Bizzare internet connection problem

From: ironhorsmn (ironhorsmn_at_earthlink.net)
Date: 04/20/04 

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 08:11:03 -0700

This problem is driving me Crazy. I have two computers attached via ethernet cable to an actiontec 1524 DSL home gateway. Both computers are running XP pro sp1. The DSL gateway is configured with PPPoA as instructed by the ISP. Both computers are set up alike as far as TCP/IP is concerned, both set up for auto detection. Both computers have the latest NIC drivers. The setups are identically as far as I can see. Both computers can communicate fine with each other most of the time. Here is the problem. Computer #1 randomly loses connection to the internet, and cannot be reconnected without rebooting. Computer #2 never has this problem, except at those infrequent times that the DSL Gateway needs to be rebooted. When connection is lost, #1 may ping its own IP but not the gateway or the other computer. At these times #1 will not communicate with #2 either. Rebooting #1 seems to be the only surefire way to at least allow steps to be made to reconnect. Here is another tidbit. I go into the connections, and #1 sho
ws the LAN is enabled, but the internet connection is disconnected. This is a constant, whether #1 is actually connected or not. When I try to connect through this page, I get a connection failed message. I cant reach the properties for the internet connection. #2 has none of these problems. It shows the internet is connected all of the time. Except the Network neighborhood screen, all other indications for #1 show it to be connected.
Can I set up a PPPoE connection to the DSL or does it have to be PPPoA from the computer all the way to the ISP? Does anyone have any ideas if I might have missed some setting somewhere, or should I be looking for a software conflict?

Sorry for such a long post, but thank you in advance.
I am including my email in case of a direct response.

Relevant Pages

  • pppoa connection
    ... My local ISP only uses pppoa for their DSL customers. ... have provided me with an Actiontec GT701 DSL modem. ...
    (freebsd-net)
  • RE: question on DSL signal
    ... I run a small FreeBSD server with a standard DSL line. ... I work at an ISP and do this stuff for a living. ... has to just keep calling the phone company and dispatching a tech ... modem, so every time she had a problem she would call up and ask ...
    (freebsd-questions)
  • Re: FreeBSD challenged by Internet
    ... FreeBSD box I'm using at the moment cost $10 at a flea market, ... rated speed on DSL I don't think the DSL line is the limiting factor. ... taken care of somehow between some Verizon server and the firewall. ... Anyway, I'm comparing the wire charges, not the ISP service. ...
    (freebsd-questions)
  • Re: Phone companies, sheesh
    ... When the bandwidth is shared, there is that issue where they want to ... DSL and other directly connected services ... When a DSL line is _dedicated_ to another ISP, ... That pipe is only so ...
    (alt.tv.tech.hdtv)
  • Re: FreeBSD challenged by Internet
    ... As I am ad administrator of an ISP that is a DSL ... a profit doing this unless they configure their support ... Subject: FreeBSD challenged by Internet ...
    (freebsd-questions)