Is my router to blame?

Absolut Talent · Post by **Absolut Talent** » Mon May 19, 2003 10:15 pm

i have [http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductP ... _Id=113464]This router[/URL]

It has a built in firewall

Now, evenever I try to run a program (all seeing eye) or a game and try to scan and ping servers, my whole connection drops on all the systems hooked up to the router (3 total systems)

I have to then turn off the computers, and unplug the router. Then I plug the router back in and turn the systems back to get a connection again.

Dont know any other information, but does this sound like it happens cause its a crappy router?
If I was to get a new one (maybe a linksys) would it remedy the problem?

And if I was to get a linksys router (one like this ) would I be able to open the ports on the built in firewall? I cant do that with this belkin one

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon May 19, 2003 11:17 pm

You will probably find that all you need to do to clear it is to unplug the router.

It's called flooding. Some early routers (and some software routers in particular) couldn't handle more than a dozen or so simultaneous connections.

When you do a server update, the return pings flood the router until is locks up due to a buffer overflow.

Anything made in the last 2 years shouldn't do that though. I know for a fact that Linksys, Speedstream and D-Link don't have that problem.

However, even a modern router will get flooded if you try to ping too many servers at once.

If you have a way of setting the max number of servers pinged at one time (Gamespy does and I'm sure All seeing Eye does too) it should not be set over 32. Anything over that and the ping times returned will be inaccurate anyway due to flooding delaying the returns.

If you set it too high, the returns tie up all the bandwidth and nothing can get through until the return pings stop coming (basically you're creating your own mini "Denial of Service" attack).

I don't think it has anything to do with the firewall per-se, unless it's blocking the ports used by the game.

shaggy · Post by **shaggy** » Tue May 20, 2003 1:23 am

I bought a belkin router a while back when they started offering them for $25 after a couple rebates. I never had problems as you describe, but the ones I did have more than made up for it. I bought a 2nd hand BEFSR41 for $30 and all of the random disconnections went away. I dont know why I fought that thing for as long as I did.

Absolut Talent · Post by **Absolut Talent** » Tue May 20, 2003 9:00 pm

is there a way to limit the server pings INgame on counterstrike?

it seems like this is the game that causes this problem most of hte time
when I play Tribes 1 and 2 i have no problems (but there usually arent that many servers)

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue May 20, 2003 11:39 pm

No way to change the number of simultaneous pings from within CounterStrike (Half-Life) that I'm aware of.

BillyGoat · Post by **BillyGoat** » Tue May 20, 2003 11:54 pm

unfortunatly, i dont read much good news about those belkin routers. If you end up buying a new one, the linksys are dirt cheap and rock solid