Router restart messes with Windows recognizing ethernet network connect

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
S

Schnief

Reputable
Oct 27, 2015
8
0
4,510
Hey everyone!
I ran into a problem that is beyond my limited network experience and I could use your help!

    1. The network setup
    I am connected to a university network through a site to site wireless link which funnels into a garden variety router in my house. I am connected to that router through an ethernet cable, but it also broadcasts a wireless network. I unfortunately do not know the make/model of both because university IT department is not telling me. Anyway, the setup (as it was explained to me) is such that if the site to site wireless link to the university network is lost or deteriorates, two things happen: (a) the site to site wireless link cycles through channels in order to re-establish a stable connection, and in the meantime (b) the router in the house shuts down and restarts continuously until the connection is re-established.

    2. My computer hardware
    Make and model of motherboard: ASUS Gryphon Z87
    Make and model of power supply: bequiet STRAIGHT POWER E9 | 600W
    Operating system, network device, driver version: Windows 10, Intel Ethernet Connection I217-V (onboard LAN connection), 12.12.218.0
    Number of devices connected to your router: 4 computers, plus 4 tablets/smartphones
    Whether or not a NAS (Network Attached Storage) or regular server is connected to the network: no on both, as far as I know.
    Whether or not a Wifi router is connected to the network and/or switch: wifi router, no switch.


    3. The issue and question
    The connection becomes fairly unstable quite often, especially in the evening when the demand is high. This causes the site to site wireless link to switch channels, and the router to restart often. This in turn predictably causes Windows to determine that the ethernet connection has been lost and that the cable is unplugged. Using the wireless connection of my phone, I can determine when the connection is re-established, because the wireless network resumes to broadcast. However, Windows does not appear to detect a change to the wired connection and insists the network cable is still unplugged:
    (a) the lights on both my computer and router are on
    (b) unplugging and re-connecting the cable does not help
    (c) deactivating and re-activating the network adapter does not help
    (d) the cable itself is fine

    The only thing that works is restarting the computer, at which point Windows notices the change and connects to the network. Leaving aside the mess that is this network setup: is there any way I can avoid restarting the computer every time this happens?

    I would be grateful for any hints/comments/tips you have to offer!

 
Sort by date Sort by votes
A

AgPaul

Honorable
Jan 23, 2015
105
1
10,710
so the problem is windows is having a hard time keeping up with the link going up and doing so much?

buy a small switch and put it in between the router and the computer. this will prevent the link going up and down even if the router restarts. Think of it as like a buffer. The internet will still be going up and down, but the computers link will stay up as long as the switch isn't turned off.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Schnief

Reputable
Oct 27, 2015
8
0
4,510


Hi AgPaul! Thanks for your reply: I am honestly not sure what Window's issue is precisely. I do not understand what the significant difference is between (a) unplugging & reconnecting the ethernet cable and (b) restarting the PC that makes Windows react so differently in the context of this network setup: shouldn't it 'scan' for a network and reconnect in both cases?
As to your suggestion: I don't think that would work (but correct me if I am wrong) because the Uni requires us to register individual devices with Mac Addresses, OS, etc. and if I put a switch in between, I think their system would pick up on this, right?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

AgPaul

Honorable
Jan 23, 2015
105
1
10,710
Wow this place sounds awful, like the Nazi germany of networks. it probably would pick up the switch..but you could always try.

restarting the computer also unloads the driver, you could try seeing if there is a driver update (or even trying old, out-of-date drivers). You could also write a simple script to enable and disable the ethernet card and throw it on your desktop for easy access. you'll have to google that though, never download or use prewritten scripts from the internet.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Schnief

Reputable
Oct 27, 2015
8
0
4,510


Hey AgPaul,

yeah, don't get me started, getting internet here is a pain... Anyway, I will give your suggestions a shot and report back here with results soon!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Schnief

Reputable
Oct 27, 2015
8
0
4,510
So I gave the solutions a try, and here are the results (sorry for the delay):

1) Putting a switch between my pc and the router did not work, was picked up by the system and hence no internet connection.
2) I tried a couple of older drivers, unfortunately this did not help. The same problem occurs as with the most recent driver (which I was using before).
[strike]3) Enabling/disabling the ethernet card, for whatever reason, does not occasion Windows to rescan and pick up on the network: only a full restart seems to be able to do that... I would appreciate any thoughts you might have here, this seems really strange.[/strike]

Any further suggestions/ideas?

Edit: I am getting a weird error message when enabling/disabling the ethernet card from windows, will try to reporduce and take a screenshot
Edit2: I am an idiot: Enabling/disabling works, as long as the connection is actually back, if it isn't, Windows returns an "Error Code 10 - Device did not start"- I suppose that is expected?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom