Topic: Weird Lockup Issue I need help with

[AidansDad]

so I've got a 6.5RC 1 server acting as a server and dialup gateway.  

I'm using the sme-squid contrib to authenticate users to the proxy server.  that contrib also required sme-upgppp

I've got user panel access contrib installed too.

that's it - those are the only extra contribs running right now.

anyway I installed the server and everything was fine at first.  the modem wasn't connected and they were off the internet for a few days while other server stuff was being sorted out.

the first night it got on the internet, I was there working on it.  I shut the modem off accidentally without thinking. when  it attempted to dial back in the server completey locked up.

I didn't think too much of it, until I was able to replicate the problem every time by doing that.  

So the modem and computer were plugged into the same UPS and I thought maybe there was some power issue.  I moved the modem off the ups into a standard powerstrip.  I couldn't replicate the problem now.  I thought I was OK.....but no.

reports were pouring in of complete lockups and they all center around that modem line which also is shared with a fax machine.

I've got reports of them just receiving a fax and that causing the server to lock up.....

but I've tried other stuff too - replacing the power supply in the computer, making sure I had matching RAM sticks - moved the modem to a different COM port etc. Installed a different UPS and ran the modem line through it first. nothing has made this go away.  it's better at times, but they still are locking up at least one every couple of days - unacceptable.

I'm going to try a different modem tonight.  they have a creative external that is newer and may have "call waiting" features or whatever it's called.  I have an external USR 56K v.90 modem which I think is good.  so I'm going to try that.

the WEIRDEST thing about it is that they were having no lockup problems with 5.6 proxy-auth contrib and the same modem they have now. I tried to use proxy-auth but it wouldn't work on 6.5 which is why I went to sme-squid.

I'm nearly at a loss here.  I want to get this sorted out before I finish the job I'm working on there and upgrade everyone to a domain configuration.

they've been patient with me on this so far...but I'm affraid I'm not going to have much longer before they start getting irrate.

please, any ideas?

[MSmith]

Sounds as though the modem needs a custom init string that will tell it not to auto-answer ... it sounds as though it's registering incoming calls and waiting for a certain number of rings to pick up, then when the fax machine picks up it confuses the server.

As to turning the modem off and thus locking the server ... I'm kind of at a loss there, perhaps trying another modem  would help.  I don't think changing COM ports, etc. will help.  You might examine carefully the DIP switches on the modem, if it has such.

[raem]

AidansDad

>...they all center around that modem line which
> also is shared with a fax machine

So how is the line physically shared with the modem, you should isolate the two with a privacy switch.

[AidansDad]

AidansDad

>...they all center around that modem line which
> also is shared with a fax machine

So how is the line physically shared with the modem, you should isolate the two with a privacy switch.

yeah I'm thinking that too.  when I initially hooked them up years ago I had just split the line and everything seemed to be fine running an old (5.5) version of SME.  I just noticed last night that they had the modem hooked from the ext port on the fax machine. and as soon as I turned the modem off and back on I could hear the fax machine click and permanent lockup  

I tried a splitter and also running the line through the UPS first then into the modem and out of the modem into the fax machine, but same results.  the fax machine is definately causing problems....I'm just not sure of exactly how.

is this what you mean by "privacy switch"
http://www.cablesnmor.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=629

because I'm thinking of trying to find one of those and give it a shot.  I'm also considering seeing if the old proxy-auth contrib that worked on 5.6 works on the 6.0 release and maybe stepping back to that as I'm wondering if the upgppp package has anything to do with this.  finally I'm thinking maybe different server hardware (motherboard - memory - processor) might do the trick.

I'm think I'm going to try the switch first because even though it cost me more than the other solutions, there is far less time involved in testing the fix.

[raem]

AidansDad

> is this what you mean by "privacy switch"
> http://www.cablesnmor.com/index.asp?
> PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=629

Yes but I was thinking of an automatic version
see
http://dseau.resultspage.com/search.php?sessionid=430f13ce04b095e02740c0a87f9c0724&site=&w=privacy+switch

Whichever device (modem or fax) gets the line first cuts off the other device thus preventing them from interfering with each other.

[AidansDad]

I think the manual one actually suits their needs better....plus I'm having a hard time finding something like that here in the US in early google attempts.  

they've been shutting off the modem and/or pulling the phone cord from it to send or recieve faxes, so a manual switch would allow them just to switch from A-B when they want to use the fax machine.

I'm hoping this is the solution - this problem has been driving me crazy!