Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : A few bizarre networking problems


Strike
11-09-2000, 01:56 PM
Okay, I've been retooling both of my systems because I was recently cracked (my own fault, very lax security within the campus). Here are the problems I've been having.

How I am connected to the Internet -- through a DHCP server.

Main box -
Spotty network performance at best where I used to have a very solid connection. No hardware changes since then, either. Poor performance even in Windows where network performance was markedly worse than in Linux anyway, but still at least semi-consistent. I get network connectivity for a very short amount of time initially, and then it dies. I can renew my DHCP lease and get the network again for less than a minute. Rinse, repeat, etc. This happens in both Linux and Windows. Also, I've got a gateway/firewall/DHCP server machine, but this is with it connected directly to the LAN, as I've been having troubles with my ....

Gateway/firewall box -
Networking stays active, but I'm getting "connection refused" all over the place. I can ping stuff, and I can telnet to places, but I can't do things like FTP or HTTP. I don't have any daemon or anything that would block those services or ports running. I mean, I can telnet into port 80 of a webserver and perform a GET, but using links is a no go. I know for a fact that this isn't due to the school firewall, as my rommate's access has gone unhindered. I think the problem on this box may be my kernel re-compile, because IIRC it was working before the re-compile. I'll try to get another re-compile in this afternoon (not likely), and see if that fixes it. If not, I'll post the .config file and let you all pick it apart.

Okay, I better post this before I accidentally close the window and lose this all or something like that http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

JuanTanamera
11-09-2000, 02:39 PM
Originally posted by Strike:
Okay, I've been retooling both of my systems because I was recently cracked (my own fault, very lax security within the campus). Here are the problems I've been having.

How I am connected to the Internet -- through a DHCP server.

Main box -
Spotty network performance at best where I used to have a very solid connection. No hardware changes since then, either. Poor performance even in Windows where network performance was markedly worse than in Linux anyway, but still at least semi-consistent. I get network connectivity for a very short amount of time initially, and then it dies. I can renew my DHCP lease and get the network again for less than a minute. Rinse, repeat, etc. This happens in both Linux and Windows. Also, I've got a gateway/firewall/DHCP server machine, but this is with it connected directly to the LAN, as I've been having troubles with my ....

Gateway/firewall box -
Networking stays active, but I'm getting "connection refused" all over the place. I can ping stuff, and I can telnet to places, but I can't do things like FTP or HTTP. I don't have any daemon or anything that would block those services or ports running. I mean, I can telnet into port 80 of a webserver and perform a GET, but using links is a no go. I know for a fact that this isn't due to the school firewall, as my rommate's access has gone unhindered. I think the problem on this box may be my kernel re-compile, because IIRC it was working before the re-compile. I'll try to get another re-compile in this afternoon (not likely), and see if that fixes it. If not, I'll post the .config file and let you all pick it apart.

Okay, I better post this before I accidentally close the window and lose this all or something like that http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
mebbe check firewalling rules

Strike
11-09-2000, 03:05 PM
No, like I said, the firewall was out of the loop when I tried connecting, and the firewall itself was having problems. But, I'm working on that, because the firewall is now working (I'm posting from it). It must have been some sort of kernel-level config thing that I messed up, because it is now working. But, if anyone has any clues on the other machine (the main box), still feel free to mention any suggestions. TIA

Fandelem
11-09-2000, 04:33 PM
I don't understand why you don't just do a totally fresh installation and start over like that? It would seem that way would cut down all this time of investigating why you're having horrible erradic network performance...

just my 1 cent ;b

Strike
11-09-2000, 06:45 PM
This has been a fresh reinstall of Linux on both boxes. I'm not going to reinstall Windows because I have far too much stuff that I'd lose otherwise (don't want to take the time to back up the stuff). I'm content with the gateway/firewall now, I just need to get some sort of networking working on the main box. I'm not going to get an opportunity to check it soon, but I'm still welcoming suggestions.

arowland
11-09-2000, 06:55 PM
Sounds an awfully lot like a routing (DNS) problem. Do you have any problem routing by IP? If not, check your DNS settings.

Strike
11-11-2000, 06:26 PM
Okay, it seems as if the problems are solved. Heh, I did the very non-Linux-hacker thing and just reinstalled, so sue me http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif It worked, and that's all I wanted. So, Debian earns itself another chance (on both boxes). Craig would be mighty happy. Of course, it's because of his ample sources.list that I'm even bothering.

Thanks to everyone who replied though http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/wink.gif