Always On

My Draytek ADSL Router gives me the option to be always on or to dial as
necessary.

Just practicing I have played around with the settings, it appears that if I
am offline it automatically connects if I use any internet service so I am
wondering what is the advantage or not of having an always on setting, is it
just to safeguard against incoming problems for computers that are left on
for long periods.

Geoff Lane
..

"Geoff Lane" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>My Draytek ADSL Router gives me the option to be always on or to dial as
>necessary.
>
>Just practicing I have played around with the settings, it appears that
if I
>am offline it automatically connects if I use any internet service so I
am
>wondering what is the advantage or not of having an always on setting, is
it
>just to safeguard against incoming problems for computers that are left
on
>for long periods.
>
>Geoff Lane
>.
>
>
>

The always on feature ensures that the Vigor itself does not disconnect from
the net, whereas if this is not set, it will disconnect itself after so many
seconds / minutes of inactivity.

Geoff Lane wrote:

> My Draytek ADSL Router gives me the option to be always on or to dial as
> necessary.
>
> Just practicing I have played around with the settings, it appears that if
> I am offline it automatically connects if I use any internet service so I
> am wondering what is the advantage or not of having an always on setting,
> is it just to safeguard against incoming problems for computers that are
> left on for long periods.

The bit of the ADSL infrastructure which most often seems to fail is the
RADIUS authentication system run by BT which processes your connection
username/password. If your router is permanently connected then I believe
you should be immune to such failures.
--
Dave

In article <3fe8e7f3$0$2770$(E-Mail Removed)>, Geoff Lane wrote:
> My Draytek ADSL Router gives me the option to be always on or to dial as
> necessary.
>
> Just practicing I have played around with the settings, it appears that if I
> am offline it automatically connects if I use any internet service so I am
> wondering what is the advantage or not of having an always on setting, is it
> just to safeguard against incoming problems for computers that are left on
> for long periods.

It won't make any difference to availability of the service if you switch the
whole system on and off together, because the router will have reconnected
before the computer has booted up.

However, have a look at the timestamps of items in the Draytek log. When the
unit is first powered up, it reverts to january 1 until the first time
correction by whatever method you have set. If this is important to you, leave
it on.

I think there's also a possibility with some ISPs that if you are disconnected
for any length of time you may be given a different IP address next time.
Again, whether you think this is important or not is up to you.

Rod.

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 11:55:02 GMT, Roderick Stewart <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>> My Draytek ADSL Router gives me the option to be always on or to dial as
>> necessary.
>>
>> Just practicing I have played around with the settings, it appears that if I
>> am offline it automatically connects if I use any internet service so I am
>> wondering what is the advantage or not of having an always on setting, is it
>> just to safeguard against incoming problems for computers that are left on
>> for long periods.
>
>It won't make any difference to availability of the service if you switch the
>whole system on and off together, because the router will have reconnected
>before the computer has booted up.
>
>However, have a look at the timestamps of items in the Draytek log. When the
>unit is first powered up, it reverts to january 1 until the first time
>correction by whatever method you have set. If this is important to you, leave
>it on.

Yes, I noticed that. Initially when I got the router I did switch it
off mainly because the power supply gets a bit hot.

>I think there's also a possibility with some ISPs that if you are disconnected
>for any length of time you may be given a different IP address next time.
>Again, whether you think this is important or not is up to you.

Haven't found it a problem at the moment, I use dynamic dns for a few
occasional functions.

Thanks for the info.

Geoff Lane

Geoff Lane" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 11:55:02 GMT, Roderick Stewart <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
> >> My Draytek ADSL Router gives me the option to be always on or to dial
as
> >> necessary.

Its a router, keep it on.
> >>
> >> Just practicing I have played around with the settings, it appears that
if I
> >> am offline it automatically connects if I use any internet service so I
am
> >> wondering what is the advantage or not of having an always on setting,
is it
> >> just to safeguard against incoming problems for computers that are left
on
> >> for long periods.

Just to remind you your Draytek router has a built in firewall to stop
intrusion and IT is the only thing accessible from the web. There really is
no reason to disable it unless you don't want people on your network to have
web access.

> >
> >It won't make any difference to availability of the service if you switch
the
> >whole system on and off together, because the router will have
reconnected
> >before the computer has booted up.

True but why switch it off? Obvoiusly its your choice but for me the whole
point is that its there on the network for any idiot (family member) that
wants to use the net without me having to do anything, any anti-virus
program that wants to update etc can do so and I just let it get on with
protecting my network.
> >
> >However, have a look at the timestamps of items in the Draytek log. When
the
> >unit is first powered up, it reverts to january 1 until the first time
> >correction by whatever method you have set. If this is important to you,
leave
> >it on.
>
> Yes, I noticed that. Initially when I got the router I did switch it
> off mainly because the power supply gets a bit hot.

Mines been on for over a year and is absoloutly fine. Along with the 8 port
switch, print server and now wireless box sitting underneath my printer
stacked on top of each other.

I suppose what i'm trying to say is its meant to be hot, meant to be on and
left etc.
>
> >I think there's also a possibility with some ISPs that if you are
disconnected
> >for any length of time you may be given a different IP address next time.
> >Again, whether you think this is important or not is up to you.
>
> Haven't found it a problem at the moment, I use dynamic dns for a few
> occasional functions.
>
The only problems i've had with my connection (not inclusing any isp
problems, although they have been small) are in connection and
authentication. Considering my router has been running for ages and the
current session started months ago and I haven't had any problems....why
would i want to invite more.

Sam


> Thanks for the info.


>
> Geoff Lane
>


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"Sam Albrow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:e0mGb.4882$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>
> Just to remind you your Draytek router has a built in firewall to stop
> intrusion and IT is the only thing accessible from the web.

Yes, point taken. I hear so many stories about security issues, some say
with NAT IP rules are not necessary and others say it is.

>There really is
> no reason to disable it unless you don't want people on your network to
have
> web access.

That is not a problem, ADSL was obtained for the ease of access.

> > Yes, I noticed that. Initially when I got the router I did switch it
> > off mainly because the power supply gets a bit hot.
>
> Mines been on for over a year and is absoloutly fine. Along with the 8
port
> switch, print server and now wireless box sitting underneath my printer
> stacked on top of each other.
>
> I suppose what i'm trying to say is its meant to be hot, meant to be on
and
> left etc.

I appreciate that cost wise there is little consumption but I tend to turn
things off if they don't need to be on, eg whilst we are all asleep.

Geoff Lane

In article <e0mGb.4882$(E-Mail Removed)>, Sam Albrow wrote:
> > >It won't make any difference to availability of the service if you switch
> the
> > >whole system on and off together, because the router will have
> reconnected
> > >before the computer has booted up.
>
> True but why switch it off? Obvoiusly its your choice but for me the whole
> point is that its there on the network for any idiot (family member) that
> wants to use the net without me having to do anything, any anti-virus
> program that wants to update etc can do so and I just let it get on with
> protecting my network.

I suppose this depends on your personal circumstances. If there are several
people with computers that might want to access the net at any time, then it
makes sense to keep it on, but if you live alone, anything electrical that
consumes power for hours at a time when you're out or asleep is simply a waste
of money.

Rod.