Network/Router Help needed

burrellsjeep

burrellsjeep

Breaking Stuff...
Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Location
Morganton NC
Ok here goes, I work in the Alarm industry. I have an account that I am working on setting up remote access via the internet to the alarm panel.

Here is what I have:

Static Public IP on a Cable Modem (Linksys)
Linksys Router WRT-54g v8
IP Communicator on the Alarm panel with built in web browser on port 80

So what I have done is port forwarded port 80 to the ip address of the ip communicator on the alarm, which allows me to put in the Static IP in a remote web browser followed by :80 and it brings up the log in of the alarm panel which works great.

The issue I for see is if the router issues the IP comm different IP address my port forwarding no longer works, is that correct? The IP comm will not allow me to key a static IP and has to get it via DCHP. I have tried to change the Router DCHP Renew time, but it looks as the max is 24 hours.

So will this be an issue? If so what can I do? The alarm doesn't offer a IP comm with a static IP support. Is there a different router I could use?

Thanks for the help.
 
Ok from what I have read and from talking with the Alarm company's Tech Line is that I can set the MAC Address of the IP Comm in the router and have it give the IP comm the same IP address each time. Looking at and reading the manual for the linksys I just don't see where that is possible. Not sure this router supports that. Do I need a new router?
 
So you can't set a static IP on the device, and you can't set the DHCP server to hand out a static IP based on host name or MAC address?

Then you need a device that supports static IPs or a router that supports static via DHCP.
 
Are you doing a Vist20i?I put one of those in for a customer of mine in a restaurant so he could arm and disarm it from his computer at home.I had a lot of issues with it.
 
If I understand your question, you are correct that the stock Linksys firmware will not support DHCP reservations (I'm using the same router here at the house). That's the bad news. The good news is that you can load open-source firmware onto the router. The last time I looked, the best was DD-WRT... http://www.dd-wrt.com... See if you can load that (or something similar) onto your router, and then assign DHCP reservations.
 
saf-t scissors said:
So you can't set a static IP on the device, and you can't set the DHCP server to hand out a static IP based on host name or MAC address?

Then you need a device that supports static IPs or a router that supports static via DHCP.
Click to expand...

Yep, Its a pain not being able to access the device, its that plug and play ease of install, not one place in the instructions say anything about the device needing a static type ip in the network or it will generate trouble signals in the house and at the monitoring station. Talking to the Tech guys for the IP comm, they state that all installs will be like this, how in the hell do they expect an avg alarm guy to do this :shakin: oh well Looks like the new E1000 Linksys supports DHCP Reservations which is what I need.
retroedaddy said:
Are you doing a Vist20i?I put one of those in for a customer of mine in a restaurant so he could arm and disarm it from his computer at home.I had a lot of issues with it.
Click to expand...
Mine is a DSC, but ademcos can be a bitch sometimes.
JayT said:
If I understand your question, you are correct that the stock Linksys firmware will not support DHCP reservations (I'm using the same router here at the house). That's the bad news. The good news is that you can load open-source firmware onto the router. The last time I looked, the best was DD-WRT... http://www.dd-wrt.com... See if you can load that (or something similar) onto your router, and then assign DHCP reservations.
Click to expand...

Thanks I stumble on to that earlier, But this being a customers site I will advise replacing the router, As opposed to the firm ware upgrade, he has a IT company and they will handle that side of it. If it were my house I would upgrade the firmware due to the router being out of warranty any how.

Oh FYI if your router is out of warranty linksys wants $29 to help you with set up over the phone and your not allowed to use the tech chat feature.
 
You can't put DD-WRT on the newer WRT-54g. Not enough memory. You have to get the 54GL.

Even if you could... it's going to be a long-term maintenance issue either way. You can write the config to nvram, but it doesn't mean it won't lose it from time to time.

I have one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320023

And it gets fawked up about once a year and has to be reflashed and reconfigured. The hardware in those things is so crappy... I mean, they're competing on the store shelf to see who can be $5 cheaper. It's not meant to be mission-critical.
 
the DD-WRT will support newer wrt-54g (like the V8) routers as well as static DHCP, I use an IP reservation for a print server in the house here.

Now, if the alarm never goes off (they all have batteries, right?), the controller should never contact the DHCP again for a new address.

I'd be a little hesitant about forwarding port 80 for my alarm controller though .... if you're not sure why I say that, set up a webserver in the house and forward port 80 to it and watch the logs , within 24 hours it'll be under attack.

hope that helps
Steve
 
1980CJ7 said:
the DD-WRT will support newer wrt-54g (like the V8) routers as well as static DHCP, I use an IP reservation for a print server in the house here.
Now, if the alarm never goes off (they all have batteries, right?), the controller should never contact the DHCP again for a new address.
I'd be a little hesitant about forwarding port 80 for my alarm controller though .... if you're not sure why I say that, set up a webserver in the house and forward port 80 to it and watch the logs , within 24 hours it'll be under attack.
hope that helps
Steve
Click to expand...

The port is forward to the IP Comm not really the alarm, just an interface. Companys are doing as a standard, this is just the first we have done.

As far as the DCHP goes, it will issue a new IP once the IP lease time expires which is set for 24 hours currently (the max).
 
It's going to need maintenance regardless. That's a factor of it running on crappy hardware. If you're halfway familiar with how it works, it's not a big deal. But if you're like my neighbor, you'll be calling the helpful guy across the street to come reconfigure your router every other month.
 
I just had a minute to skim what's going on...do you have a fileserver or other 24/7 machine that could setup as a DHCP server, and disable DHCP in the router??
 
kaiser715 said:
I just had a minute to skim what's going on...do you have a fileserver or other 24/7 machine that could setup as a DHCP server, and disable DHCP in the router??
Click to expand...

No, Its a real small office. So they just have a few lap tops and such.

He ordered a Linksys E1000 this morning that has DCHP Reservation built in to it. The current Linksys was having issues and he wanted a reason to replace it.
 
The router really shouldn't issue the IP Comm a different address when its lease runs out. The IP comm should request to renew its lease a couple of times before it runs out. There's no reason the router won't renew it unless it's really weird. I'd check to make sure. The only chance you have of it getting another IP is if say the IP Comm loses power for a couple days, another device asks the router for an IP in the time, and the router gives it the IP Comm's old IP after the lease expires.
 
maddog411 said:
The router really shouldn't issue the IP Comm a different address when its lease runs out. The IP comm should request to renew its lease a couple of times before it runs out. There's no reason the router won't renew it unless it's really weird. I'd check to make sure. The only chance you have of it getting another IP is if say the IP Comm loses power for a couple days, another device asks the router for an IP in the time, and the router gives it the IP Comm's old IP after the lease expires.
Click to expand...

This was my understanding in the beginning but the more I talked to the tech line to more they stated differently, I guess they were giving the worst case. Still if there is a chance it could change I have to resolve that, to keep the customer happy. Thanks for the info.
 
Back
Top