the connection was set up. The router will have a different hardware address (it's called a MAC address), BUT it should have the ability to mimic any hardware address so you won't have to tell your ISP that you have a different card/machine whatever.

                              Also, like Teledriel says, you need to configure your router to have the right IP address. The install guide should tell you how to connect to it and configure it with a browser.

                              If you use IPCONFIG / ALL from the dos command prompt, that will give you the IP address the machine has (probably allocated each time you power up, but only the last number should change). It'll also give you the physical address of the card in the machine - this will be the address that the router will have to mimic if your ISP ties the connection to the hardware (mines does).

                              Routers are a lot more complex than hubs and it's not just a case of plugging it in, so I'm afraid you'll need to do some sort of configuration
                              Grolber - Cavalier of Brell on Venril Sathir
                              Malathos Thriceborn - Wizard of Venril Sathir

                              "This isn't life in the fast lane - this is life in oncoming traffic !" Terry Pratchett

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