[japchap]

Hi all..
So I have a weird annoying problem which doesn't seem to go away.

Intermitently..without any alteration.. my DNS stops responding and does not solve the IP address.
And the moment I put any external DNS server in the tcp/ip, it starts working just fine.
This happens every single day..multiple times at no specific period.
After a while..againg without any alteration..it starts working again!!
It is so frustrating!! And also I am beginning to think that maybe the dns servers from my ip might be at fault and not my pc.
Please help me!

My dns servers - 124.124.5.140 and 141
These I receive in automatic dns servers configurations..i .e from my ISP.

Nslookup result:

DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
*** Can't find server name for address 124.124.5.140: Timed out
DNS request timed out.

Ping result:

Pinging 124.124.5.140 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.


IPCONFIG/ALL result:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\kl>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : xx
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 71:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethern
et
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1F-16-C9-30-xx
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 123.237.xxx.xxx
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.240.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 123.237.xxx.xxx
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.9.242.112
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 124.124.5.140
124.124.5.141
220.225.236.84
220.225.236.85
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, January 17, 2012 11:26:07 P
M
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, January 18, 2012 1:26:07
AM

 

[loda117]

Have you looked at the evenviewer to see what errors you get during the time issue arises (should be under system) then you point out if its actually a hardware issue or some configuration causing it

 

[japchap]

Have you looked at the evenviewer to see what errors you get during the time issue arises (should be under system) then you point out if its actually a hardware issue or some configuration causing it

The event viewer errors I receive are mainly of .NET runtime and msi installers.
In the system errors I receive errors only relation to IPSEC e.g

The IPSEC Services service terminated with the following error:
The authentication service is unknown.

Apart from this there is nothing related to hardware of any sort.

 

[loda117]

so let me get lil more information about your setup
Are you running a router? between your modem and PC?
or You actually have a DHCP Server with DNS installed?

 

[japchap]

so let me get lil more information about your setup
Are you running a router? between your modem and PC?
or You actually have a DHCP Server with DNS installed?

I have a modem..Binatone 815 with the default factory settings.
It is connected via lan cable to my laptop NIC port.
To connect to the network I do not do anything as the settings are automatically received from my ISP

 

[loda117]

Have you tried assigning your DNS servers manually to your laptop?

 

[Wand3r3r]

According to nslookup none of the listed dns server ips are those of dns servers

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\>nslookup 124.124.5.140
Server: dnscache-or.integraonline.com
Address: 204.130.255.3

*** dnscache-or.integraonline.com can't find 124.124.5.140: Non-existent domain

C:\Users\>nslookup 124.124.5.141
Server: dnscache-or.integraonline.com
Address: 204.130.255.3

*** dnscache-or.integraonline.com can't find 124.124.5.141: Non-existent domain

C:\Users\>nslookup 220.225.236.84
Server: dnscache-or.integraonline.com
Address: 204.130.255.3

*** dnscache-or.integraonline.com can't find 220.225.236.84: Non-existent domain


C:\Users\>nslookup 220.225.236.85
Server: dnscache-or.integraonline.com
Address: 204.130.255.3

*** dnscache-or.integraonline.com can't find 220.225.236.85: Non-existent domain


Do think that might be your issue?

 

[japchap]

According to nslookup none of the listed dns server ips are those of dns servers

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\>nslookup 124.124.5.140
Server: dnscache-or.integraonline.com
Address: 204.130.255.3

*** dnscache-or.integraonline.com can't find 124.124.5.140: Non-existent domain


Do think that might be your issue?

Well it could be but how would you explain it working for hours at a stretch without any problem and suddenly stop resolving??
And if it is then how do I workaround this issue?
Should I edit the hosts file adding dnscache-or.integraonline.com 204.130.255.3 ?

By the way when the dns severs are working I do not get dnscache-or.integraonline.com as a server but I get this:

C:\Documents and Settings\kl>nslookup
Default Server: MBMUMXXXXD001DNS005
Address: 124.124.5.140

Have you tried assigning your DNS servers manually to your laptop?

Yes.
In fact whenever I put other dns servers manually in the TCP/IP.. it works like a charm!
But when I put my ISP's DNS servers manually..it loses connectivity again.

 

[Wand3r3r]

"In fact whenever I put other dns servers manually in the TCP/IP.. it works like a charm!
But when I put my ISP's DNS servers manually..it loses connectivity again."

that along with my nslookups tells me you should not use those dns servers at all.

"Should I edit the hosts file adding dnscache-or.integraonline.com 204.130.255.3 ?"

Absolutely not. You don't add dns servers to the hosts file. Not what the hosts file does.

Might want to call your isp and ask them why their dns servers are flaky. It appears to me that their dns servers are not public but private. If they were public I should be able to resolve them and as you see from the nslookups I can't.

Might be better to just do a manual entry of 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 which are the public google dns servers. Doing so should take care of the issue.

 

[japchap]

First of all thanks a lot for trying to help me..I appreciate it.

Secondly..I already contacted my isp guys...they came twice and the morons didn't know squat!
Their classic reply in almost every situation is re-formatting the pc..which i absolutely refuse to do..because if it ain't broke..I shouldn't fix it right?
I figured as much that the problem lies with the dns servers of my isp..but the strange thing is that my friends who are with the same ISP don't face such a problem.

And yes..I use google dns servers always which is why I am able to stay online without disconnections.
One more thing I would like to say that when I lose connectivity..it only happens with the websites and not with the ongoing download.
The downloads continue just fine...which I believe is because once a person starts downloading..he does not need to resolve any ip once the download has begun..but with websites...every time the dns has to resolve the ip to continue which is where my dns servers fail me.
All I want is to reach the root of this god damn problem and sort it out..

 

[Wand3r3r]

"he does not need to resolve any ip "
that is correct

next time you lose connection ping the primary dns server to see if it responds. if it doesn't copy the ping output and send it to techsupport to see what they have to say about it.

You can't fix their network or dns servers. Interesting that the isp is using private dns servers not public ones. If they were public I could nslookup successfully. Might ask them why. Doesn't appear that anything is wrong at your end.

 

[japchap]

Yes..
That is exactly I did today and posted the result as well..in the first post of mine.

The result was this:


Pinging 124.124.5.140 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

And even if they are using private servers..they do function for quite sometime before suddenly stop functioning..
That is the real reason of my frustration as if they'd completely go out it would me much easier for the ISP guys to understand..but they do so intermittenly..

As for the time being I am receiving
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\kl>nslookup
Default Server: MBMUMXXXXD001DNS005
Address: 124.124.5.140

Why am i receiving the default server in this format and not in xxxx.com format??

 

[Wand3r3r]

that is there server name. really doesn't matter.

I would suspect their dns server are being saturated. On peak demand you can't get a request in edgewise which results in ping failing.

I has been my observation that Microsoft never goes beyond the first listed dns server. MS never appears to check any other.

I think you are stuck putting in a manual entry for dns as previously suggested.

You may wish to nslookup yahoo.com and get its ip address. When you can't ping the dns server ping the yahoo ip. From what you describe it should resolve. Copy the contents of dns failure and yahoo ip success and email to tech support.

They are the only ones that can fix this.

 

[japchap]

I did the tests and here are the results:

ping yahoo.com(when browsing normally)

Pinging yahoo.com [98.139.180.149] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 98.139.180.149: bytes=32 time=327ms TTL=48
Reply from 98.139.180.149: bytes=32 time=382ms TTL=47
Reply from 98.139.180.149: bytes=32 time=340ms TTL=48

ping yahoo.com(when unable to browse..lost connectivity..download still going)

Pinging yahoo.com [209.191.122.70] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 209.191.122.70: bytes=32 time=353ms TTL=50
Reply from 209.191.122.70: bytes=32 time=369ms TTL=50
Reply from 209.191.122.70: bytes=32 time=348ms TTL=51

ping 98.139.180.149(when browsing normally)

Pinging 98.139.180.149 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 98.139.180.149: bytes=32 time=413ms TTL=47
Reply from 98.139.180.149: bytes=32 time=362ms TTL=48

ping 98.139.180.149(when unable to browse..lost connectivity..download still going)

Pinging 98.139.180.149 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 98.139.180.149: bytes=32 time=419ms TTL=48
Reply from 98.139.180.149: bytes=32 time=375ms TTL=48
Reply from 98.139.180.149: bytes=32 time=392ms TTL=47


nslookup yahoo.com(when browsing normally)

C:\Documents and Settings\kl>nslookup yahoo.com
Server: MBMUMXXXXD001DNS005
Address: 124.124.5.140

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: yahoo.com
Addresses: 98.137.149.56, 98.139.180.149, 209.191.122.70, 72.30.2.43

nslookup yahoo.com(when unable to browse..lost connectivity..download still going)

C:\Documents and Settings\kl>nslookup yahoo.com
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
*** Can't find server name for address 124.124.5.140: Timed out
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
*** Can't find server name for address 124.124.5.141: Timed out
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
*** Can't find server name for address 220.225.236.84: Timed out
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
*** Can't find server name for address 220.225.236.85: Timed out
*** Default servers are not available

Server: UnKnown
Address: 124.124.5.140

DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
*** Request to UnKnown timed-out

 

[japchap]

Please note that the second time i pinged yahoo.com...the ip is different!!(just wow!)
why do you think this is?

 

[Wand3r3r]

that is just plain weird.

Next time it happens do a ipconfig /flushdns and see if it changes. Its a long shot.

You could still ping yahoo's ip when you lost connectivity meaning you still had internet access but no name resolution.

The results from the nslookup yahoo.com is interesting
first it couldn't find the dns servers name
then it couldn't find yahoo.com name

but in both it knew the ip address.

concerning the ping of yahoo, when you have multiple servers with the same domain name its the one that is available to reply that responds.

Your isp is messed up. I would file a complaint and not stop until you have someone higher up in the food chain. You should demand and get a refund for services paid for but not rendered.

But to do this you need a 2nd pc/laptop that can show the same results.

 

[japchap]

You could still ping yahoo's ip when you lost connectivity meaning you still had internet access but no name resolution.

Right on the money this one..my point exactly..meaning I still had internet access but lost name resolution somehow...

That is the damn problem cause in order to probe the isp guys I need to show them that I was disconnected..but when they look at it(morons that they are) all they look at is that am I able to ping my default gateway sucessfully or not.
They have already replaced my modem and wiring.

And about the ip of yahoo..yes I am aware that the available server responds..so it can be different..but the thing is that the difference between my queries was not more than 15-20 seconds..and neither had my IP changed..yet yahoo replied with a different server..
Well this is not important..so we will leave it.

About the ipconfig/flushdns..I have been flushing pretty regularly for many years (lol).:grin:I tried this the first thing when I started dealing with this.
Apart from this I have also tried

ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /displaydns
net stop dnscache
net start dnscache
netsh winsock reset
netsh interface ip delete arpcache(to delete the arp cache)
arp -a
arp -g


So what should I do now..what is your conclusion? Apart from demanding refund from my isp..anything else can I try?

 

[Wand3r3r]

yet yahoo replied with a different server..
perfectly normal. again its the server at that end that responds. You have no control over that.

The flushdns suggestion was to have been done during your "outage" to see if dns poisoning was causing the issue.

Problem isn't at your end or with your equipment that I can tell.

One way to address this would be to put in a router and do your own dhcp so you can set google as your dns server.

 

[japchap]

Yes Dns poisoning came to my mind as well but I ruled it out since I have never been redirected to any website through my isp's servers.
Only with external dns servers have I been redirected..like DNS advantage..they do redirect only on rare occasions..like address not found etc.

And during the "outage" I did try ipconfig/flushdns..and it flushed successfully..also the repair option on the LAN icon in the tray is able to repair successfully..even when I am unable to connect

Since the ISP leases according to local computer..I realised that my workgroup name..and user name were different...so I changed all of them to a single user name today...and that didn't work as well.

One more thing..today since I haven't used google dns as much..I am getting disconnected a lot more..the frequeny has dramatically increased which makes me doubt that the problem is with my isp's dns.
And also after getting disconnected for a while...it starts funtioning again automatically..after around 5-10 minutes...!!

 

[japchap]

Just to give you an idea it went down twice while writing the above post and i had to write it all over again cause when I tried to post..the browser forwarded me to server not found!!:banghead:
The router thing that you said..I do have a switch(splitter) which basically does the same thing as a router only without any provision of configuring.
One line goes towards my telephone and the other to the modem I connect to the laptop.