Re: Talkative LAN

On Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:18:11 -0400, Lem <lemp40@unknownhost> wrote in
<#F#tErs5JHA.6004@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

Peter Boulding wrote:
The setup: a WinXPSP3 PC connected to the internet via a network cable
linking its Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI network adaptor to a four-port
Netgear DG834G (v3--UK) wireless firewall ADSL router. Wireless capability
is not currently in use and is disabled; no other PC is currently connected
to the router.


The user (me): a novice as regards XP, networking, and ADSL.


The problem:

Sometimes, when I boot up the PC, only one network connection is
created--namely "Local Area Connection" (type 'LAN or High Speed Internet';
Device name 'Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC'). When this
happens, all is well.

But sometimes, when I boot up the PC, a second network connection is also
created--namely "Internet Connection" (type: 'internet gateway'; Device name
'internet connection'). When this happens, the network card talks
incessantly to the router at a rate of approx. 39kbits/sec down, and
45kbits/sec up (measurements from Networx.exe, a freeware LAN monitor).

In either case I can access internet services, but in the latter case the
incessant chatter just never stops; heaven knows what the network card and
router are trying to tell each other. Every time this data flow appears on
the Networx graph I get the horrids in case some malware has taken over my
PC and is sending out a pile of spam or suchlike, although a check on the
internet connection's status display shows that the packets are only passing
between the two devices until I make use of an internet service such as the
web or check mail or suchlike.

I have repeatedly tried running the 'set up a home or small office network'
wizard but it appears to make no difference, regardless of which option I
choose.

XP's choice as regards whether or not to set up that second connection
appears to be quite random as far as I'm concerned... I'd be most grateful
for advice on how to solve this odd and slightly unnerving problem. Please
bear in mind that, although PC literate, I'm something of a novice in this
area.


The "Internet Gateway" icon is a means of accessing and configuring your
router without having to use a browser to access its built-in web
configuration pages.

Hmm... It does let me display some very limited info from the router,
including the passage of packets between the router and my ISP's gateway,
and to "disable" it--which causes the router to disconnect my ADSL link, but
mostly it tells me I don't have permission; I have to use my browser to see
and change most router settings.

If you don't want it, go into your router's
configuration pages and disable UPnP (Universal Plug and Play).

OK ... have done, and this indeed has stopped the incessant data flow
between network card and router.

Alternately, you can disable UPnP:

- Manually disable the UPnP device host service by typing "services.msc"
(without quotes) in Start > Run and set Startup Type to "Disabled."

- Use Steve Gibson's utility to do it: http://www.grc.com/unpnp/unpnp.htm

Haven't tried disabling UPnP on the PC, having no idea what else that might
affect (or why I might want it in the future).

Probably more than you want to know:
Settings for minimizing periodic WAN traffic
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/819108

Indeed: that KB article is talking about stuff I know damn all about.
Luckily it also seems to be pretty irrelevant to my setup, with XP Home; no
domain controller involved; no dialup or ISDN; and NetBIOS disabled.


Anyway: disabling the router's UPnP service has done the trick--for which my
grateful thanks--but I still wonder what the Hell could cause UPnP to need
to send non-stop traffic to the network card at a rate of 39kbits/sec and
cause the card to reply with an equally continuous 45kbits/sec.

--
Regards, Peter Boulding
pjbnews1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (to e-mail, remove "UNSPAM")
Fractal Music and Images: http://www.pboulding.co.uk/ and
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=794240&content=music
.

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