On Sat, 3 Apr 2010 14:06:51 -0400 (EDT), Hugo Vanwoerkom wrote: > > I have a dialup modem. > > Pppconfig configured the connection with 'nameservers dynamic'. > > /etc/ppp/resolv.conf always contains: > > nameserver 148.240.118.40 > nameserver 189.209.208.181 > > although the timestamp on the file changes with each connection: > > -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 53 2010-04-03 11:00 resolv.conf > > Now the problem: > > Several times a day internet communication stops and all that appears on > the status bar of iceweasel is 'Looking up xxxx' where xxxx is the site > that was being displayed. > > This is only resolved when you take down the ppp0 interface and bring it > back up, redialling the ISP. > > And the same nameservers appear in resolv.conf. > > Can anyone explain this behavior? And what to do about it? > > BTW it again happened at 11:00 as you can see.
I'm not surprised that the nameservers don't change. The file is rewritten with each connection, thus the changing timestamp. The nameservers' IP addresses don't change often. The real problem, of course, is the loss of connectivity. There are two possibilities. ISPs that offer dial-up connectivity have a limited number of phone lines. If customers get a busy signal when they try to dial in, the ISPs get complaints. And the ISPs don't like complaints. So they often have an automatic system where if all lines are in use and someone tries to dial in, the person who has been connected the longest gets bumped. In other words, the ISP will hang up on you to free the phone line for someone who wants to dial in. Of course, when they hang up on people, they get complaints too. But not as much as if they can't get in in the first place. Another possibility is a short DHCP lease. When the PPP connection is established, they lease you an IP address. And that IP address has a limited lifetime. When it expires, you're dead. Not much you can do about that except reconnect. ISPs don't like you to keep your PPP connection for an extended period of time. The longer their customers keep a dial-up connection, the more phone lines they need to have. And phone lines (and modems) cost money. They want you to get it, get your e-mail, and get out. They don't want you connected for a long time. And so they give you a short DHCP lease. And when it expires, you're dead. (And when you complain, they'll blame the phone company!) Look at the logs. You may be able to determine the length of your DHCP lease from there. -- .''`. Stephen Powell <zlinux...@wowway.com> : :' : `. `'` `- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/538527349.931671270321617759.javamail.r...@md01.wow.synacor.com
