Eircom F1000 boot loop

chriss745

I have an Eircom (Zyxel) F1000. If I put the router in bridge mode, at next reboot it sticks in boot loop. Only factory reset helps.

Has anybody else run into this issue or does my router faulty?

chriss745

chriss745 wrote: »

I have an Eircom (Zyxel) F1000. If I put the router in bridge mode, at next reboot it sticks in boot loop. Only factory reset helps.

Has anybody else run into this issue or does my router faulty?

Since my post I found others have the same issue. Can we expect a firmware update from Eircom? I am just wondering, is there any Eircom specific settings saved in the actual firmware? Would it work if I would flash a stock up-to-date firmware from Zyxel?

chriss745

It looks like we have a Zyxel VMG8324-B10A:
ftp://ftp.zyxel.com/VMG8324-B10A/certification/VMG8324-B10A_001.351-01-00199.pdf

GUI

Hi Chriss,

did you attempt that firmware upgrade? If so how did it go. I have the exact same issue on 2x Eircom e-Fibre modems

chriss745

GUI wrote: »

Hi Chriss,

did you attempt that firmware upgrade? If so how did it go. I have the exact same issue on 2x Eircom e-Fibre modems

I tried to find the stock firmware for this router, but I did not find anything on the Internet. I found a Zyxel FTP site for this device, but no firmware is there. In the documentation from Zyxel they used an older firmware what Eircom uses at the moment, so I am afraid currently we are on the latest firmware.

Unless Zyxel or Eircom releases a new firmware with a fix, we can't do too much.

GUI

I can do something ,I can replace the modem
Need to find a thread now for guys whom have used third party replacements and what models they used.

2Shae

My guess is that any VDSL2 modem should work but not like eircom are going to admit to it

chriss745

Be careful, as soon as they will start up vectoring (end of this year as I heard), if your modem is not compatible with their vectoring standards they will may disable your port on the cab in the street. VDSL2 vectoring has many standards, not sure your new VDSL2 modem will support the vectoring profile what Eircom will use.

Although I am pretty sure a genuine Zyxel VMG8324-B10A or any modem type which is used by Magnet, Vodafone, etc.. on Eircom networks should be OK.

ED E

Zyxel will eventually release a bugfixed FW, needs one for IPv6 anyways. Should resolve this too as business customers will justifiably be kicking up a fuss.

chriss745

ED E wrote: »

Zyxel will eventually release a bugfixed FW, needs one for IPv6 anyways. Should resolve this too as business customers will justifiably be kicking up a fuss.

How will we know about this release? Does Eircom plan to officially release firmwares for the F1000?

ED E

They'll probably put it on the FTP and tell nobody.

Freddy Smelly

there is a firmware 1(aaha3)do available for the f1000 modem..

call in. i fix hundreds of those bloody things each month. (im a fibre trained agent)

to sort out the ipv6 issues


step 1 log onto modem... then click on network settings and go to home networking and disable "ipv6 state"

click apply

step 2 go to network settings then broadband and click on modify ethwan then change ipv6/ipv4 to ipv4 only

click apply

step 3 go to network settings then broadband and click on modify vdsl then change ipv6/ipv4 to ipv4 only

click apply

the modem will disconnect and reconnect with ipv6 disabled

your will notice the browsing speeds much faster


also log onto modem and go to network settings then wireless and change channel selection from Auto to to any of the 13 channels available to reduce wifi drop outs

click apply

Freddy Smelly

GUI wrote: »

I can do something ,I can replace the modem
Need to find a thread now for guys whom have used third party replacements and what models they used.

draytec do a good vdsl modem with wireless ac dual band.


to connect it to efibre you will need to set encapsulation type to pppoe in vdsl settings in wan section on the modem

use eircom@eircom.net for ppp username
use broadband1 for ppp password
use 1492 for mtu size

Freddy Smelly

chriss745 wrote: »

I have an Eircom (Zyxel) F1000. If I put the router in bridge mode, at next reboot it sticks in boot loop. Only factory reset helps.

Has anybody else run into this issue or does my router faulty?

what router are you using to bridge with the f1000?

this is how i normally set up bridge mode for customers.

step 1 set f1000 into bridge mode

step 2 get customer to use 3rd party modem to connect using pppoe settings

it works just fine in bridge mode as the 3rd party modem makes the connection through the f1000.

Freddy Smelly

dont use stock firmware on the f1000 you'll brick the modem... call into 1901 bbtech and ask one of us guys to update the firmware. there is a firmware update for it

chriss745

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

what router are you using to bridge with the f1000?

this is how i normally set up bridge mode for customers.

step 1 set f1000 into bridge mode

step 2 get customer to use 3rd party modem to connect using pppoe settings

it works just fine in bridge mode as the 3rd party modem makes the connection through the f1000.

I have a Cisco EA4500 router. After I placed the modem to bridge mode on my Cisco router I set up a DHCP client and I get public IP on my router. It works fine until the modem drops the sync or there is a power outage, in that case the modem goes into a boot loop and I need to do a factory reset and change back the settings.

What I have done on the router is that I disabled the wireless and changed the VDSL interface to bridge in the broadband section.

So should I call Eircom and ask for a firmware upgrade? I will try it in the evening.

Freddy Smelly

chriss745 wrote: »

I have a Cisco EA4500 router. After I placed the modem to bridge mode on my Cisco router I set up a DHCP client and I get public IP on my router. It works fine until the modem drops the sync or there is a power outage, in that case the modem goes into a boot loop and I need to do a factory reset and change back the settings.

What I have done on the router is that I disabled the wireless and changed the VDSL interface to bridge in the broadband section.

So should I call Eircom and ask for a firmware upgrade? I will try it in the evening.

call in.. and one of us can update the firmware for ya

ainiseoir

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

what router are you using to bridge with the f1000?

this is how i normally set up bridge mode for customers.

step 1 set f1000 into bridge mode

step 2 get customer to use 3rd party modem to connect using pppoe settings

it works just fine in bridge mode as the 3rd party modem makes the connection through the f1000.

Hi,
Good to read stuff from someone who cuts through the BS
Why are eircom so precious about the use of bridge mode in the F1000?
I used it on the last ZxXEL with Mac Airport in PPoE and everything worked fine.
I also used OpenDNS but changing the Primary and Secondary servers seems to be much more complicated in the F1000.
I've downloaded the User Guide, all 359 pages of it, but I still can't find how to put this modem in bridge mode!
Is there a downside to changing the eircom DNS settings on the modem?
I really must backup the settings before i do anything drastic.

ED E

ainiseoir wrote: »

Hi,
Good to read stuff from someone who cuts through the BS
Why are eircom so precious about the use of bridge mode in the F1000?
I used it on the last ZxXEL with Mac Airport in PPoE and everything worked fine.
I also used OpenDNS but changing the Primary and Secondary servers seems to be much more complicated in the F1000.
I've downloaded the User Guide, all 359 pages of it, but I still can't find how to put this modem in bridge mode!
Is there a downside to changing the eircom DNS settings on the modem?
I really must backup the settings before i do anything drastic.

I think its more on Zyxels end than Eircoms. Eircom have never done anything to restrict its use in the past.

Freddy Smelly

ainiseoir wrote: »

Hi,
Good to read stuff from someone who cuts through the BS
Why are eircom so precious about the use of bridge mode in the F1000?
I used it on the last ZxXEL with Mac Airport in PPoE and everything worked fine.
I also used OpenDNS but changing the Primary and Secondary servers seems to be much more complicated in the F1000.
I've downloaded the User Guide, all 359 pages of it, but I still can't find how to put this modem in bridge mode!
Is there a downside to changing the eircom DNS settings on the modem?
I really must backup the settings before i do anything drastic.

log onto modem

go to network settings then broadband

click modify on vdsl (the little pencil icon) then change from routing mode to bridge mode

click apply to save settings change

at least 90% of eircom's customers dont even know what bridge mode is... you are the minority... bridge mode it if you want... eircom couldnt care less if you want to do it or not, its your modem.

ainiseoir

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

log onto modem

go to network settings then broadband

click modify on vdsl (the little pencil icon) then change from routing mode to bridge mode

click apply to save settings change

at least 90% of eircom's customers dont even know what bridge mode is... you are the minority... bridge mode it if you want... eircom couldnt care less if you want to do it or not, its your modem.

Thank you, again
Itching to follow your advice.
One thing I noted in the window that came up was the option of entering my preferred DNS values, by changing to Static DHCP from Dynamic.
I have OpenDNS on my router etc.,
I can't remember having to make that decision before (Static v Dynamic) on my previous modems and I'm unsure of the consequences.
I know that some say there's no need, but it seems tidier and I do think that there seems to be a delay before a website opens.
I would appreciate a "No worries" or "Dpn't even think about doing that!"
I promise not to bother you again for a while.
Regatds

Langer

got eircom to patch our F1000 at work, connection seems faster! going to try to bridge it later with a Netgear DGN3300.
Freddy Smelly - do you know if this will allow me to use NAT Loopback ? could really do with it .

chriss745

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

log onto modem

go to network settings then broadband

click modify on vdsl (the little pencil icon) then change from routing mode to bridge mode

click apply to save settings change

at least 90% of eircom's customers dont even know what bridge mode is... you are the minority... bridge mode it if you want... eircom couldnt care less if you want to do it or not, its your modem.

Freddy, I just got the firmware upgrade to 1.00(AAHA.3)D0, but I still have the boot loop bug. I did a factory reset, switched my F1000 into bridge mode, it works fine as earlier, but as soon as the modem syncs up after it was switched to bridge mode, boom, it resets itself a few secs after it synced up and reboot, reset, reboot, infinitely...

Did I miss something?

Freddy Smelly

Langer wrote: »

got eircom to patch our F1000 at work, connection seems faster! going to try to bridge it later with a Netgear DGN3300.
Freddy Smelly - do you know if this will allow me to use NAT Loopback ? could really do with it .

having looked at one today i'd have to say no it doesnt appear to have an NAT loopback feature on it.

Freddy Smelly

chriss745 wrote: »

Freddy, I just got the firmware upgrade to 1.00(AAHA.3)D0, but I still have the boot loop bug. I did a factory reset, switched my F1000 into bridge mode, it works fine as earlier, but as soon as the modem syncs up after it was switched to bridge mode, boom, it resets itself a few secs after it synced up and reboot, reset, reboot, infinitely...

Did I miss something?

call into 1901 you might have a faulty modem... if it is stuck in a boot loop..

Freddy Smelly

ainiseoir wrote: »

Thank you, again
Itching to follow your advice.
One thing I noted in the window that came up was the option of entering my preferred DNS values, by changing to Static DHCP from Dynamic.
I have OpenDNS on my router etc.,
I can't remember having to make that decision before (Static v Dynamic) on my previous modems and I'm unsure of the consequences.
I know that some say there's no need, but it seems tidier and I do think that there seems to be a delay before a website opens.
I would appreciate a "No worries" or "Dpn't even think about doing that!"
I promise not to bother you again for a while.
Regatds

i have never had to set it to static before when setting modems into bridged mode.

open dns requires a dyndns.org account to use

delays when opening websites is because of ipv6.

go to network settings > home networking and disable "Ipv6 state". click apply
then go to network settings > broadband > modify ethwan and set ipv6/ipv4 to ipv4 only. click apply
then go to network settings > broadband > modify vdsl and set ipv6/ipv4 to ipv4 only. click apply (then modem will disconnect and reconnect without ipv6 and your webpages will open much much faster

ED E

Updates be coming for the F1000

Langer

Thanks Freddy. Can you recommend a replacement modem ? or will it work if i bridge it with the netgear.?

chriss745

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

call into 1901 you might have a faulty modem... if it is stuck in a boot loop..

Does anybody else has still issue with bridging after the firmware upgrade, or does my modem really faulty?

Freddy Smelly

Langer wrote: »

Thanks Freddy. Can you recommend a replacement modem ? or will it work if i bridge it with the netgear.?

it should work fine with the netgear router

Freddy Smelly

chriss745 wrote: »

Does anybody else has still issue with bridging after the firmware upgrade, or does my modem really faulty?

ive replaced two with similar issues... the new modems they got seem to be working now.


ive bridged hundreds of them now... so not that many getting the same issue you have

TheBoffin

Hi,

I have had the same issue with the F1000

The sequence of events are as follows:

1. Boot modem as normal
2. Connect to Admin Page
3. Set the VDSL port to Bridging
4. Restart Modem


Modem will then start up in the following Sequence

1. Power Light Flashing
2. Power Light Stable
3. DSL Light Flashing
4. DSL Light Stable
(This is where the problem is happening)
5. Internet Light Will Glow Red Then Immediately ALL Lights Will Come On And Modem Reboots

If the cycle occurs enough times it will make the hard reset option unresponsive. To get out of that cycle and put the modem back to normal, power up the modem with only the power cable connected, allow the power light to become stable and then reset using the reset pin.

I have spent several hours on the phone to Eircom over this issue for the last 3 days. I eventually got hold of someone at eircom who has the ability to talk to Zyxel and has opened a ticket for the issue to get the Firmware corrected.

So in Summary, it IS MOST CERTAINLY a firmware issue and no amount of replacement modems is going to sort it. I will be sure to post up my progress once I hear back from eircom RE: Firmware.

chriss745

TheBoffin wrote: »

Hi,

I have had the same issue with the F1000

The sequence of events are as follows:

1. Boot modem as normal
2. Connect to Admin Page
3. Set the VDSL port to Bridging
4. Restart Modem


Modem will then start up in the following Sequence

1. Power Light Flashing
2. Power Light Stable
3. DSL Light Flashing
4. DSL Light Stable
(This is where the problem is happening)
5. Internet Light Will Glow Red Then Immediately ALL Lights Will Come On And Modem Reboots

If the cycle occurs enough times it will make the hard reset option unresponsive. To get out of that cycle and put the modem back to normal, power up the modem with only the power cable connected, allow the power light to become stable and then reset using the reset pin.

I have spent several hours on the phone to Eircom over this issue for the last 3 days. I eventually got hold of someone at eircom who has the ability to talk to Zyxel and has opened a ticket for the issue to get the Firmware corrected.

So in Summary, it IS MOST CERTAINLY a firmware issue and no amount of replacement modems is going to sort it. I will be sure to post up my progress once I hear back from eircom RE: Firmware.

Thanks for sharing that, I agree also that this seems for a software issue, let's wait for a new firmware to eventually fix that boot loop problem.

TheBoffin

Yes hopefully they will have it sooner rather than later.
You can still operate in bridge mode with the F1000 as long as the power or DSL doesnt go down.

I have a Cisco 880 in place of the modem currently. A bit pricey at 350 EUR but its doing the trick.

chriss745

TheBoffin wrote: »

Yes hopefully they will have it sooner rather than later.
You can still operate in bridge mode with the F1000 as long as the power or DSL doesnt go down.

I have a Cisco 880 in place of the modem currently. A bit pricey at 350 EUR but its doing the trick.

Yeah, its fine, I had to hard reset it twice in 2 months, I can survive with it for the moment.

offmeheadpal

anyone try setting the MTU to 1280? may solve boot loop issue

chriss745

My modem stopped today so I factory reset it (it dies once in every week). After it came alive and connected to the Internet in routed mode all the leds started to blink, I got a firmware update. For a moment I was very happy, but unfortunately I got back the same firmware version which still has the bool loop bug.

Current Firmware Version: 1.00(AAHA.3)D0_0820_2

Did anybody hear anything about a fixed firmware?

TheBoffin

No update from Eircom yet on this, I checked with my case contact on Friday and the latest they have is that ZyXel are working on it.

chriss745

TheBoffin wrote: »

No update from Eircom yet on this, I checked with my case contact on Friday and the latest they have is that ZyXel are working on it.

Thanks for the update, hopefully they will release a patch still this year.

chriss745

Thanks to TheBoffin here is a workaround for the boot loop issue on F1000:

- Perform a 30/30/30 factory reset on the F1000 modem (http://compnetworking.about.com/b/2009/03/11/the-30-30-30-hard-reset-rule-for-routers.htm)
- Login to http://192.168.1.254/ with the default password from the back of the modem
- Set up the admin password (optional)
- Set up the wireless password (optional)
- Go to Network settings -> Broadband -> VDSL -> Modify -> change the MTU to 1484 -> Apply
- Go to Network settings -> Broadband -> VDSL -> Modify -> change the Mode to Bridge (leave VLAN on 10) -> Apply
- Reboot your modem (it may reboot itself one more time, but after it stays stable)

Tested on my side, it works, thanks TheBoffin!

Bryan10

Hi, Any advice for a modem router to replace eircoms f1000? I was thinking about the Draytek Vigor 2760n vdsl router. Would this be a suitable replacement? If not could you suggest any?

mcbert

Bryan10 wrote: »

Hi, Any advice for a modem router to replace eircoms f1000? I was thinking about the Draytek Vigor 2760n vdsl router. Would this be a suitable replacement? If not could you suggest any?

I wouldnt bother, instead I intend bridging the F1000 to a better wireless device. The Draytek routers only support 802.11N I think, but you could get the latest and greatest 802.11AC routers for the same price: either the Asus RT-AC66U, or by xmas, the new Asus RT-AC68U or Netgear R7000 should both be available.

TheBoffin

instead I intend bridging the F1000 to a better wireless device

One thing to note, even with the MTU workaround for boot loop, the modem can loose connection after several days and require a restart. It would seem that when the MTU is changed, when eircom do some maintenance at their end, the modem will not re-sync (i can live with that). What I have done in my case is put a timer on the F1000 to reboot each morning at 7am, so far so good

mcbert

TheBoffin wrote: »

One thing to note, even with the MTU workaround for boot loop, the modem can loose connection after several days and require a restart.

That not fixed with the latest firmware?

TheBoffin

That not fixed with the latest firmware?

I honestly don't know, I gave up on firmware updates back around September after a summer of phoning Eircom daily.

mcbert

TheBoffin wrote: »

I honestly don't know, I gave up on firmware updates back around September after a summer of phoning Eircom daily.

Have been following this thread:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056966218&page=8

A poster there said "the test firmware should fix the 9 day session timeout bug (currently being tested)..."

FYI, I have got the official firmware automatically that followed the test firmware he is referring to, some weeks ago. All I can say is I havent had to reboot it manually in weeks.

Freddy Smelly

mcbert wrote: »

Have been following this thread:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056966218&page=8

A poster there said "the test firmware should fix the 9 day session timeout bug (currently being tested)..."

FYI, I have got the official firmware automatically that followed the test firmware he is referring to, some weeks ago. All I can say is I havent had to reboot it manually in weeks.

the most recent official version is 1.00(aaha.4)do (this fixes the 9 day session timeout bug) to prevent bootloop update the modem to this firmware version. then on your router / firewall your bridging to the f1000 modem to set your mtu size to 1484

azzeretti

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

the most recent official version is 1.00(aaha.4)do (this fixes the 9 day session timeout bug) to prevent bootloop update the modem to this firmware version. then on your router / firewall your bridging to the f1000 modem to set your mtu size to 1484

Freddy, do you have any idea how you might assign multiple static public address to the F1000 without bridging it. I have a range of public IPs from Eircom and i would like to setup forwarding rules to different hosts on the LAN. The only way I can do this is to bridge the F1000 and build virtual interfaces on the router it bridges to. There has to be a way to do what I am looking for without another device!?

smanet

Hi, I was this thread looking why bridging the F1000 to the router looks so slow and not performing.
I'm wondering: should I change the MTU to 1484 on both interfaces (F1000 VDSL and my firewall ETH) or on the firewall will be enough?
Thank you!

Freddy Smelly

smanet wrote: »

Hi, I was this thread looking why bridging the F1000 to the router looks so slow and not performing.
I'm wondering: should I change the MTU to 1484 on both interfaces (F1000 VDSL and my firewall ETH) or on the firewall will be enough?
Thank you!

vdsl interface on the f1000 is for connections over telephone line (fttc)
ethwan interface on the f1000 is for connections over optical line (ftth)

you only need to set the mtu size to 1484 on the 3rd party router /firewall not on the f1000

smanet

Thank you Freddy for the explanation.
I'm running a Sophos UTM 9 in a KVM machine that worked fine with the normal ADSL modem.
I tried both MTU 1500 and MTU 1484 while bridging the eircom router but I got strange network delays and speed problems.
I don't have any kind of problem if I use my UTM with the next hop to the router Eircom modem (using standard MTU 1500).
I'm trying to figure out if this is due to the virtualization...