Sorry for the expressive subject title, but since last night something causes my DSL connection to "fall asleep" in irregular intervals. I don't know of a better term, but in my view this is what happens. I once had this problem for a few days shortly after we got DSL installed last November, but it went away and never reappeared. The way I see the problem, it goes something like this. Sometimes, right in the middle of browsing, the server on the other side appears to simply stop responding to the requests sent out by my 'puter. However, since this problem affects ALL sites I tried to access when it happened, I have the impression that the problem might be with my ISP. All I can do in this situation is deactivate my LAN connection (I'm going via a router, which has been working fine ever since), wait a few moments and then reactivate the connection. In most cases, this got things up and running again, but as you will be able to imagine, it does get annoying when you have to do it repeatedly.Any ideas what might be going on here?Cheers,

When your connection "falls asleep", can you still log on to your router and inspect its firewall logs??Art.

Yes, I can, but I didn't think of checking the firewall logs when I logged onto my router. You think there might be somebody trying to nuke my connection? :-(Odd, though - the problem has not reappeared since my initial post :-hmmm ...

>...You think there might be >somebody trying to nuke my connection? :-( >...Maybe.Another scenario is that somebody was nuking the ISP's servers for a short period, maybe with excessive demands on their DNS server.However, if it is none of the above AND:1. Your router works okay when it works.2. Your browser can still reach your router in the "down" periods.3. Resetting the DSL modem seems to clear things up in most cases,THENit is unlikely that there is anything wrong in your own setup, and the culprit may be the DSL modem itself, or the ISP's inadequate server power. If your DSL provider uses several different modem models, try talking the Service Dept into shipping you out some model other than the one you have, for a trial.I have cable, and I notice that the first thing they check is the signal-strength itself (acknowleging the imperfections of their own installations). Have Service check that out too... Cable will add an "amplifier" in low-signal situations...Don't know if DSL does something similar.And make sure you are not doing anything illegal. They do routine port scans on their network to make sure that you don't have an FTP port open, (for example), if you are not supposed to be running an FTP server. If they are doing extra scans on your port because they found something suspicious, that too would slow down your service. Art.

Art, here is an excerpt from my router log:02/08/2003 13:39:39 PPPoE stop 02/08/2003 13:39:39 PPPoE stop PPP 02/08/2003 12:27:15 **smurf** 24.193.37.255, 1879->> 192.168.2.212, 466202/08/2003 12:27:09 **smurf** 24.193.37.255, 1879->> 192.168.2.212, 466202/08/2003 12:27:06 **smurf** 24.193.37.255, 1879->> 192.168.2.212, 466202/08/2003 12:26:09 **smurf** 24.193.37.255, 1671->> 192.168.2.212, 466202/08/2003 12:26:03 **smurf** 24.193.37.255, 1671->> 192.168.2.212, 466202/08/2003 12:26:00 **smurf** 24.193.37.255, 1671->> 192.168.2.212, 466202/08/2003 12:25:03 **smurf** 24.193.37.255, 1465->> 192.168.2.212, 466202/08/2003 12:24:57 **smurf** 24.193.37.255, 1465->> 192.168.2.212, 466202/08/2003 12:24:54 **smurf** 24.193.37.255, 1465->> 192.168.2.212, 466202/08/2003 12:16:36 NTP Date/Time updated 02/08/2003 12:16:06 Begin to query NTP 02/08/2003 11:36:16 192.168.2.101 logout 02/08/2003 11:35:33 PPPoE get IP:217.233.237.8002/08/2003 11:35:33 Username and Password: OK 02/08/2003 11:35:33 PPPoE start PPP 02/08/2003 11:35:33 PPPoE receive PADS 02/08/2003 11:35:32 PPPoE send PADR 02/08/2003 11:35:32 PPPoE receive PADO 02/08/2003 11:35:32 PPPoE send PADI 02/08/2003 11:35:32 Dial On Demand(PPPoE) 02/08/2003 11:35:13 192.168.2.101 login success02/08/2003 11:34:29 PPPoE send PADI 02/08/2003 11:34:24 PPPoE send PADI 02/08/2003 11:34:19 PPPoE send PADI 02/08/2003 11:34:14 Dial On Demand(PPPoE) 02/08/2003 11:34:14 PPPoE send PADI 02/08/2003 11:33:53 PPPoE send PADI 02/08/2003 11:33:48 PPPoE send PADI 02/08/2003 11:33:43 PPPoE send PADI 02/08/2003 11:33:38 PPPoE send PADI 02/08/2003 11:33:38 Dial On Demand(PPPoE) 02/08/2003 11:32:38 PPPoE stop 02/08/2003 11:32:38 PPPoE stop PPP 02/08/2003 10:18:32 192.168.2.100 logout 02/08/2003 10:17:06 NTP Date/Time updated Now, what is that "smurf" stuff (highlighted in bold-face) all about?

Dunno, but here's the source:OrgName: ROADRUNNER-NYC OrgID: RRNYAddress: 13241 Woodland Park RoadCity: HerndonStateProv: VAPostalCode: 20171Country: USNetRange: 24.193.0.0 - 24.193.255.255 CIDR: 24.193.0.0/16 NetName: ROADRUNNER-NYC-3NetHandle: NET-24-193-0-0-1Parent: NET-24-0-0-0-0NetType: Direct AllocationNameServer: DNS1.RR.COMNameServer: DNS2.RR.COMNameServer: DNS3.RR.COMNameServer: DNS4.RR.COMComment: ADDRESSES WITHIN THIS BLOCK ARE NON-PORTABLERegDate: 2002-04-05Updated: 2002-11-25TechHandle: ZS30-ARINTechName: ServiceCo LLC TechPhone: +1-703-345-3416TechEmail: [email protected] OrgAbuseHandle: ABUSE10-ARINOrgAbuseName: Abuse OrgAbusePhone: +1-703-345-3416OrgAbuseEmail: [email protected]: IPTEC-ARINOrgTechName: IP Tech OrgTechPhone: +1-703-345-3416OrgTechEmail: [email protected]: IPCON-ARINOrgTechName: IPControl OrgTechPhone: +1-703-345-3416OrgTechEmail: [email protected]# ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2003-02-07 20:00# Enter ? for additional hints on searching ARIN's WHOIS database. There are a few individuals listed on the Spamhaus Project who operate via the Road Runner Network. One in particular sends out massive searches looking for PC's with security vulnerabilities which then by means of trojans, he loads advertising (pop-ups) for his scams! You just think they 'pop-up' as a result of the websites you visit. He also collects your browsing info, then tailors the "adverts" into something you might buy. Not saying this is the case here, but this has happened from this source before.Cheers,Paulhttp://www.strontiumdog.plus.com/sbird.jpgOfficially licenced by British Airways plc for use of name and logo

Gee, thanks for looking up that information! You think there's anything I could do about them (provided they are guilty of my problems)?

Not really worth pursuing Dominik, unless 'damage' to your PC/files started to become evident. I suppose you could alert the Spamhaus Project (they have provided bits of evidence to the US courts in cases were spammers & hackers were being tried), but you'd have a job positively identifying the actual individual involved.I guess from the second IP address in each line that your router has network address translation. Unlikely that any spammer would have reached your actual PC. These things just tend to go away, so I'd just put this down to experience...Cheers,Paulhttp://www.strontiumdog.plus.com/sbird.jpgOfficially licenced by British Airways plc for use of name and logo

Yes, my router does have NAT. Mmh...at least it's good to know that my data have not been in danger.BTW, what is the URL of that "Spamhaus Project" you mentioned?

Spamhaus:http://www.spamhaus.org/And another address that sometimes comes in useful!:http://combat.uxn.com/NAT doesn't mean you're impenetrable - just a little more difficult for the "opportunist" ;-) By the way, is it me or are AVSIM forums very slow of late?Best of luck,Paulhttp://www.strontiumdog.plus.com/sbird.jpgOfficially licenced by British Airways plc for use of name and logo

It's not just you, Paul, the forums load very slowly for me as well.BTW, I just talked to a friend of mine who's living about 100 metres from me and who also got DSL via the same provider. He says he's been having connection problems similar to those I outlined as well, and he's got the impression that our respective problems might be related. He said he was going to call the help desk tomorrow anyway and ask if there might be any problems with the servers in our area. I'll let you know what he might be able to tell me :-) .Cheers,

Well, you never know - we could be worried about nothing! Good luck with your query to your provider. :-)Cheers,Paulhttp://www.strontiumdog.plus.com/sbird.jpgOfficially licenced by British Airways plc for use of name and logo

Yeah, maybe it's nothing to worry about, but when it comes to computing I keep telling myself that it's better to be safe than sorry :-) .

Well, it was indeed my ISP that was causing the problems I described. They said their dial-up node (whatever that is) for our area had been acting up, but it seems as if they got it fixed meanwhile :D .

Good news!Cheers,Paulhttp://www.strontiumdog.plus.com/sbird.jpgOfficially licenced by British Airways plc for use of name and logo