need to connect to ISP at 10mbps

peteybwild · 12-03-2009, 12:44 AM

I am a noob to Untangle but a friend showed it to me the other day at his school and I thought it would be useful at the school I work at.

I worked with our IT guy to attempt install last week. It failed. Over the past few days I think I have figured out why. The connection to our ISP requires at present that the external NIC run at 10mbps full mode. (We are using XP as a gateway to share the net connection to the school network and we always have to set the external NIC to 10mbps for the connection to work.)

Using Untangle's Advanced mode, I tried to change the ext NIC from Auto to 10. However, when I would save the change and return to the Interfaces screen, it would show that the card was back at 100. Then I read on the Untangle wiki that it is not possible to run at other than 100--Untangle doesn't offer that option. So, why does the option to lower the speed to 10 appear, but cannot be implemented? This seems strange. Why offer the option to change speeds if the software won't actually implement the change?

Are there any workarounds? (Of course, Auto mode ought to figure out that it needs to connect at 10mbps, but it cannot.) I am going to hound the ISP to change their hardware so that Auto/100 works and I can install Untangle. However, I'm working in Zambia and the responsiveness to customers is not legendary. Anything else I can do working with what I have?

Thanks.

mdh · 12-03-2009, 12:57 AM

Untangle defaults to auto-negotiate. That should work on a network that forces to 10 Mb/s. What is your network layout? I'm more inclined to think that the issue pertains to that. Also, are you using a standalone (dedicated) Untangle server or a Windows version? If you're running the standalone, drop to the terminal and try this command:

ethtool -s eth0 speed 10 duplex full autoneg off

The command makes the assumption that "eth0" is your external interface.

peteybwild · 12-03-2009, 01:57 AM

Thanks for the reply. Our network is quite simple. Have an XP box that functions as router, sharing wired net access with all other computers by connecting to wired hub (passing along to other hubs, etc). The LAN card runs fine at 100/Auto but the external only provides net at 10 full. (Connection to ISP is via a radio box on line-of-sight antenna. Not sure if it is the equipment in the radio requiring 10 or...?) We tried loading Untangle as dedicated router to take the place of XP on that same box.

I may not be able to try your solution until the weekend when I can disrupt net access for the school to load Untangle again on the gateway. (This time around, if Untangle will let me through advanced install options, I will see if I can load it for dual-booting instead of overwriting the whole HD. That will make testing easier to pull off from time to time.)

dwasserman · 12-03-2009, 04:59 AM

Can you buy an old hub or switch that work at 10 mb/s only?
If so, put this between external interface and ISP modem

greif · 12-03-2009, 02:57 PM

Or for a step up to an older managed switch like a 3com 3300 where you can designate each port as 10 or 100 or auto or full or half. They are pretty cheap on Ebay.

dmorris · 12-03-2009, 05:47 PM

some NICs (or drivers for them) don't support setting the speed manually.

dwasserman · 12-04-2009, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greif

Or for a step up to an older managed switch like a 3com 3300 where you can designate each port as 10 or 100 or auto or full or half. They are pretty cheap on Ebay.

Catalyst 1900 (Cisco fan here)

peteybwild · 12-06-2009, 02:17 AM

Thanks for these suggestions. It appears that the terminal command to reset the speed of the card to 10 was adequate for me. Untangle is now downloading its updates before I can proceed further. I'll be back with more install questions as needed....

peteybwild · 12-06-2009, 11:32 PM

Further question. How can I set Untangle to run that command line to reset the card to 10mbps each time it reboots? I know there must be a script (etho pre-up...) but I don't know what it would be exactly and where to put it.

12-03-2009, 12:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
peteybwild Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 5	need to connect to ISP at 10mbps I am a noob to Untangle but a friend showed it to me the other day at his school and I thought it would be useful at the school I work at. I worked with our IT guy to attempt install last week. It failed. Over the past few days I think I have figured out why. The connection to our ISP requires at present that the external NIC run at 10mbps full mode. (We are using XP as a gateway to share the net connection to the school network and we always have to set the external NIC to 10mbps for the connection to work.) Using Untangle's Advanced mode, I tried to change the ext NIC from Auto to 10. However, when I would save the change and return to the Interfaces screen, it would show that the card was back at 100. Then I read on the Untangle wiki that it is not possible to run at other than 100--Untangle doesn't offer that option. So, why does the option to lower the speed to 10 appear, but cannot be implemented? This seems strange. Why offer the option to change speeds if the software won't actually implement the change? Are there any workarounds? (Of course, Auto mode ought to figure out that it needs to connect at 10mbps, but it cannot.) I am going to hound the ISP to change their hardware so that Auto/100 works and I can install Untangle. However, I'm working in Zambia and the responsiveness to customers is not legendary. Anything else I can do working with what I have? Thanks.

12-03-2009, 12:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
mdh Join Date: Aug 2007 URLs submitted: 171 Posts: 4,802	Untangle defaults to auto-negotiate. That should work on a network that forces to 10 Mb/s. What is your network layout? I'm more inclined to think that the issue pertains to that. Also, are you using a standalone (dedicated) Untangle server or a Windows version? If you're running the standalone, drop to the terminal and try this command: ethtool -s eth0 speed 10 duplex full autoneg off The command makes the assumption that "eth0" is your external interface. __________________ This space reserved for profound thought.....which does happen on occasion." Last edited by mdh; 12-03-2009 at 01:01 AM.. Reason: stuff, stuff, more stuff

12-03-2009, 05:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
dmorris Untangle Junkie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Mateo, CA URLs submitted: 10 Posts: 10,189	some NICs (or drivers for them) don't support setting the speed manually. __________________ Attention: Support and help on the Untangle Forums is provided by volunteers and community members like yourself. If you need Untangle support please call or email support@untangle.com

12-03-2009, 01:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
peteybwild Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 5	Thanks for the reply. Our network is quite simple. Have an XP box that functions as router, sharing wired net access with all other computers by connecting to wired hub (passing along to other hubs, etc). The LAN card runs fine at 100/Auto but the external only provides net at 10 full. (Connection to ISP is via a radio box on line-of-sight antenna. Not sure if it is the equipment in the radio requiring 10 or...?) We tried loading Untangle as dedicated router to take the place of XP on that same box. I may not be able to try your solution until the weekend when I can disrupt net access for the school to load Untangle again on the gateway. (This time around, if Untangle will let me through advanced install options, I will see if I can load it for dual-booting instead of overwriting the whole HD. That will make testing easier to pull off from time to time.)

12-03-2009, 04:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
dwasserman Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Argentina URLs submitted: 57 Posts: 3,557	Can you buy an old hub or switch that work at 10 mb/s only? If so, put this between external interface and ISP modem

12-03-2009, 02:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
greif Untangler Join Date: Apr 2008 URLs submitted: 1 Posts: 36	Or for a step up to an older managed switch like a 3com 3300 where you can designate each port as 10 or 100 or auto or full or half. They are pretty cheap on Ebay.

12-06-2009, 02:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
peteybwild Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 5	Thanks for these suggestions. It appears that the terminal command to reset the speed of the card to 10 was adequate for me. Untangle is now downloading its updates before I can proceed further. I'll be back with more install questions as needed....

12-06-2009, 11:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
peteybwild Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 5	Further question. How can I set Untangle to run that command line to reset the card to 10mbps each time it reboots? I know there must be a script (etho pre-up...) but I don't know what it would be exactly and where to put it.