SpamSlayer.

Playstation 3 woes

So I made a post about my network setup a while back, it has changed a bit, but basically the same structure. I thought it was working fine because the Wii could access the internet as well as all the laptops and computers. The fact it was working made me really happy, I could now walk around my house and the wireless on my netbook would switch to the router with the best signal :)

A few weeks before I changed my network setup I had bought COD4 (yes, I know, quite late in the game). I had been playing online learning how to play, eventually leveled up to have a decent gun and I have been playing to get my ratio > 1 But recently my PS3 started acting up, it kept disconnecting from PSN and therefore I could not play online :(

Broken hearted, I went online searching for the same problems that other might have had (at this point a network setup problem didn’t occur to me since the other console was working online just fine). A majority of the posts dated back to 2006 (i think) and heres a quick summary of all the fixes people were suggesting:

1. Disable Media Center/Server option under Network Settings
2. Disable UPnP
3. Change the channel the router is on
4. Change the router password to all numbers
5. Turn off all the computers on the network, start up the playstation 3, then turn on all the computers
6. Give the Playstation 3 a static IP and port forward

Now, here is my analysis of the list:
Disabling any options on the PS3, I threw out the window (Takes out the first 2 answers).
Changing the channel on the router, I threw out as well; I have 3 routers set up for WDS, they all act on the same channel, same ssid, same password, there is no other signal on their channel around.
Change the router password to all numbers; I can’t even believe this came up as an answer, I am sure SONY would at least be able to send a fairly complex password to a router for auth.
Turn off all computers…; lets just say that answer killed itself right there.
Give the Playstation 3 a static IP; I already have it set up as a static IP, port forwarded and everything.

So, what was the problem? None of these would solve it.

Using the playstation 3 on wired connection worked just fine, all the Connection Tests succeeded.
Using the playstation 3 on wireless connection worked for the most part, all the Connection Tests succeeded as well.

Well, I thought, the Playstation 3 connects just fine but it disconnects every 2 minutes or so then reconnects, so the password sending was working. I decided, what if the network had no passwords, then everything would just connect and not have to send a password at all, an open network. So I disabled the passwords and of course, problem solved.

Why? I’m not sure. I think it is that the Playstation 3 kept switching which router it was connected to, and everytime it wanted to connect to the next router it would disconnect first then send the password to the next router, and grab a new IP. That is what seems to be the problem but I’m not sure. The only thing I changed was removing the password. I later, for security, set the router to permit only certain MAC addresses to connect.

Anyway, I am happy that it all works again!

Tomato (firmware), PXE, and joy.

So I have 3 routers and a switch and DHCP server box that I need to PXE boot my computers.

The DHCP server is running Fedora 10 (soon to be Fedora 11, downloading…) and I am using cobbler for all the configuration.

I did manage to PXE boot my laptop (wired) when the DHCP server was on the switch. I was so glad. So I’ve been messing with my 3 linksys routers and 1 netgear switch so that I can get it working with the setup I want.

After much confusion, frustration, and hurt hands from punching the wall…I finally got the network working (next step, disable the router dhcp and get my own running).

My network setup:
Internet ——->
Cable Modem ——->
Router #1 ——->
Computer #1
Switch ——->
Computer #2
Computer #3
Computer #4
Computer #5
Router #2 ——->
Router #3
Server #1 (file server)
Server #2 (dhcp, pxe server)

Here’s a really ugly sketch made in MSPAINT,


All 3 routers are running tomato firmware :)
Router #1 is set up as an Access Point
Router #2 is set up as an Access Point + WDS
Router #3 is set up as an Access Point + WDS
all have the same ssid thing, same password, same channel.

I’m so excited that it works! Now to get Fedora 11 installed (it just finished) and get my own dhcp up and running!

waiting for the conflicker c virus….and in love with this Jennifer Jackson girl

Can’t wait to get the conflicker virus! It’ll be such a blast! All the hip kids have it. haha