No DNS Resolution

[Matt Smith]

Why am I getting a DNS time out when trying to access web pages?
Without reliable DNS name resolution a web connection is worthless.
Anybody know a good DNS server I can point my connection to?
Thanks...

[Scott Lindner]

Post by Matt Smith
Why am I getting a DNS time out when trying to access web pages?
Without reliable DNS name resolution a web connection is worthless.
Anybody know a good DNS server I can point my connection to?

Do you use a router to share your network with multiple computers? You may
be able to set up a caching DNS solution so you don't have this problem. I
started doing this several years ago the first time I experienced serious
DNS issues with RR.

As for good DNS server. I only know of the ones RR provides. Maybe you
could reverse your order to see if it's only the one that is slowing you
down.

Scott

[Matt Smith]

I disconnected my router when I started having the trouble. After reading
the post from luckydude, I decided to check my modem log. What I found were
some critical errors:

051005115734 7-Information H501.6 HFC: TRC SYNC Recovery OK
051005115734 3-Critical H501.4 HFC: LOST TRC SYNC- trying to recover
051005115734 7-Information H501.12 HFC: FEC LOCK recovery OK
051005115734 7-Information H501.15 HFC:FEC LOCK recovery OK
051005115734 3-Critical T5.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure -
Loss of Sync
051003131402 7-Information H501.6 HFC: TRC SYNC Recovery OK
051003131402 3-Critical H501.4 HFC: LOST TRC SYNC- trying to recover
051003131402 7-Information H501.12 HFC: FEC LOCK recovery OK
051003131402 7-Information H501.15 HFC:FEC LOCK recovery OK
051003131357 3-Critical H501.16 HFC: FEC LOCK recovery failed
051003131357 3-Critical T5.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure -
Loss of Sync
051002103449 5-Warning D103.0 DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in
response
051002103449 4-Error D530.8 DHCP - Invalid Log Server IP Address.
051002103449 4-Error D530.6 DHCP - Invalid Time Offset.
051001135449 7-Information H501.6 HFC: TRC SYNC Recovery OK
051001135446 3-Critical H501.4 HFC: LOST TRC SYNC- trying to recover
051001135446 7-Information H501.12 HFC: FEC LOCK recovery OK
051001135446 7-Information H501.15 HFC:FEC LOCK recovery OK
051001135443 3-Critical H501.16 HFC: FEC LOCK recovery failed
051001135443 3-Critical T5.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure -
Loss of Sync
051001135440 3-Critical H501.4 HFC: LOST TRC SYNC- trying to recover
051001135440 7-Information H501.12 HFC: FEC LOCK recovery OK
051001135440 7-Information H501.15 HFC:FEC LOCK recovery OK
051001135436 3-Critical H501.16 HFC: FEC LOCK recovery failed
051001135435 3-Critical T5.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure -
Loss of Sync


I never checked the log when everything was working right. Are these errors
something I need to be concerned about?

Post by Scott Lindner

Post by Matt Smith
Why am I getting a DNS time out when trying to access web pages?
Without reliable DNS name resolution a web connection is worthless.
Anybody know a good DNS server I can point my connection to?

Do you use a router to share your network with multiple computers? You may
be able to set up a caching DNS solution so you don't have this problem.
I
started doing this several years ago the first time I experienced serious
DNS issues with RR.
As for good DNS server. I only know of the ones RR provides. Maybe you
could reverse your order to see if it's only the one that is slowing you
down.
Scott

[Scott Lindner]

Post by Matt Smith
I never checked the log when everything was working right. Are these errors
something I need to be concerned about?

I would typically think any error labelled as "Critical" should be someting
to be concerned about. :-)

Specifically, I had some of those same erros when I had problems that
required a tech visit and replacement modem to solve.

Scott

[Matt Smith]

I called TW tech support to report that I was having intermittant problems
with my connection.When I mentioned that I saw critical errors in my modem
log the tech support person went balistic. He demanded that I should NEVER
touch those logs and that they were irrelevent. When I asked why I couldn't
connect to my pop server at times with an unkown host error he asked "Is it
working now?" Well, it is working now but it has been up and down like a
yoyo over the past couple of weeks. He said there was nothing he could do
unless it was completely broken and that I should call back when it's down.
When I called a few days ago while it was down, it came back up after I had
been on hold for half an hour. This was very frustrating dealing with the
tech support "expert" who treats everone like they're an idiot. When I
explained that I ran an nslookup on my mail host and it returned an "unkown
host" reply, he actually got upset that I was trying to insult his knowledge
of DNS. All I was looking for was some answers or suggestions. His only
suggestion was that my TCP/IP stack may be corrupted on my local PC. What a
waste of time...

Post by Matt Smith

Post by Matt Smith
I never checked the log when everything was working right. Are these

errors

Post by Matt Smith
something I need to be concerned about?

I would typically think any error labelled as "Critical" should be someting
to be concerned about. :-)
Specifically, I had some of those same erros when I had problems that
required a tech visit and replacement modem to solve.
Scott

[Edwin Kruse]

Apologies. We have quite a few new folks answering the phone.

To address the on and off issue, I believe we have it located. It is
the main Motorola BSR router that is servicing the Penasquitos area (as
we call it). You are in that area. We are going to reset the router
between 2 and 6 am tomorrow morning and you should be fine after that.

We discovered a bug in the router OS and Motorola is developing a patch.
This one was tough to trace down.

Again, I am aware of the situation and hopefully things will be better
in the morning.

Thanks,
Edwin Kruse
Network Services Manager
TWC San Diego

Post by Matt Smith
I called TW tech support to report that I was having intermittant problems
with my connection.When I mentioned that I saw critical errors in my modem
log the tech support person went balistic. He demanded that I should NEVER
touch those logs and that they were irrelevent. When I asked why I couldn't
connect to my pop server at times with an unkown host error he asked "Is it
working now?" Well, it is working now but it has been up and down like a
yoyo over the past couple of weeks. He said there was nothing he could do
unless it was completely broken and that I should call back when it's down.
When I called a few days ago while it was down, it came back up after I had
been on hold for half an hour. This was very frustrating dealing with the
tech support "expert" who treats everone like they're an idiot. When I
explained that I ran an nslookup on my mail host and it returned an "unkown
host" reply, he actually got upset that I was trying to insult his knowledge
of DNS. All I was looking for was some answers or suggestions. His only
suggestion was that my TCP/IP stack may be corrupted on my local PC. What a
waste of time...

Post by Matt Smith

Post by Matt Smith
I never checked the log when everything was working right. Are these

errors

Post by Matt Smith
something I need to be concerned about?

I would typically think any error labelled as "Critical" should be someting
to be concerned about. :-)
Specifically, I had some of those same erros when I had problems that
required a tech visit and replacement modem to solve.
Scott

[Matt Smith]

Thank you for the update. Just knowing that the technical folks are on the
situation is a relief.
I'll sit tight and in the interim start putting my home network back
together.

Thanks again...

Post by Edwin Kruse
Apologies. We have quite a few new folks answering the phone.
To address the on and off issue, I believe we have it located. It is the
main Motorola BSR router that is servicing the Penasquitos area (as we
call it). You are in that area. We are going to reset the router between
2 and 6 am tomorrow morning and you should be fine after that.
We discovered a bug in the router OS and Motorola is developing a patch.
This one was tough to trace down.
Again, I am aware of the situation and hopefully things will be better in
the morning.
Thanks,
Edwin Kruse
Network Services Manager
TWC San Diego

Post by Matt Smith
I called TW tech support to report that I was having intermittant
problems with my connection.When I mentioned that I saw critical errors
in my modem log the tech support person went balistic. He demanded that I
should NEVER touch those logs and that they were irrelevent. When I asked
why I couldn't connect to my pop server at times with an unkown host
error he asked "Is it working now?" Well, it is working now but it has
been up and down like a yoyo over the past couple of weeks. He said there
was nothing he could do unless it was completely broken and that I should
call back when it's down. When I called a few days ago while it was down,
it came back up after I had been on hold for half an hour. This was very
frustrating dealing with the tech support "expert" who treats everone
like they're an idiot. When I explained that I ran an nslookup on my mail
host and it returned an "unkown host" reply, he actually got upset that I
was trying to insult his knowledge of DNS. All I was looking for was some
answers or suggestions. His only suggestion was that my TCP/IP stack may
be corrupted on my local PC. What a waste of time...

Post by Matt Smith

Post by Matt Smith
I never checked the log when everything was working right. Are these

errors

Post by Matt Smith
something I need to be concerned about?

I would typically think any error labelled as "Critical" should be someting
to be concerned about. :-)
Specifically, I had some of those same erros when I had problems that
required a tech visit and replacement modem to solve.
Scott

[Scott Lindner]

Post by Edwin Kruse
To address the on and off issue, I believe we have it located. It is
the main Motorola BSR router that is servicing the Penasquitos area (as
we call it). You are in that area. We are going to reset the router
between 2 and 6 am tomorrow morning and you should be fine after that.
We discovered a bug in the router OS and Motorola is developing a patch.
This one was tough to trace down.

That's pretty cool. That you were able to isolate it and get Motorola to
agree that there is a problem with a product, to identify it, and to fix it.
With all of the moving parts in your networks I'm guessing that was quite a
challenge. Especially the latter half of convincing a company that their
stuff is broken and needs a fix.

I'd say "Good job" but I'm gonna hold off until Matt says things are good
tomorrow. :-)

Scott

[Never Anonymous Bud]

Post by Matt Smith
When I
explained that I ran an nslookup on my mail host and it returned an "unkown
host" reply, he actually got upset that I was trying to insult his knowledge
of DNS. All I was looking for was some answers or suggestions. His only
suggestion was that my TCP/IP stack may be corrupted on my local PC.

I would immediately ask to speak with his/her supervisor in a case like
that.

If I HAVE to call tech support now, I start off explaining the problem,
THEN I jump right into "I already tried this, and this, AND this..."
so they understand that I DO know what I'm doing.





Lumber Cartel (tinlc) #2063. Spam this account at your own risk.

This sig censored by the Office of Home and Land Insecurity...

Remove XYZ to email me

[Matt Smith]

In all fairness, this is probably only the third time I've called tech
support in the last three years. The tech did explain that firmware pushes
are sent out to the modems on a regular basis so the modem was probably not
my problem. What I would suggest for TW tech support is to create an link to
"Hot Items" on their internal support knowledgebase so the people answering
the phones can relay the information. Since they do not offer to create an
open case for all callers to tech support, I think this would go a long way
to easing customer tensions.

Post by Never Anonymous Bud

Post by Matt Smith
When I
explained that I ran an nslookup on my mail host and it returned an "unkown
host" reply, he actually got upset that I was trying to insult his knowledge
of DNS. All I was looking for was some answers or suggestions. His only
suggestion was that my TCP/IP stack may be corrupted on my local PC.

I would immediately ask to speak with his/her supervisor in a case like
that.
If I HAVE to call tech support now, I start off explaining the problem,
THEN I jump right into "I already tried this, and this, AND this..."
so they understand that I DO know what I'm doing.
Lumber Cartel (tinlc) #2063. Spam this account at your own risk.
This sig censored by the Office of Home and Land Insecurity...
Remove XYZ to email me

[Matt Smith]

An update to my DNS issue:
I'm was still having intermittent connectivity problems when connecting to
hostnames that require DNS resolution. When the problem occurs, I'm not able
to ping any machine by name. For example, when I get the "host not found"
error when checking my email I cannot ping pop-server.san.rr.com because it
doesn't resolve to an IP address. Oddly enough, if I perform an nslookup and
do a direct query on the DNS server database, it returns the proper IP
address. It looks as though level three ICMP requests are blocked where
application level requests return results. Last week I followed Scott's
advise and installed a local DNS cache solution. Since then I have been able
to reliably retrieve my email and visit the sites I like to frequent.