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Post by wvengineer on Jun 12, 2016 12:01:04 GMT
I have been having trouble with my ISP lately where I am having extended downtime. This is multiple times a day for several hours. I would like some way to automatically track when I do and do not have internet connection. SO I can take a report for how much Uptime I had in a billing cycle. That way I can submit it with my bill and demand a price break due to lack of serivce.
Anyone know of how to do this? I think the ideal setup would be a program in my Linksys router that pings the ISP server every couple minutes and keeps log of the results.
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Post by the light works on Jun 12, 2016 14:39:04 GMT
I would be willing to bet it exists, but I haven't a clue how to find it.
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Post by GTCGreg on Jun 12, 2016 16:30:34 GMT
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Post by wvengineer on Jun 13, 2016 3:16:34 GMT
The one problem with most of those it they require a computer platform to run on. I was hoping for something that would reside within my router (Linksys WRT1200) since keeping a computer on full time to monitor the network connection isn't very practical for me.
Wonder if there is something I could setup on a Raspberry pi? Humm. Need to do some looking now.
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Post by GTCGreg on Jun 13, 2016 3:33:37 GMT
The one problem with most of those it they require a computer platform to run on. I was hoping for something that would reside within my router (Linksys WRT1200) since keeping a computer on full time to monitor the network connection isn't very practical for me. Wonder if there is something I could setup on a Raspberry pi? Humm. Need to do some looking now. There probably is, but even if not, how hard would it be to write something? But even an old laptop running with the screen off should do the trick. |
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Post by silverdragon on Jun 13, 2016 7:40:59 GMT
The one problem with most of those it they require a computer platform to run on. I was hoping for something that would reside within my router (Linksys WRT1200) since keeping a computer on full time to monitor the network connection isn't very practical for me. Wonder if there is something I could setup on a Raspberry pi? Humm. Need to do some looking now. You got there before me... I was about to suggest a raspbery pi and a firefox "add on", there is one specifically for verizon users, I dont know which one would be best?... |
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Post by Lokifan on Jun 14, 2016 7:13:33 GMT
If you can dedicate a computer, ping will get you there.
ping -t google.com
It will repeatedly ping to google and keep statistics. Just Ctl-C to see them, make a note, then start it up again.
You can fine tune it with other command line parameters. If you're on a Unix system, type "man ping" for the full manual page. You can also try "ping -h" for a quick command line list (this works in Windows as well).
Of course, in Windows 7-10, you must first open a command window ("run command" usually works).
Yes, you can run this in a window in the background while you do your usual stuff, if you stay at home.
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Post by Lokifan on Jun 14, 2016 7:16:09 GMT
Just remembered: Some routers have ping utilities themselves. I'm not sure if you can collect statistics, though.
If you load Linux FW on your router, you may be able to get to a ping feature. There are several versions available for many routers, you may want to check them out.
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Post by silverdragon on Jun 15, 2016 6:11:40 GMT
The programming of a ping.
You have to be able to set up parameters of a loop, to repeatedly ping, and wait between pings.
Importantly, you then have to add a counter for successful and rejected pings.
Maybe even a time counter for at what time did the ping get rejected and for how long were they rejected.
This can be done....
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Post by Lokifan on Jun 15, 2016 7:23:25 GMT
The command:
ping -t <destination address>
will continue to ping that address at regular, programmable intervals until the program is manually terminated. At which point, it tells the number of ping packets sent and the number of pings received, along with some other statistics. That's also part of the standard "ping" command.
No need for a loop; it's part of the program.
This was a standard QA test at the networking company I worked for. They ran pings for days at a time, in some cases. That, and MIB Walks.
Yes, if you want to tell when the pings were failing over time, you need at least a shell command that could periodically stop the ping and gather the stats.
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Post by silverdragon on Jun 16, 2016 5:18:48 GMT
Depends on your O/S, but that would only work under Linux Loki?... [ctrl]+[C] would be the usual way to halt that under linux, I think, I hope, erm...  But I cant find anything about the -t extension there...?... And it also depends on the local ping version, if you try [sudo ping -v] it will return the local version which may help identify what commands it would take. So yes, if your running a Pi, you could just set it up and let it roll, then halt it and get results. Minus some local interference, it should tell you how many times it didnt get a result. You could add in a "timeout" suffix to not hang on delayed results say after a second or two to help get a broader field, that way, if it doesnt get a result it wont hang about waiting for one for ages, thus skewing the results for short times of no-play-internet, thus more accuracy on the amount of time out. In wind-woes, its not infinite.. The default number of pings sent is four. You can by use of the -n addon increase that by a numerical finite, but its default if four, then it stops?... I just tried to run up the help on the syntax of the ping command to get definitive answers in XP, mine is showing some kind of error, I think its maybe I deceased with extreme prejudice the help function on this computer a while back because in XP it bloody useless.... So all I have at this time for absolutes is the internet... First "reasonable" answer. technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc737478(v=ws.10).aspx |
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Post by Lokifan on Jun 16, 2016 7:16:16 GMT
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Post by wvengineer on Jun 16, 2016 18:15:17 GMT
I talked with my ISP last night. They said that the frist thing to do it to plug the modem directly into the wall and not a powerstrip. So I did that. We'll see if it works.
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Post by GTCGreg on Jun 16, 2016 21:14:02 GMT
I talked with my ISP last night. They said that the frist thing to do it to plug the modem directly into the wall and not a powerstrip. So I did that. We'll see if it works. I'll bet tech support got a laugh over that one. |
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Post by the light works on Jun 17, 2016 1:44:53 GMT
I talked with my ISP last night. They said that the frist thing to do it to plug the modem directly into the wall and not a powerstrip. So I did that. We'll see if it works. I'll bet tech support got a laugh over that one. I'm inclined to share the skepticism, but this way you can say "yes, I did that." |
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Post by Lokifan on Jun 17, 2016 5:49:57 GMT
There was a British office comedy called "The IT Crowd", about a small IT department in a large company. A running joke was that whenever they answered the phone, they immediately said "Did you turn it off and turn it on again?"
Scary thing is, that often does work...
I even found one device that had an option to induce a periodic system reset. The user manual effectively said "Computers over time develop unexpected failure conditions. This will reset your system so it may fix itself..."
Not a device or option to encourage confidence.
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Post by silverdragon on Jun 17, 2016 6:45:01 GMT
I talked with my ISP last night. They said that the frist thing to do it to plug the modem directly into the wall and not a powerstrip. So I did that. We'll see if it works. """"Placating"""". I say that word in the most """Patronising""" way I can?.... FFS.Its a 240 or a 120volt power supply that has a transformer in it that takes the power down to a minimal 12volt DC inside, its probably now even "AA" rated in efficiency, it would run off a car battery if you could find the right power converter, why the hell do they even believe it has any kind of problem running off a power strip sharing the power with another item such as a computer?. What I am hearing there is "Another successful call" from the technical help line that puts another "Star" in the number of calls the handle each day regardless of weather they actually did help or not... They havnt outsourced their tech help to India by any chance have they?. Am I sounding overly sarcastic about this?.. I doo hope soooo...... the very idea that it will "Help" in any way?..  What next, ask if you have a refrigerator in the house?.. because its well known they cause blackouts in wireless signals ya know, old chum, .... |
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Post by Lokifan on Jun 17, 2016 7:10:36 GMT
The only time I ever heard that a power strip caused problems was when it was used for power line networking. The surge suppressor knocked out the data link from the wiring.
I doubt that's what's happening in your case.
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Post by wvengineer on Jun 17, 2016 10:34:04 GMT
That's what I figured. I haven't been home much with work the last few days. I haven't been able to get a good idea if that fixed anything. I should be able to get a good overview over the weekend.
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Post by GTCGreg on Jun 17, 2016 12:21:19 GMT
If it is some type of active power strip that has powerline filtering (not just surge protection) there may be something to it. These powerline filters often cause more problems than they cure. But if it's just a plain passive power strip, then no, it's not going to have any effect.
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