[sllug-members]: Actiontec DSL Modem

[Casey Anderson]

We have some issues with this router with some of our products where I work, 
so we've done a bit of investigation into what is going on with the DNS 
issues. It turns out that the actiontec returns a 1.0.0.0 address (I tihnk 
that was it) whenever it can't resolve an address. If you ping the host it 
then goes out and gets the right address, and then you have the right one 
cached, so it workes after that for a while (until it's cache times out I 
think.)

We actually contacted Actiontec (through Qwest) and found out that they 
purposfully return the wrong DNS due to some weird Windows issue. They have 
no plans of fixing the "problem" because they did it on purpose. Go figure.

They told us the work around is on any non-windows box to set your DNS 
statically and don't get it from the router. What a great solution. We are 
implementing a work around on all our products. Joy.

Just thought you all might like to know.

Casey

On Wednesday 03 May 2006 11:47 am, Matthew Hatch wrote:
> Scott Patten wrote:
> > Matthew Hatch wrote:
> >> Ditto -- my Actiontec modem works great in bridged mode with my WRT54g
> >> (dd-wrt) doing the authentication.  No complaints, solid as a rock (my
> >> experience).  My dad and brother also have this same setup at their
> >> homes with no complaints either.
> >>
> >> Using the Actiontec as your router, though, sucks with Linux (dns
> >> issues), so if you don't have a separate machine to handle your routing,
> >> get a different modem.
> >
> > Seems odd.  Isn't this the router that runs a modified busybox Linux?
> >
> > Yep.
> >
> > See:
> >
> > http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/ActiontecGT701
>
> Oh, I'm well aware that it runs Linux (I telnet into it all the time).
> I'm just saying that Linux boxes that get their dns info via DHCP (the
> actiontec only gives itself as the dns server) often times have trouble
> resolving host names, whereas this problem doesn't exist if using Windows.
>
> I'm not sure if it's an issue with every distro out there, but my SuSE
> 9.3 box didn't like it one bit.
>
> I haven't tried it since upgrading the modem to the newest firmware,
> though, because it's just working so well with the WRT.