Recently there was an internet outage in my neighborhood. Logic dictates when this happens getting online is impossible. The local network, however, should remain unaffected. This is not the case. Mapped network drives become invisible. They can't even be access locally via FTP or any other way. What's more, if you open the browser and type 192.168.1.1 on the address bar, nothing comes up. To make matters worse, when the internet finally came back, I had to power cycle the router to make the network drives visible again.
There's got to be something wrong in the settings or elsewhere. I find it hard to believe that the simple fact that no internet is detected would cause the router to disable other functions and virtually shut down completely.
How do we fix this so I can be ready if and when my ISP acts up again?
Re: Router basically shuts down when internet fails
Not really telling us what router you have?
Any ISP problems seen on the ISP service or modem will need to be taken up with the ISP first. Need to make sure there services and hardward are to spec and working well.
Re: Router basically shuts down when internet fails
Yikes, I forgot the model number of the router. It an RAXE500 with the latest firmware.
This is not an ISP issue. My point is that if there's an outage, the router should continue to function normally, just without internet access. This isn't happening. It virtually shuts down.
A simple example. When the internet is down, watching a movie on Netflix is impossible. However, there are movies on a portable drive connected to the router's USB port. If I'm at home on the internal network, I see no reason why I shouldn't be able to view these movies. The fact that internet access isn't currently available is beside the point. That's the issue right there. What's more, even if you bring up 192.168.1.1, you get nothing.
Clearly this shouldn't be happening. How do we fix it before another outage comes along?
Re: Router basically shuts down when internet fails
Would still need to know what brand and model# ISP modem/ONT you have.
What FW version is loaded currently?
What is the CAT# LAN cable being used between the modem and router? CAT6 UTP is recommended. If your modem is supporting of 2.5Gb or higher connection rates on it's WAN port, then CAT6A STP would be recommended.
What all devices do you have connected to the router?
Is Armor, Smart Parental or Traffic Meter controls enabled on the router?
Has a factory reset and setup from scratch been performed since last FW update?
Re: Router basically shuts down when internet fails
Hello,
Given your response I'm under the impression that the issue I'm having isn't normal. It's either a malfunction or configuration problem. That's good to know. Let me answer your questions, hopefully we'll get to the bottom of this.
My RAXE500 router is currently running V1.0.10.82_2.0.39. I'm lucky enough to have Google Fiber as my ISP. There's a "fiber jack" on the wall. I don't know what model it is but it's their standard and it works great. Outages are infrequent and repaired within hours at most.
GF recommends and installed a Cat5E cable. As you know, this maxes out a 1 Gpbs which is exactly what GF is giving me. In my tests I consistently get about 945 Mbps both up and down. This is through the router with a Cat6 LAN cable between the router and my desktop on the 2.5 Gbps port. The PC's LAN connections supports 2.5 Gpbs.
Connected to the router are a Western Digital My Passport 4 GB mechanical hard drive and a Samsung 2 GB SSD using a SATA to USB case. These on ports 1 and 2 respectively. Both are mapped and accessible via FTP. No issues unless, of course, at outage occurs.
There is no armor, parental controls nor traffic management enabled. The reviews I've seen about armor are horrendous, to say the least.
I've power cycled the router possibly twice since the firmware upgrade. Unlike previous ones, this firmware is very stable and even brings new useful features. Do you believe a factory reset is warranted? Unless there's an outage the router works OK.
Re: Router basically shuts down when internet fails
I decided to come back here because the other day someone cut the ISP's cable and I was out of internet for several hours.
I don't think I made myself clear last time. I have 2 drives hooked up to both of the router's USB ports. Both are mapped with drive letters on Windows 11 and are accessible via FTP (locally using 192.168.1.1). Phones and other compatible devices can also be accessed locally using basically the same method. None of this works when the internet is down. Why not? All this is LOCAL. It shouldn't make any difference. It's as if the router just shuts down completely when no internet is detected.
Why does this happen and how can it be fixed? I've been reading something about putting the router in the AP mode until the internet returns. Will that solve the problem?
I decided to come back here because the other day someone cut the ISP's cable and I was out of internet for several hours.
I don't think I made myself clear last time. I have 2 drives hooked up to both of the router's USB ports. Both are mapped with drive letters on Windows 11 and are accessible via FTP (locally using 192.168.1.1). Phones and other compatible devices can also be accessed locally using basically the same method. None of this works when the internet is down. Why not? All this is LOCAL. It shouldn't make any difference. It's as if the router just shuts down completely when no internet is detected.
Why does this happen and how can it be fixed? I've been reading something about putting the router in the AP mode until the internet returns. Will that solve the problem?
The router function of pulling data through the USB ports could very well be dependent on internet access. I have cameras, network assigned storage (through a local IP address), and other computers connected through my Netgear router. When my internet service goes down or I intentionally disconnect it, I have full access to/from all devices on my local network. This access is via either Ethernet or via Wi-Fi. My modem and Wi-Fi router are powered via an UPS.
My recommendation would be to ditch the drives connected via the router USB ports. Replace them with a network storage device connected to your network via Ethernet.
Re: Router basically shuts down when internet fails
Thanks for all your help.
I ran a test by doing what you guys suggested. I now believe I was looking for the problem in the wrong place.
With my computers and phones still connected to the RAXE500, I unplugged the ISP's modem. Sure enough, I could access the USB drives and phones locally with no issues. It then occurred to me to reboot the computer and phone. Local connection was lost. In fact, on the top of the phone it said 5G and the Wifi handheld fan was nowhere in sight. It appears that when the devices boot up, it is they who shut the connection down when they don't detect internet and not the other way around. However, if you don't reboot them, they don't know the internet is down and continue acting as if nothing had happened.
Maybe one of you guys might want to try rebooting a phone or a Windows computer to see if you get the same results. If so, we know for sure this is the problem.
I ran a test by doing what you guys suggested. I now believe I was looking for the problem in the wrong place.
With my computers and phones still connected to the RAXE500, I unplugged the ISP's modem. Sure enough, I could access the USB drives and phones locally with no issues. It then occurred to me to reboot the computer and phone. Local connection was lost. In fact, on the top of the phone it said 5G and the Wifi handheld fan was nowhere in sight. It appears that when the devices boot up, it is they who shut the connection down when they don't detect internet and not the other way around. However, if you don't reboot them, they don't know the internet is down and continue acting as if nothing had happened.
Maybe one of you guys might want to try rebooting a phone or a Windows computer to see if you get the same results. If so, we know for sure this is the problem.
With devices (Win 10 or 11 computers and Android mobile) connected to the LAN via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, have full access to LAN devices and router UI.
Disconnected the Ethernet cable at the back of the modem. Internet access indicator on the router went dark.
Confirmed access to LAN devices from Windows 10 computers (Ethernet and Wi-Fi connection) and Android mobile.
Restarted the Windows 10 computers and the Android devices. No change in access to the LAN devices. No problem establishing a connection to the Wi-Fi.
After restart, the Windows 11 computer had no issues with Ethernet connection to the LAN devices.
However, after restart, the Windows 11 computer would not establish a connection to the Wi-Fi when the router had no internet access. A surprise to me. There may be a setting buried somewhere in Windows 11 that controls this result.
Re: Router basically shuts down when internet fails
However, after restart, the Windows 11 computer would not establish a connection to the Wi-Fi when the router had no internet access. A surprise to me. There may be a setting buried somewhere in Windows 11 that controls this result.
Exactly my issue. My only test was with WiFi so in all probabilty it'll work with LAN. I'd have to run a test but I have no reason to doubt your word. I'll let you know if something is off.
With devices (Win 10 or 11 computers and Android mobile) connected to the LAN via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, have full access to LAN devices and router UI
Concerning the Android phone. When rebooting after no internet it says 5G at the top. Naturally with 5G there is no way in hell a local connection will work. When I checked WiFi in the settings, it said (paraphrasing) "Connected to Network, No Internet". I'm thinking my phone (Pixel 7 Pro, Android 14) automatically takes out the router in favor of 5G when no internet is detected. Maybe disabling mobile data when there's no internet and when I need access to my stuff just might do the trick. Test pending.
BTW how do you do quotes with this software? I had to use italics.
However, after restart, the Windows 11 computer would not establish a connection to the Wi-Fi when the router had no internet access. A surprise to me. There may be a setting buried somewhere in Windows 11 that controls this result.
Exactly my issue. My only test was with WiFi so in all probabilty it'll work with LAN. I'd have to run a test but I have no reason to doubt your word. I'll let you know if something is off.
With devices (Win 10 or 11 computers and Android mobile) connected to the LAN via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, have full access to LAN devices and router UI
Concerning the Android phone. When rebooting after no internet it says 5G at the top. Naturally with 5G there is no way in hell a local connection will work. When I checked WiFi in the settings, it said (paraphrasing) "Connected to Network, No Internet". I'm thinking my phone (Pixel 7 Pro, Android 14) automatically takes out the router in favor of 5G when no internet is detected. Maybe disabling mobile data when there's no internet and when I need access to my stuff just might do the trick. Test pending.
BTW how do you do quotes with this software? I had to use italics.
Click on reply, then the three dots at the top of the text window for additional options, then the oversized quotes icon.
