OS X broadband dropping out during sleep mode

Her new broadband connection drops out overnight - while the Mac is in sleep mode
ggillon wrote on :

Hello Mac users,

I am looking for some help with a friends' PC. Her new broadband connection drops out overnight - while the Mac is in sleep mode, then won't connect automatically the next morning as it wakes up. It seems to think it's still connected. Only a restart on the mac will solve this.

I've figured out it's some kind of idle timeout issue. See the log below:

Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : ipcp: up Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : local IP address 80.41.231.7 Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : remote IP address 212.74.111.192 Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : primary DNS address 80.225.249.178 Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : secondary DNS address 80.225.255.58 Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : Terminating on signal 15. Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : ipcp: down Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : sent [LCP TermReq id=0x2 "User request"] Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : rcvd [LCP TermAck id=0x2] Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : Connection terminated. Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : Connect time 5.7 minutes. Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : Sent 15515 bytes, received 51892 bytes. Wed Feb 15 15:23:48 2006 : Serial link disconnected.

I understand signal 15 is one way unix can force termination of a process. Is there some way to keep the modem connection alive without completely disabling power saving? Tiscali refuse to give mac support - although they seemed happy to sell her this broadband solution for her mac?!?

Tiscali 1Mb broadband Speedtouch 330 USB Applemac with OS X

Any suggestions hints or tips are welcome.

Many thanks in advance

Warren Oates replied on :

In article 1140427384.403268.272150@redacted.invalid, "ggillon@redacted.invalid" ggillon@redacted.invalid wrote:

I am looking for some help with a friends' PC. Her new broadband connection drops out overnight - while the Mac is in sleep mode, then won't connect automatically the next morning as it wakes up. It seems to think it's still connected. Only a restart on the mac will solve this.

I don't know how to keep your connection up during sleep, but can't you just use Internet Connect (in the Applications folder) to re-connect instead of restarting?

Is this Tiscali a PPPoE connection? Using the Ethernet port? I know it's a USB modem but ...

Anyway, you can set it not to disconnect on timeout at your end (Network Prefernces/Built-in Ethernet/PPPoE/PPPoe Options) but Tiscali may be disconnecting you if there's no activity for a while, and I don't know if you can ping or check your mail during sleep to keep the connection up (which may be against your TOS anyway).

ggillon replied on :

Thanks for your prompt reply.

Internet Connection is set (at Tiscali's instruction) for PPPoA and I don't see a "never disconnect" or "set timeout to -1" option under the network preferences for this connection.

Reconnecting using Internet Connect doesn't work for some reason. It scrolls "Connecting" in the top bar then "Disconnecting" and never manages to connect. "Disconnecting" stays scrolling in the top bar and no internet access is available. A full restart is the only thing that will clear this fault.

I don't reckon Tiscali are terminating the connection - since the PPP log says signal 15, I assume the connection is being terminated at this end. Would it not be a bit underhand of Tiscali to sell you an "always on" connection and then switch you off at their behest?!? My own provider F2S doesn't do this, irrespective of in/activity.

void * clvrmnky() replied on :

On 20/02/2006 9:53 AM, ggillon@redacted.invalid wrote:

Thanks for your prompt reply.

Internet Connection is set (at Tiscali's instruction) for PPPoA and I don't see a "never disconnect" or "set timeout to -1" option under the network preferences for this connection.

Reconnecting using Internet Connect doesn't work for some reason. It scrolls "Connecting" in the top bar then "Disconnecting" and never manages to connect. "Disconnecting" stays scrolling in the top bar and no internet access is available. A full restart is the only thing that will clear this fault.

I don't reckon Tiscali are terminating the connection - since the PPP log says signal 15, I assume the connection is being terminated at this end. Would it not be a bit underhand of Tiscali to sell you an "always on" connection and then switch you off at their behest?!? My own provider F2S doesn't do this, irrespective of in/activity.

Get a little edge box that stays connected to your provider all the time. Connect the Mac to that and all will be well. The edge box should do routing and NATting, perhaps basic firewalling and offer services like DHCP (if you intend to have more than one machine sharing this connection -- in which case you will need some sort of n-way switch on the "home" side of the edge box).

You can build a little Linux or BSD box to do this, or get a turnkey solution from any tech store for pretty cheap. Part of this decision will have to be what sort of modem your provider supplied to you. If it is USB only on the home side, your best bet is to get a turnkey solution.

This is easier that trying have your mac re-establish the link all the time, which over PPPoA will be a big PPPITA.

Bob Harris replied on :

In article 1140427384.403268.272150@redacted.invalid, "ggillon@redacted.invalid" ggillon@redacted.invalid wrote:

Hello Mac users,

I am looking for some help with a friends' PC. Her new broadband connection drops out overnight - while the Mac is in sleep mode, then won't connect automatically the next morning as it wakes up. It seems to think it's still connected. Only a restart on the mac will solve this.

I've figured out it's some kind of idle timeout issue. See the log below:

Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : ipcp: up Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : local IP address 80.41.231.7 Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : remote IP address 212.74.111.192 Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : primary DNS address 80.225.249.178 Wed Feb 15 15:18:12 2006 : secondary DNS address 80.225.255.58 Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : Terminating on signal 15. Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : ipcp: down Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : sent [LCP TermReq id=0x2 "User request"] Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : rcvd [LCP TermAck id=0x2] Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : Connection terminated. Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : Connect time 5.7 minutes. Wed Feb 15 15:23:47 2006 : Sent 15515 bytes, received 51892 bytes. Wed Feb 15 15:23:48 2006 : Serial link disconnected.

I understand signal 15 is one way unix can force termination of a process. Is there some way to keep the modem connection alive without completely disabling power saving? Tiscali refuse to give mac support - although they seemed happy to sell her this broadband solution for her mac?!?

Tiscali 1Mb broadband Speedtouch 330 USB Applemac with OS X

Any suggestions hints or tips are welcome.

Many thanks in advance

I would suggest an inexpensive Cable/DSL Router http://dealmac.com. They are cheap, and will maintain the connection 24/7, will share the connection with other computers in the home, and will allow the Mac to sleep.

                                    Bob Harris
Paul Sture replied on :

ggillon@redacted.invalid wrote:

Tiscali refuse to give mac support - although they seemed happy to sell her this broadband solution for her mac?!?

Shouldn't that tell you something?

I don't reckon Tiscali are terminating the connection - since the PPP log says signal 15, I assume the connection is being terminated at this end. Would it not be a bit underhand of Tiscali to sell you an "always on" connection and then switch you off at their behest?!? My own provider F2S doesn't do this, irrespective of in/activity.

Bitter experience says that I wouldn't put that past Tiscali at all.

Have you tried disconnecting then reconnecting the USB port after wakeup? Dunno, but it might reset something.

ggillon replied on :
Thanks for your suggestions folks, I will ask the user to try these.