Re: [gentoo-user] AT&T DSL + Westell modem/router = Gentoo woes

[Mick]

On Tuesday 27 April 2010 03:02:54 Grant wrote:

> > I am not familiar with the modem in question, but if you are using your
> > own router the modem should be set up in fully bridged mode and the PPPoE
> > authentication will be managed by your Gentoo router.

> Thanks Mick.  The Westell does have an option to take PPPoE off of the
> device and I'd like to set that up soon.

Right, without the PPPoE disabled the modem operates in a half-bridged mode 
(essentially it is a router running dhcp and 1:1 NAT).  I would disable NAT, 
dhcp and PPPoE on the modem so that it is in fully-bridged mode and then see 
if the problem is resolved. Your symptoms are typical of a half-bridged router 
and a dynamic IP address from the ISP.  Usually, the client on the LAN does 
not know when the ISP's WAN side IP address has changed and will not pick up 
the new address until the dhcp lease on the client has expired.  To overcome 
this botched implementation the half-bridged modem has a short lease. This 
doesn't always work, as I suspect is the case here.

HTH.
-- 
Regards,
Mick