DHCP problems

[HighFidelity]

Hi
Hope this is the right thread for this.....

One of the most common problem in all our DS installations is the DHCP reliability. The most common scenario is after a power outage as the router takes about 1-2 minutes to start, the DS has already stopped requesting ip-addresses and wont get one until you restart the DS.

About 50% of our support calls can be solved "turn it off and on again, at the back of the unit!"

i would request 2 features that would simplify for the customer and make it possible to put the DS in a multiroom scenario..

1. On startup - request dhcp for as long as it hasn´t got an ip-address
2. Ethernet watchdog making sure it has contact with def. gateway, otherwise request new lease

Best regards / John

[chimar]

Clearly each install will be different, but typically what type of DHCP server is being used? (Separate / with the ADSL router etc).

Would a UPS on these not fix it?

[rockfather Linn Staff]

(2011-08-16 09:36)HighFidelity Wrote:  One of the most common problem in all our DS installations is the DHCP reliability. The most common scenario is after a power outage as the router takes about 1-2 minutes to start, the DS has already stopped requesting ip-addresses and wont get one until you restart the DS.

i would request 2 features that would simplify for the customer and make it possible to put the DS in a multiroom scenario..

1. On startup - request dhcp for as long as it hasn´t got an ip-address

On startup, if there is an ethernet link detected, then the DS will try to get an IP address until such time as it gets one. So it will try to contact DHCP server for ever until address is negotiated

However, if no ethernet link is detected within about 5s then the device moves to 'no ethernet' mode, whereby it will boot into operational mode without ethernet (if it has a display there will be a cross in the bottom right to indicate this). This mode is required to permit operation without the need for a network, which is necessary for devices being used as preamps (Kontrol and DS-I models). It makes no sense to increase this delay as it merely increases boot time for 'no ethernet' mode.

Hence for normal operation it is a prerequisite that an ethernet link is available within 5s of DS power-up

For power-outage situations the following may help

• UPS on router
• Unmanaged switch between DHCP server and DS (these get ethernet link up quickly)
• Delayed power up on DS
  

(2011-08-16 09:36)HighFidelity Wrote:  2. Ethernet watchdog making sure it has contact with def. gateway, otherwise request new lease

There is no need for a gateway on a DS network, so this would make no sense (DS system can be an isolated network without external access)

[chimar]

UPS and Unmanaged switch I get.
How do you suggest the delayed power up on a DS? (Assuming there are a few Sekrit DSi in a rack not easily accessible to the customer*)

* Understand the on/off is on the front of the unit, but they are not encouraged to go there!

[rockfather Linn Staff]

(2011-08-17 12:28)chimar Wrote:  UPS and Unmanaged switch I get.
How do you suggest the delayed power up on a DS? (Assuming there are a few Sekrit DSi in a rack not easily accessible to the customer*)

* Understand the on/off is on the front of the unit, but they are not encouraged to go there!

Could try something like this
http://www.quasarelectronics.com/ci0303-...module.htm

[Diskreet]

I understand the problems here as have had the same with my clients, this is probably the only problems I encounter with DS, which is great.

Now hopefully one of you intelligent guys might be able to point me in the right direction, I found a while ago a device that sits in line between the mains socket and the mains input of a device, it has an ethernet connection, and you configure said device to ping the device it is connected to at certain intervals, if it does not ping back the in line power connector restarts itself. What I love about this is if at any given point the DS fails to connect the device restarts it automatically, so probably by the time the customer has picked up the phone to call me with his problem the DS will hopefully be back online....

I cannot find this device again, hopefully someone might know of it, obviously I need it for UK mains, and think it will be a great asset for when you install a Sneaky or Sekrit in a hard to get to location for restarting it...I am also open to listening for reasoning against this kind of product.

[Bumtious]

I don't know why you don't give it a fixed ip. Given mine a reserved address on the router along with the nas.

Means no problems and no loss of playlists stored on control points.

[chimar]

(2011-08-17 17:23)Diskreet Wrote:  I understand the problems here as have had the same with my clients, this is probably the only problems I encounter with DS, which is great.

Now hopefully one of you intelligent guys might be able to point me in the right direction, I found a while ago a device that sits in line between the mains socket and the mains input of a device, it has an ethernet connection, and you configure said device to ping the device it is connected to at certain intervals, if it does not ping back the in line power connector restarts itself. What I love about this is if at any given point the DS fails to connect the device restarts it automatically, so probably by the time the customer has picked up the phone to call me with his problem the DS will hopefully be back online....

I cannot find this device again, hopefully someone might know of it, obviously I need it for UK mains, and think it will be a great asset for when you install a Sneaky or Sekrit in a hard to get to location for restarting it...I am also open to listening for reasoning against this kind of product.

http://www.aventure-europe.com/partners/view/39/aviosys

These are multiple block units, I don't know of any single ones for individual units... be interested if you find out /post here.

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(2011-08-17 23:44)Bumtious Wrote:  I don't know why you don't give it a fixed ip. Given mine a reserved address on the router along with the nas.

Means no problems and no loss of playlists stored on control points.

In the event of a power fail, you may well lose the fixed ip. You would then need to re-load the saved router configuration file. (A possible trip to the customer for the OP and thus their question).

[rockfather Linn Staff]

(2011-08-18 06:05)chimar Wrote:  In the event of a power fail, you may well lose the fixed ip. You would then need to re-load the saved router configuration file. (A possible trip to the customer for the OP and thus their question).

If your router loses any of its settings by being power cycled it is faulty.

More likely the settings have not been correctly saved - with some routers you need to find a menu or command to save the current settings as 'startup' settings

[Bumtious]

(2011-08-18 06:05)chimar Wrote:  In the event of a power fail, you may well lose the fixed ip. You would then need to re-load the saved router configuration file. (A possible trip to the customer for the OP and thus their question).

That is nonsense, there is something wrong with the way you are configuring things or the kit you are using is flakey.

Giving any fixed kit on any network address reservations is the way to go.

Doesn't matter about power failures or power cycling, the network should recover.

I'm an IT engineer, I'm also ISF and HAA certified, any instalation I do of something that is in a fixed location weather it is server, router, nas, Blu ray player, amp or Linn DS , you give it a fixed reserverd address with ip and mac details, all portable items such as laptops phones etc you let something control DHCP, maybe your router, but ideally a server or a decent nas. Whatever is the most reliable and stable device on the network is what you should use.

Set up properly you should NEVER need to visit to reset things in the event of a power recycle. Even a firmware update should not effect anything.

I always create networks away from default IP and the first 20 addresses are not available to DHCP. Usually the router is 1, server/nas is 2 devices 3-15 and printers 15-20. If a pc is holding any shared data it will have a fixed ip within the device reservation range (3-15) then everything else is allowed to receive a DHCP issued address.

I never get IP issues with my clients or their kit.