DSLAM fault?

[zombie]

I had a problem recently where basically all port 80 traffic was not working, while anything else (email, skype etc.) was fine. I reset my router (D-link DSL-2640U) multiple times without any success. Then phoned Telkom, and to my amazement they actually knew what to do. After they'd reset the line everything was OK again.. for a while. A few days later, no internet at all. Phoned again, line reset, fixed. Since then my connectivity dies periodically, seemingly around the time the automatic 24hr reset occurs. Now rebooting the router solves the problem. On phoning Telkom this is the advice I get - ridiculous that they expect me to restart my router every 24hrs. The router is BRAND NEW by the way (and I had similar issues with the old one, that's why I bought a new one in the first place).

This all leads me to believe that there may be some faulty equipment at the DSLAM. How do I get Telkom to check it out? I loathe trying to explain to one of those call center "assistants" what's going on. Any advice on how to proceed?

I saw mention of getting an Escalation Reference number - is this the way to go? I know I can get them to do a line test, but if I remember correctly they charge you if they don't find anything. If the DSLAM equipment happens to be doing its job at the time I will be charged for nothing and still have the same problem.

 

[fragtion]

I had a problem recently where basically all port 80 traffic was not working, while anything else (email, skype etc.) was fine. I reset my router (D-link DSL-2640U) multiple times without any success. Then phoned Telkom, and to my amazement they actually knew what to do. After they'd reset the line everything was OK again.. for a while.

It makes no sense that other ports were working but not port 80. All the DSLAM does as far as I know is transport the IP traffic from ESR to client modem, so the problem would lie at either end's configuration, and not the DSLAM. Chances are it is still your router! Most ADSL routers don't like forwarding port 80... your best bet is to put the modem into (half-)bridged mode and let the PC/server dial up a PPPoE session and get its own public IP address and you wont have this problem.

Since then my connectivity dies periodically, seemingly around the time the automatic 24hr reset occurs. Now rebooting the router solves the problem. On phoning Telkom this is the advice I get - ridiculous that they expect me to restart my router every 24hrs.

The 24hr reset thing was phased out long ago... Telkom doesn't do that anymore. It's possible that the DSLAM (port?) is faulty, but I suggest you try another router such as a Netgear DG834 or one from the Billion brand as I've heard good reports about those.

 

[zombie]

It makes no sense that other ports were working but not port 80. All the DSLAM does as far as I know is transport the IP traffic from ESR to client modem, so the problem would lie at either end's configuration, and not the DSLAM. Chances are it is still your router! Most ADSL routers don't like forwarding port 80... your best bet is to put the modem into (half-)bridged mode and let the PC/server dial up a PPPoE session and get its own public IP address and you wont have this problem.
The 24hr reset thing was phased out long ago... Telkom doesn't do that anymore. It's possible that the DSLAM (port?) is faulty, but I suggest you try another router such as a Netgear DG834 or one from the Billion brand as I've heard good reports about those.

Thanks for the reply.. it seems I am using terminology incorrectly. Whether it be a DSLAM/ESR or whatever, the initial problem could ONLY be fixed by a line reset initiated from their side. This seems to indicate there was a problem with the port (whatever) at the exchange. I seriously, seriously doubt it's the router. It was working fine for about 2 weeks. No settings have been changed. Routers don't suddenly decide to not like port 80. Anyway, it is of course on my list of things to try out. My question was really about how to get Telkom to check their side though.

As for the 24hr thing.. really? How and when do you get assigned a new IP?

 

[fragtion]

Ok well good luck with the web server stuff and your modem problems in general... I suggest you just call 0800 375 375 and ask them to change your DSL's DSLAM physical port before you go the fault report/escalate route

As for the 24hr thing.. really? How and when do you get assigned a new IP?

They used to use the 24 hour reset because they had no more efficient way of determining when a customer had reached their cap, but they've worked around this quirk because now pretty much as soon as the cap is reached, the pppoe session is terminated (you get disconnected) and when you reconnect you're placed onto the capped IP range.... so in other words you get assigned the IP (dynamically from their dhcp pool) when you first connect, and that IP stays the same as long as you can stay connected (if you reconnect you might have the same IP, but not always) - but once your cap is reached you get a new IP from a range that has no international gw routes

 

[zombie]

Thanks for the info. Note that the port 80 problem has nothing to do with port forwarding or a web server on my end. Just literally port 80 traffic was not working - browsing web sites, etc. Everything else was OK. Router reset did not fix this problem, line reset by Telkom did.