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Problems with Logging In Involving Router

Shannon Sojourner
Junior Member
Join date: 13 Jul 2004
Posts: 3
07-30-2004 12:47
Well, I've yet to receive a response from the support people after sending this question off to them almost a week ago, so I thought maybe I'd try here...

I've been enjoying SL so far, to be honest, but there's been a rather serious problem... my significant-other and I can't play together, since we both get dropped like crazy over and over again. I emailed the Linden Labs people about it, and after asking if we were using a router on our connection, they replied that it was a known problem with the firmware on our particular one... specifically a model BEFSR41 Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL router. A bit surprising, since I'd like to think it's a fairly popular router, but hey.

Anyway, on the advice of a friend and thinking it may improve the situation, I went to Linksys' site and downloaded the latest firmware they had for our router, then updated it. Unfortunately, it made the problem even worse... now the game stalls out for us during the 'verifying protocol version' portion of logging in, unless one of us logs into the router, drops out the DHCP table, and we both restart... then whomever's computer gets the first IP address in the table is able to log in fine, but the other person's still locked out. Needless to say, this is kind of a problem... does anyone have any advice? It's just SL that has this problem; everything else works just fine...

Thanks in advance,

Shannon Sojourner
"Be yourself, no matter what they say," -- Sting, 'Englishman in New York'
Zak Escher
Builder and Scripter
Join date: 3 Aug 2003
Posts: 181
07-30-2004 13:37
I used to use a Linksys router (model BEFSR41) but kept having problems with it locking up or disconnecting. I finally turned an old PC into a router using SmoothWall (http://www.smoothwall.org/ ). It works great! The only problem you may have is finding two compatible network card. Also, be sure to read the manuals. They are a great help in installing and configuring properly.
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Zak Escher
Unity Shapes
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Catherine Omega
Geometry Ninja
Join date: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 2,053
07-30-2004 18:43
The reason there are problems with the BEFSR41 even though it's very popular is because it doesn't work properly. The reason it doesn't work properly, even though Linksys is a large company, is because they cut corners. That's how they became such a large company. :)

Your best bet would probably be to try a different router. SMC's routers seem to work well enough.
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Shannon Sojourner
Junior Member
Join date: 13 Jul 2004
Posts: 3
07-31-2004 14:19
So the general consensus is to replace my router outright? That seems both a little drastic as well as unnecessary, as it's worked completely flawlessly up to this point with everything, and continues to do so with everything except SL... and I'm pretty sure I've seen other people talk about how SL's netcode has a tendency to get its proverbial wires crossed when it comes to dealing with a personal NAT router. Besides, I really don't have the $40 or so it would take to get even an SMC router.

Anyone else? This is getting quite disconcerting...

Shannon Sojourner
James Miller
Village Idiot
Join date: 9 Jan 2003
Posts: 1,500
07-31-2004 14:58
Most things do not use UDP, like SL does. (I believe that is the right term...I'm not really an expert on why certain routers don't work.) All I really know is that some routers, especially cheap ones, as well as old ones, aren't built to have to UDP connections at the same time. When they were designed, it wasn't expected that anyone would want to. I guess they just didn't think ahead.

It really sucks that SL can't work with your router, but, it's not SL's fault. SL just uses technology that some routers were never built to handle. :(
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Shannon Sojourner
Junior Member
Join date: 13 Jul 2004
Posts: 3
07-31-2004 15:53
'Cheap'? Ah, this router cost us $80 when we got it... and that was from the place my significant other works at, so I'm pretty sure we got a good deal on it. :-p So I'd hardly call it cheap... though if that's considered cheap, what would a 'good' router cost?

Sigh. I really wish the Linden Labs people would get back to me on this already... grrr.

Shannon Sojourner
Zak Escher
Builder and Scripter
Join date: 3 Aug 2003
Posts: 181
07-31-2004 16:11
Good business class routers start at several hundred US$ and go up. Cisco routers (which some consider very good business class routers) start at around $300 US and go up depending on features and the number of people connecting to them.
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Zak Escher
Unity Shapes
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Catherine Omega
Geometry Ninja
Join date: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 2,053
07-31-2004 17:23
They'll likely get back to you on Monday. So far as I know, there isn't anyone answering the phones on the weekends.

Basically, all "home" routers qualify as "cheap". The best solution, the one that I USUALLY use, is to have a dedicated Linux PC for this stuff. I don't have the money to build one right now though, so I'm using a crappy SMC router, though it still does NAT okay.

If your SO works at a smallish computer store, it's highly possible they could get some older bits and just put a dedicated router box together. That could be the cheapest option.
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Orlando Mars
Registered User
Join date: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 73
07-31-2004 21:28
Drop Linkys - I had consistent problems with them. Since I've changed to D-Link, its been blissful.
Charles Street
Registered User
Join date: 30 Jul 2004
Posts: 27
08-01-2004 16:48
I had this same router myself for about a year and had no problems. Then one day it just stopped working and starting cutting out on me every 30 minutes, then 20 minutes, then eventually every minute. I did some research and found it was a well known problem. So like the others said, your best bet would be either to buy a new router or make your own router using LINUX or WINDOWS NETWORK BRIDGING.
Dreams Lightcloud
Skirt Flirt
Join date: 6 May 2004
Posts: 140
08-02-2004 15:49
From: someone
Originally posted by Catherine Omega
The reason there are problems with the BEFSR41 even though it's very popular is because it doesn't work properly. The reason it doesn't work properly, even though Linksys is a large company, is because they cut corners. That's how they became such a large company. :)


I have to agree with you Catherine! I too was having issues with SecondLife & my Linksys router. And, I only have ONE avatar. This issue is between the PC's, the router, and SecondLife's requirements. It's not about how many instances of SL one wants to run nor how many people are playing from your network.

After I updated my firmware, things were alot worse for me too.

I draw on one PC and had my av logged in on the other one. When I wanted to switch my av back to the first PC - SL would stick at the 'protocol' part of the log in. If I did get logged in...some of my inventory disappeared /frown.

So, I guess my Linksys router just didn't "work properly" for the job that SL needs it to do. I'm trying a DLink router now.. Let's see how that goes.

*Cheers*
Dreams Lightcloud
Skirt Flirt
Join date: 6 May 2004
Posts: 140
08-02-2004 15:59
From: someone
Originally posted by Charles Street
I had this same router myself for about a year and had no problems. Then one day it just stopped working and starting cutting out on me every 30 minutes, then 20 minutes, then eventually every minute. I did some research and found it was a well known problem. So like the others said, your best bet would be either to buy a new router or make your own router using LINUX or WINDOWS NETWORK BRIDGING.


After reading your comments, I start to wonder if this isn't what was happening to me! That's how it felt. As if the router was cutting out on me.
Catherine Omega
Geometry Ninja
Join date: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 2,053
08-02-2004 16:29
Yeah, heh. That's exactly what happened with mine, too. This is why I'm not too taken with Linksys' offerings since then.
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Djnog Extraordinaire
Registered User
Join date: 3 Jul 2004
Posts: 34
08-13-2004 20:38
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
AS with the previous posts this is exactly the modem and problems I am having, However There is one thing that I would like to point out.

When I had DSL this was not a problem at all. Not once in 3 months did it ever disconnet on us.

The second we went to cable.
Thats when all the problems happned.

I have used this linksys Router for ever and NEVER ever had a problem with it on anything.

i certanily aint gonna go spend money on a new router when there really aint anything wrong with this one.

and the suggestions about building a PC-router aint gonna fly.

The average user aint gonna know even where to begin to do a PC-based Router.



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