Re: Idle Time Out?
alexm@agetech.net
Mon, 07 Oct 1996 11:50:53 -0400
Thomas K Harris wrote:
>
> I picked up this thread from July on the portmaster-users mailing list.
> We are having the same problem. Namely, we have customers who use a
> satellite service such that all of their outgoing packets go through their
> modem and the terminatl server, but all of their incoming packets are fed
> to them via a satellite feed. It appears that regardless of what the
> manual says, the idle timer only pays attention to packets _leaving_ the
> serial ports, so these customers are disconnected every 20 minutes.
>
> It appears that the above attached thread dies and that there still is no
> solution. Is that the case? Satellite, cable modem, and other hybrid
> sytems will only increase in popularity in the coming months.
>
> Thomas K Harris Telephone : 601.969.1434
> IT Manager -> Internet Doorway, Inc. Toll Free : 800.952.1570
> http://www.netdoor.com/ Fax Number: 601.969.3838
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: Idle Time Out?
> Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 01:47:49 -0500
> From: Nick@icu.com (Nick Feinberg)
> To: radiusnt@iea.com
> CC: portmaster-users@livingston.com
> References: <Pine.LNX.3.91.960728000042.6103C-100000@linux.industry-dm.com>
>
> how can I set a idle time? So If a user decides to connect to me forever
> or he/she did not remember to hang up my postmaster will hang up on
> them?
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: Re: Idle Time Out?
> Date: Sun, 28 Jul 1996 02:13:38 -0500
> From: Larry Vaden <vaden@texoma.net>
> To: Nick@icu.com (Nick Feinberg)
> CC: support@livingston.com, bksimpson@texoma.net, crigney@livingston.com,
> portmaster-users@livingston.com
>
> At 01:47 AM 7/29/96 -0500, you wrote:
> >how can I set a idle time? So If a user decides to connect to me forever
> >or he/she did not remember to hang up my postmaster will hang up on
> >them?
>
> Try "set all idletime 30" e.g., to set a 30 minute inactivity timeout on
> OUTPUT from the Portmaster to your modem user.
>
> Based on my experience (and apparently that of another list writer earlier
> this week), the idle timer only works for outbound traffic. Inbound traffic
> (from modem user to portmaster) does not reset the inactivity timer.
>
> Livingston has been quiet this week on whether this is a feature designed to
> assist terrestial (land line) based ISPs in negotiations with hybrid system
> ISPs :)
>
> Don't worry though -- MEGAZONE will soon bellow out "Don't ask for features
> we've already got" again!
>
> RGDS,
>
> Larry
>
> Larry Vaden, founder and CEO Voice: 800-697-0206
> Internet Texoma, Inc. Modem Pool: 903-465-9335
> bringing the real Internet to rural Texomaland email: vaden@texoma.net
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: Re: Idle Time Out?
> Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 09:44:09 -0700
> From: John Storms <jstorms@livingston.com>
> To: Larry Vaden <vaden@texoma.net>
> CC: portmaster-users@livingston.com
>
> At 02:13 AM 7/28/96 -0500, you wrote:
> >Based on my experience (and apparently that of another list writer earlier
> >this week), the idle timer only works for outbound traffic. Inbound traffic
> >(from modem user to portmaster) does not reset the inactivity timer.
>
> The idle timer (which can be seen from sh sessions) will reset with inbound
> and outbound packets going accross the interface. The only thing that does
> NOT reset the idle timer is RIP (udp/520).
>
> ---
> jstorms@livingston.com
> The poor seek food, the rich seek an appetite. -- fortune cookie
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: Re: Idle Time Out?
> Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 12:34:55 -0500
> From: Larry Vaden <vaden@texoma.net>
> To: John Storms <jstorms@livingston.com>
> CC: portmaster-users@livingston.com
>
> At 09:44 AM 7/31/96 -0700, you wrote:
> >At 02:13 AM 7/28/96 -0500, you wrote:
> >>Based on my experience (and apparently that of another list writer earlier
> >>this week), the idle timer only works for outbound traffic. Inbound traffic
> >>(from modem user to portmaster) does not reset the inactivity timer.
> >
> >The idle timer (which can be seen from sh sessions) will reset with inbound
> >and outbound packets going accross the interface. The only thing that does
> >NOT reset the idle timer is RIP (udp/520).
> >
> >---
> >jstorms@livingston.com
> >The poor seek food, the rich seek an appetite. -- fortune cookie
>
> John, here is the original sniplet from the subscriber; this subscriber is
> quite knowledgeable. How do we reconcile his report and our observations
> vs. yours - BTW, his ability to stay online tracked my increasing the idle
> timer...
>
> >>I have my email running in the background and checking every 2 minutes. It
> >>doesn't seem to matter what i'm doing, at about the same time interval the
> >>modem gets disconnected, then redials. I didn't have this problem when I
> >>only used the modem for incoming and outgoing data, but then I didn't have
> >>this incoming speed either.
> >>
> >>My conversations with Hughes points to it being most likely IT's connection
> >>timing is monitored on outgoing traffic. And since my outgoing traffic from
> >>IT goes over the T1 to the satellite, then it appears as I have no activity
> >>on my connect.
>
> Your thoughts are appreciated. All of our PMs are at:
>
> ts01> ver
> Livingston Enterprises PortMaster Version 3.3.1b8
> System uptime is 24 days 5 hours 45 minutes!
>
> Thanks for your thoughts.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Larry Vaden
>
> Larry Vaden, founder and CEO Voice: 800-697-0206
> Internet Texoma, Inc. Modem Pool: 903-465-9335
> bringing the real Internet to rural Texomaland email: vaden@texoma.net
I know this is not the way to do it, but wouldnt it be easy just to set
up a crontab to ping the machine 1 time every 15 minutes or
somethinglike that. Or if you are using a Windows system, find an
equivalent software?