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Users logged out, cannot log in

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:02 pm
by WirelessVillage
Hi All

I have a Mikrotik 2.9 installation that is giving me trouble.

The box (PC) is used as a PPPoE/Hotspot authenticator for a wired network (access within an office building). It authenticates through a RADIUS server.

Lately, about once every 2 hours, all users are kicked off. PPPoE users first, then web-login users 2 minutes later. Users cannot reauthenticate without a reboot of the Mikrotik box. Upon reboot, PPPoE users instantly connect, and web users follow as they retry.

When the users re-login (or PPPoE does so for them), the request does make it to the RADIUS server, and the RADIUS server is returning the correct response. No entry is made in the logs regarding RADIUS server timeouts, or bad authentication details. It seems Mikrotik is just stalling somewhere, losing the users, and not recovering.

I have checked the vitals of the PC itself, and find no overheating or loose connections.

I reinstalled Mikrotik (keeping previous configuration), but the problem still persists.

At this point, I have the system on a scheduled 1 hour reboot just to keep downtime to a minimum.

Any ideas, or more information I could provide?

Thanks,

Dan

Re: Users logged out, cannot log in

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:12 am
by Chupaka
what about v3?

Re: Users logged out, cannot log in

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:53 am
by WirelessVillage
As I said, it's 2.9.

This is the first time we've had unstable behavior in any of our dozens of 2.x Mikrotik deployments, and do not need new features.

Re: Users logged out, cannot log in

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:14 am
by normis
You must understand that new versions bring not only features, but mostly fixes and improvements. And by the way - they also bring you technical support.

Maybe Mikrotik already fixed your problem.

Re: Users logged out, cannot log in

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 10:01 am
by WirelessVillage
Hi Normis. Have gotten quite a bit of help from you in the past just by seeing your help to others. Big thanks.

My reply to the person above meant no ill will. I just wouldn't say "What about Vista?" to a user experiencing a problem with XP... Feels the same here.

We all in IT know that there's a balance between "if it ain't broke, dont fix it" and new features/fixes. I just don't think that blindly upgrading (at a price) should be a solution to this problem. The system in question has been up for almost 2 years, and has never behaved this way. No changes have been made to the setup recently. Mikrotik has just gone bonkers, lol... Very odd for this software, has always been solid on 22 other deployments of 2.9.

2.9 isn't very old, so hopefully someone can remember back.. If any more info is needed, I'm glad to post it.

Also: I replaced RAM and all 3 NIC's that were in the machine as they're often likely culprits (with identical parts... we built many of these and have spares). System behavior continues.

Re: Users logged out, cannot log in

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:51 pm
by alaaghazi
Hi,

See if the users in the same site have some worms. I think this can cause real issues.

use torch tool.

Bye

Ala'a

Re: Users logged out, cannot log in

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:31 am
by normis
We all in IT know that there's a balance between "if it ain't broke, dont fix it"
but it is broke :D Don't compare it to XPvsVista. Rather Windows update, or Service Pack.