Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

In the office we have Virgins 50mbit business broadband, of course as we all know modem mode was never available on the business firmware. However when I logged on to the modem this morning I noticed I now have the option of enabling modem mode.

The Superhub is a VMDG480
Software Version: BUS_V2.37.13
Hardware Version: 2.00

I’m not sure how long this has been available, I’ve not been able to find much from searching about it either. If I was to enable modem mode does anyone know if I still make use of the Static IP Subnet assigned by Virgin?

At present all the Superhub does is provide the internet connection, we have 5x static ip addresses and our own router / firewall.

For some reason our Superhub has however been dead for the last three mornings in a row (previously worked fine since we got it in May) I was thinking it might be more stable in modem mode going by past experience with the residential version at home, however I can’t really play about with the internet in office hours.

Screenshot of the Modem Mode settings on the Business firmware:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2014/10/7.jpg

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

About time!

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Just checked and we too have that firmware revision, which I suspect was loaded very recently.

I revisited the website for their new Cable Broadband offering and see there is now mention of a fixed IP connection ("where available") for the 152 Mb/s service.

I wonder if enabling the modem mode in older modems has anything to do with that change, although I know the new service is supposed to be provided to new customers with a newer Superhub design.

Maybe though it is a sign they are planning to change the way they provision fixed IP addresses perhaps going back to the long lease IP solution they used to use.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Still have BUS_V2.37.06 here. tried a reboot to force an update but still the same....

I think the fixed IP where available message has been there for a while. elsewhere on the website it's worded:-

Choose from our 152Mbit/s package from just £45 a month (excl VAT) or for £40 a month (excl VAT) get speeds up to 50Mbit/s and an inclusive static IP upon request.

So mentions the fixed IP address only with the 50 Mb/s service - ie that provided by a Superhub 1.

So I think we still need to wait for the business firmware for the Superhub 2AC. Hope they get a move on with that. The website doesn't provide the details about this service as there is no mention of the routed subnet option but that is available but again only on the 50 Mb/s service

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

In modem mode the modem does not deal with the routed subnet, you have to do that yourself.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Which is why the *could* offer the fixed IP/routed subnet option on the 152 Mb/s service today in modem mode - as long as you could run the L2TP tunnel on the router you put behind the Superhub.

I guess they want an 'out of the box' solution though to make support more streamlined.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Indeed. Or charge more for the 'managed' service.

To be fair if I was desperate I'd buy a bunch of IPs, rent a server somewhere and run my own L2TP tunnel to it. No real reason to rely on Virgin Media, it's not like their method is 'special' or network specific in any way.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Virgin has downgraded our Superhub to the previous BUS_V2.37.06 firmware as BUS_V2.37.13 kept crashing our Superhub every 12-14 hours. Two days later and it’s still going strong.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

We still have the .13 version in ours but we are now suffering local outages in our area (both domestic and our business line plus our ISDN30).

Having spent a total of more than 3 hours in queues to business faults in the last week I would not recommend anyone sign up to Virginmedia Business at the moment. Not being able to report a faults for over an hour is not only frustrating but makes their SLAs a joke.

I have complained to several people about this by email and phone. I got no response to an email (sent via a form on their site). The staff on the phone were very apologetic and said they were grossly understaffed but measures were being put in place to recruit more staff (one lady said she was one of them)! How have management let it get to this state I ask?!

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I spoke to VM Business sales today about the fixed IP options on the new 152 Mb/s business service. I was told still not available yet, and while to can't quote exact time frames they are expecting it during Quarter 1 next year, and will be, as now for the 50 Mb/s service - single fixed IP address or routed subnet.

He said they have had a lot of enquiries about it, so it is a priority.

Waiting on business firmware for the SH2 AC I gather.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Any news on routed subnets on 152mbit?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Someone from the sales team told me to expect that in Q1 next year

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Thanks. Might be something for us to consider

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Hopefully the timing isn't too far out. I suspect the options they need (L2TP config) are there in the base Superhub config, they just need to surface them in the GUI, so I am surprised it's taking so long :-)

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

PPP appears to do some rather bad things to some VM CPE when running at the higher data rates right now, so a few issues to iron out.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

oh really? so not just SH2AC firmware in a business form to release then?

Hopefully they won't take too long, as, yet again, their fastest fixed IP business service is the slowest they offer new residential customers.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

A PPP client that works with the hardware is the only real difference between the firmwares beyond the obvious cosmetics.

Last I heard there were still issues with the PPP client causing resource issues.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Why PPP (as opposed to the much better acclaimed L2TP)

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I thought it was an L2TP tunnel the business Superhub formed for it's fixed IP address services

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Have a new VM Business service here with Superhub 1. Was informed by VM tech support (after being a dumby and clicking the button that says I can have modem mode) that the modem mode still isn't supported.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Is that with the 50 or 150 service?

I've got a client on 50mb with a Hub 2 (well I presume it is a 2 as it's 2.00 in hardware version on the portal) and I'm going to put in an old 1841 as a stop gap with Modem mode enabled but I'm curious how the Static IP thing will work.

The current Vigor 2830 they have keeps crashing without Modem mode which I thought might be because there's double NAT'ing and it's getting the Vigor all confused.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

It's debatable if "Modem mode still isn't supported" means that, or that the agent you spoke to just didn't get the memo. Happens a lot with Virgin.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

The L2TP tunnel is from the CMTS back to a BRAS / LNS. The connection between CPE and CMTS is PPPoE.

L2TP is pretty basic and lacks the functionality needed for this; it is there to extend layer 2 networks, not for what is essentially emulating a dial-up connection over an IP network.

When you use an 'L2TP' or 'PPTP' VPN, the payload inside the L2TP / PPTP frame is PPP.

L2TP is for joining layer 2 networks across a layer 3 network. Great for making a PPP session think it's directly connected to a BRAS across an IP network, not so good for connecting a CPE to a VPDN.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Urgh. I got PPP confused with PPTP.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Which is a tunneling protocol for PPP and mandates it as its payload ;)

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Yes, it can be, however as you say not the only one, and also generally not recommended these days for pretty much anything. I'd be concerned about any 'business' product running on PPTP...

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

That's still a Business Superhub 1. All of them report version 2.00 hardware, but still an old SH1.

The 50 Mb/s service was, and still is, only provided on a Business Superhub 1. I guess this will change when the Superhub 2AC has a business firmware version available.

From Igni's useful info here it sounds like we are waiting for two things.....

1. Business Firmware to become available for the SH2AC, which, in theory, could mean they could offer that device for the 50 Mb/s service as soon as the firmware is available.
2. The PPP issues to be resolved so that when (1) is available they can then offer fixed IP services on the 152 Mb/s option.

Sales are quoting Q1 2015 for this..... I'm not holding my breath sadly....

I had heard that the next firmware release would include a SIP ALG. I can't check since my SH has not yet been upgraded to the new business firmware, has anyone else noticed that option?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

50mb service (connected to a draytek 3900) as said by ccarmock. 150mb service has no static ip at the mo, so that's a no go. I take the point that modem mode might be working but only if the support tech got the memo, so far they didn't tell me much voluntarily about anything (no letter of welcome with ip or username or password, or billing date or account number) , really impressed with the service! , but at least the speed is better than dsl.

---------- Post added at 23:22 ---------- Previous post was at 23:19 ----------

Oh and you can have 150mb now on a business service according to the engineers (who had allegedly just completed an upgrade elsewhere).. Business for me though means fixed ip and I hear the same date for that as ccarmock

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Hey guys and hallelujah for this thread!

In exactly the same situation as many here, received the firmware update 2 hours after my my last tweet moaning about modem mode (too good to be true?) router static ip subnet router has been flakey ever since.

Have tried (and failed) to get modem mode working with DHCP and a laptop/downstream router - I get an ip, gw, dns, subnet but unable to ping anything other than the 192.168.100.1 IP.

WRT:

Just to be absolutely clear on this, are you saying no static ips available for downstream router in modem-mode?

Many thanks :)
Hjr

Vm business 50mb

edit:

Do you have any other suggestions?

At the moment we have the SH in Router mode with dhcp, firewall and wifi disabled and have a static ip subnet setup for an old ALIX box running m0n0wall to handle our networks DHCP and PPTP vpn.

The aim is to upgrade this to a 2nd, newer ALIX box that is running pfsense, to get rid of the PPTP vpn in favour of openvpn and to get rid of a mostly redundant juniper fw.

Static ip is required for a nas box and local development/staging environments.

Tried to swap out the old ALIX box for the new one after having no luck with modem mode and discovered I couldn't ping the new one from the SH and was getting no access beyond the SH on the way out either!

Muchos confused..

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Is it a single static IP you have or a routed subnet?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Sorry should have been clearer, a predecessor set up the following (static IP stripped):
http://i60.tinypic.com/291djjl.png

This way the downstream router can use the static,public ip as the gw ip and traffic will go in/out happily(ish), for some reason trying to replicate this on the pfsense is impossible.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

The way we've done with out routed subnet (5 static IPs) is set up the superhub with that page and then disabled the firewall (after enabling VPN/Multicast passthrough). That's then fed in to a switch and we run 2x routers and a videoconference machine directly.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Sounds identical to what I've been doing, only unable to get this method to work either with a newer (but identical) ALIX router.

Clutching at imaginary straws here, I don't suppose anyone has successfully run a non-virgin router on their business line? I'm aware they're 'hardware locked' but figure somebody might have managed it!

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

If you mean replace the Business superhub with another device - no that is not possible.

I do run a Cisco 800 series router behind the Superhub 1 with static routed subnet though with no issue. The public IP addresses appear on the Cisco router with the exception of the first in my range which is on the superhub.

I have a static default route on the Cisco router pointing to the one public IP address I have allocated to the Superhub

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Please see my blog post on this...

http://www.brown1993.com/11/11/2014/...nd-modem-mode/

Thanks,

Jack.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Meh, if you have PFSense and 1:1 NAT mapping modem mode is pretty moot anyway. That said I'm surprised you'd get a valid IP but no connectivity...

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

pfSense is running a single LAN and Multiple WAN environment and is load balancing traffic over the multiple WAN connections. NAT isn't 1:1 it's overloading on each interface.

Jack.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

It is 1:1 between the pfSense box and the Superhub though...

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I see VMB have added a postcode checker to their pages now. if you start to follow through the order process you can see that the existing fixed IP options - single or two routed subnet options are there for the 50 Mb/s and wording as changed if you select the 152 Mb/s to fixed IP address not currently available with that option. By using the word currently there, first slight indication on the website that it; might be coming.

As mentioned VMB sales have suggested in Q1 next year.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

As mentioned earlier we are on the .13 firmware and have noticed an increasing number of loss of connection. Normally we just reboot (now every few days) but this morning I tried to connect to the modem whilst it was not routing traffic with a laptop to check what its view of its status was via the web interface. I could not get any response on 192.168.0.1; it would not even respond to a ping. However, the status light was blue and occasionally flashing, but no device connected to the LAN side could route traffic.

This would imply that some part of the modem software was non-functional or crashed.

Has anyone else seen this yet. Was this the reason "Insanenutter" asked for the downgrade?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

As I was using the VM Business service I just saw the Superhub reboot and when it came back unable to ping it and the upper blue light was flickering in a different 'pattern' to usual, and then it rebooted again. It has finally upgraded to the BUS_V2.37.13. Supporting the idea that they have been upgraded area by area.

Based on what I read here I am not so sure this is a good thing though!

I did find the SIP ALG option, which was reported to be available with this version, is in the firewall section, and on mine at least, is enabled by default, though greyed out unless the firewall is enabled.

---------- Post added at 01:02 ---------- Previous post was at 00:48 ----------

Unless the newer firmware is reporting slightly differently I have noticed a drop from an average of 41-42 dB SNR on the downstreams to:-

Locked 125 299000000 Hz QAM256 0.4 dBmV 38.2 dB 166 0
Locked 121 267000000 Hz QAM256 0.0 dBmV 39.0 dB 164 0
Locked 122 275000000 Hz QAM256 -0.2 dBmV 38.6 dB 161 0
Locked 123 283000000 Hz QAM256 -0.7 dBmV 38.6 dB 177 0
Locked 124 291000000 Hz QAM256 -1.0 dBmV 38.5 dB 186 0
Locked 126 307000000 Hz QAM256 0.7 dBmV 38.2 dB 119 0
Locked 127 315000000 Hz QAM256 0.8 dBmV 38.5 dB 129 0
Locked 128 323000000 Hz QAM256 0.7 dBmV 38.2 dB 131 0

Having said that still happy with the power levels.


I also see extra reports in the network log about the PPP & L2TP sessions:-

Date Time Error Number Error Description
18/11/2014 00:31:28 82000400 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance opportunities received - T4 time out;CM-MAC=xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx;CMTS-MAC=50:57:a8:88:fe:a7;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
18/11/2014 00:31:14 2436694091 L2tp session up
18/11/2014 00:31:14 2436694086 PPP session up
18/11/2014 00:31:07 2436694090 Starting L2tp session
18/11/2014 00:30:40 2436694078 TOD established
Time Not Established Time Not Established 68000300 DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response ;CM-MAC=xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx;CMTS-MAC=50:57:a8:88:fe:a7;CM-QOS=1.0;CM-VER=3.0;

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Update since my last post:

As mentioned already we were also periodically being disconnected, Virgin said that 'the internet and hub is working so it must be your problem' (or words to that effect) but as I was also unable to ping 192.168.0.1 from ethernet ports I find it hard to believe.

We disconnected 31 times in September - since the firmware had appeared without warning - and after modem mode literally failed altogether I set about Virgin for a reinstall of the .06 Firmware, which eventually arrived in classic Virgin style with no warning what so ever - despite making it very clear we needed to know when it would be deployed.

Then came the 10 days of blissful uninterrupted internet connection before all of a sudden we start disconnecting and low and behold, we are back on the .13 firmware.

I think it's fair to say I'm ****ed off.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Called Virgin again yesterday and asked to be put back on .06 firmware AGAIN - haven't heard anything yet.

The SH has dropped a few times today already, for the sake of sanity I've plugged in 2 laptops to the hub (as well as our existing downstream router), when logging in through the external ip address using 3G and the 'remote login' details I am unable to see any of these devices connected.

http://i62.tinypic.com/2ai0tu9.png

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

So the update is we are now leasing a line and IP from our neighbour who has fibre to premises - no more ****ing around with the SH, YAY!

We've left the connection plugged in as a VPN service, this is still being monitored by nagios and therefore downtime is recorded. Today we have had a visit from an engineer who tells us that they have seen our SNR dropping as low as 26 and that since the firmware update the minimum should be 29 (apparently it is indeed more sensitive since the update).

The engineer is knowledgable, polite and is checking our line in and out of the building all the way back to the exchange - feeling quite Christmassy today (lol).

I'm not quite sure how the SNR dropping would stop LAN functionality on the Superhubs ethernet ports, but I'm passed caring now.

It's been like getting blood from a stone, each time I've called up quoting the same fault reference it's been handled as if it was a new fault.. no escalation at all and for a 'business' contract a distinct lack of an account manager to chase things up for us.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I had a local SNR fault about a year ago where it would drop and cause the SH to re-sync during that time the SH wouldn't respond to pings on it's LAN port. It seems there are parts of it's startup/sync process where the LAN port link remains up but it will not respond to traffic. Maybe that is what you are seeing.

Since being upgraded to the .13 firmware I have had no drop outs at all - stable for 3 days so far.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

After waiting for another 20 mins to get through to report another lockup (see above) we were sent an engineer who changed the attenuator on the line. He said our signals were marginally low but did not really know whether the new firmware was more or less sensitive to this. He seemed to think that if the modem could not sync it would not respond to pings or service its webpage access. Since then, touch wood, we have not lost the connection.

Because I kicked up a bit of a fuss about this I did speak to someone in second level support who indicated there were issues being investigated with the new firmware. One thing I was told was there was a problem with some routers behind the modem doing test pings to remote devices, which we use to detect the line state. I was told if the ping fails there was some sort of memory leak which eventually made the modem unresponsive. Apparently there was a similar issue in the previous firmware which was supposed to be fixed in this new version but it seems it may not be and the result seems ominously similar to what we have seen.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Irrespective of the firmware update either 26 or 29 is too low, 29 may officially be the bare minimum to get any sort of connection but the practical minimum is at least double that, at 32dB and ideally 35dB+

---------- Post added at 13:41 ---------- Previous post was at 13:40 ----------

This sounds like a pretty common (and lame) failure mode for badly programmed NAT tables.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I'm having a lot of problems with the new BUS_V2.37.13 firmware. The modem appears to crash every 12 to 24 hours.

After speaking to Virgin a few weeks ago I was downgraded to the BUS_V2.37.06 firmware which worked perfectly.

For two weeks the modem worked fine, then was dead on Monday morning, i reset it, then realised the modem had been upgraded back to the BUS_V2.37.13 firmware.

Since then the modem has crashed every 12-24 hours.

Is there a better way i escalate this issue with Virgin? I've been calling 0800 953 0180 which always involves someone taking the business details, running a check on the line which always comes back fine, then saying an engineer will call me back, which never happens.

I have a few reference numbers from previous calls which no one ever wants when i call up saying its an on going issue...

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Despite an engineer correcting the signal levels by the changing attenuator our modem has just locked up again this morning on its LAN ports. Needed to reboot to get it to route again. Version 2.7.13 firmware.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

After an hour on hold I managed to speak to someone who informed me a lot of people have been reporting the modem crashing on the BUS_V2.37.13 firmware.

He said Virgin now have a system in place that will allow people who have reported issues with that firmware to be downgraded back to the BUS_V2.37.06 firmware and not automatically be upgraded again in a couple of weeks’ time.

Currently awaiting a call back from an engineer who’s going to take care of that.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

My SH with a routed subnet configured hasn't upgraded to 2.37.13.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Interesting - I was upgraded early last week and my superhub has been 100% stable since being on BUS_V2.37.13.

I wonder if there is a pattern here - the service I have has 6 Fixed IP addresses and I did not try modem mode. I did hearrthere could be problems if you have tried modem mode and the advise is to pinhole reset the subperhub, which will wipe all settings, and configure it from scratch.

If you try this make sure you know the username/password for the PPP/L2TP tunnel

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Aside from Modem mode what other improvements are there in the latest firmware?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

The other feature added is a SIP ALG, configured under the Firewall settings. If you don't need that or modem mode, there is not real benefit that I am aware of in upgrading.

from what I was told modem mode works ok for those that have a dyanmic IP address, since that servie is pretty much the same as the residential service.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Thanks for the info. IIRC the only difference between business and domestic dynamic IP services is that the "peak hours" are redefined for office hours.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Ahh interesting! nice to hear some logic/reason to what sounds like utter madness to me, personally I've never seen anything beneath 39-42 snr but the logs on the SH are only since last reboot, and only a few lines at that, so presumably the "virgin gods" have some real logs/graphs of SNR from their switches.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

We have been having problems since the SH firmware was upgraded to BUS_V2.37.13.

It has been particularly bad this morning with around five interruptions that needed a power cycle to fix. Tried phoning VMB who have an announcement on their system saying that there is an issue affecting their 50Mb business service and advising users to power cycle their SH ...

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I have the lockups due to the firmware as a formal complaint with VM Business Customers services who keep phoning back saying they are working on it and even offering some form of refund.

I said I would rather it worked reliably than have the hassle of chasing small refund payments.

They tried to offer me the 152 Mb service instead which they say is reliable, but confirmed it does not have fixed IP support. I asked for timescales for this support to be added and they said:

"At the moment there are no definite plans to release this and this is still currently being looked into"

So not much chance of that happening any time soon!

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Yep same here APS.

They practically begged us to end our contract early and leave as well.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

The 152 Mb/s service is due to get the FixedIP address option. I have been quoted Q1 2015 on two occasions now - once by sales and once by someone involved in the firmware issues in VMB. He confirmed that the firmware to offer that option on the Superhub 2AC, used for the 152Mb/s service is being developed now.

Ignitionet posted a comment there though that there are issues with running the PPP stack on the VMB equipment at these higher speeds, so not sure whether firmware or the problems with the PPP performance will be fixed first, but I was assured they will launch fixed IP on that service as soon as they can.

Quite why they don't just roll back the SH1 business firmware for those having problems I don't know - as the stability issues only started after the new firmware was rolled out. I have the Fixed IP 50 Mb/s service and am on the new firmware and not experienced any issues. No reboots at all.

Wondering why some are and some are not having these problems. Possibly a combination of new FW and what kit is used for CMTS I wonder?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I am also facing issues with the Superhub crashing regularly. Has anyone tried enabling modem mode and then setup a PPPoE connection with the VM username and passsword on the router behind it?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

There are hundreds if not thousands using (especially the SH1) superhubs in modem mode.

There's no setup involved. You should be able to plug the router into the Sh and it should work.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I am using the service with a routed subnet hence the need to establish the L2TP tunnel on top of modem mode.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I don't see why forming an L2Tp tunnel on your own router behind a Business SH1 in modem mode shouldn't work. I've not tried it myself, but then haven't had the reboot/lockout issues people have reported on the .13 firmware.

It would be interesting to see how you get on if you try.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I will need to keep it as is for now as it will require me to visit on-site just to test. My concern would be that does modem mode give full bridge mode.
However if I continue to get the freezing issue then I may well give it a go.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Yes - although the business service may still be expecting the MAC of the SH and not your router for DHCP client purposes. I dunno how much security they've layered on the business service...

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

The way the fixed IP addresses are secured is via a username/password on the L2TP tunnel.

Though the Business SH does get a standard address from DHCP also. The original business firmware would reveal what that was also. However it wasn't used for true data purposes on a routed subnet installation

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Indeed, but that standard DHCP address would be seen as the source address for the tunnel - and it's possible (though rather unlikely) that there is security enforced on that - say, your login credentials can only be used from your original device's allocated address.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

yes that's a very good point. Now they have removed the option in the web interface I don't think I can find out what my DHCP allocated IP address is any longer.

As you say this was the source address of the tunnel.

There is a good chance extra reliance was placed on that as I do remember this IP address had a reverse DNS of a form similar to
cust01.static.<cmts>.virginmediabusiness.com

the static reference there was the format used in the old 10 Mb/s modem based DHCP allocated 'sticky static' IP addresses

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Hi all and especially nickgoldman, do any of you have any information regarding the l2tp tunnel.

I am in a similar boat, I have the VM business hub and a static IP. I have switched it to modem mode. I have a cisco 2821 plugged into it on fa0.

I get a public IP and gateway via dhcp, but this IP doesn't have a route to the internet. I have been on and off the phone with VMBusiness for over a week and eventually I got someone who knows a little.

He says that the SH creates a L2TP tunnel to get the correct external static IP that has been assigned to me. He said that If I use modem mode with a static IP (and I guess it is the same with a routed subnet) that whatever device I use as a router will need a similar tunnel.

I'm reasonably handy with cisco devices. I've never created a L2tp tunnel though, but I assume it needs a peer IP address as an endpoint for the tunnel like the other VPN's I've created previously.

The guy on the phone got very frustrated when I explained that a username and password simply weren't enough to create the tunnel. He said using another router with modem mode and static IP's was not supported and if I could get it working, it was allowed, but he couldn't help any more. He said to create a tunnel and if the tunnel is up, he might be able to help with any further issues.

Does anyone have any information regarding the L2tp tunnel?

I'll be happy to share my config if I get it working.

Thanks

John

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

You know I have a feeling that the original firmware did show the IP address of the tunnel destination, I have looked to see if I kept a screen shot but can't find one.

I am referring to the original firmware not the .06 release prior to the bugged .13

The config .cfg file is a binary file so no clue in there.


On the subject of Fixed IP address on the 152 Mb/s business service. I called sales again on Friday and was told they are still being told Q1 this year.

He didn't have full details but said while a compatibility issue was being worked on. I suspect this is the same issue Igni referred to with a PPP session at higher speeds causing CMTS problems?

Does anyone know if the SH2AC firmware is also ready for this? As it seems there are two issues at the moment - no released business firmware for the SH2AC to support the fields required for fixed IP services and also the CMTS / PPP speed issue.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

If the CMTS has issues passing PPP traffic through at high speed, everyone using a PPP VPN would be having issues...

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

If I recall Ingi mentioned that there are issues with the Virgin media equipment when running PPP /L2TP at 152 Mb/s that are not a problem at 50 Mb/s ....

I assume this isn't PPP in general but the specific configuration VMB use to deliver the fixed IP address service

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I may be missing something here but I see no reason the VMB PPP and any other customer's VPN PPP would be treated any differently by the CMTS. In both cases it is simply encapsulated in IP packets that are destined for somewhere else and are thus passed somewhere else. The CMTS neither knows nor cares if it's PPP or what's in it.

If PPP traffic formulated in a certain way can disrupt VM's CMTS that makes for a glaring denial-of-service vulnerability.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

This was the reference I was looking for., and note it's CPE not CMTS as I thought

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Interesting.

That's quite possible, but largely because said issues may be more to do with the CPE having to handling the origination/termination of the PPP session (i.e. extra router functions) than just passing it through.

Encapsulating/de-encapsulating 150Mbps+ of traffic on a <1Ghz MIPS CPU can be an intensive task, especially if there's encryption involved.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

It could be yes. So I think there are two issues to resolve - this performance issue and the need for firmware for the SH2AC to support the configuration needed for the Fixed IP services.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I'm still on .06 if you want me to take a look

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

It was the release prior to .06 that I seem to remember a server address being displayed.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Just a quick thought on the L2TP tunnel endpoint. Does anyone who has had their business hub replaced still have the old one to possibly check for the tunnel endpoint?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Hey all,

I have left our Superhub online since my last post, I have checked it every couple of weeks since then with the following methods:
Success - Ping public IP of superhub from www
Success - Log into superhub gui from www and LAN
Failed - Ping local IP of superhub from LAN
Superhub GUI - Ping connected device static IP
Superhub GUI - Shows no connected devices

However, on Sat Jan 31 our superhub rebooted of it's own accord and our downstream router was suddenly accessible again and hasn't dropped out since, it hosts an old and superseded PPTP VPN but this enables us to monitor the upstream and downstream routers separately and see the disparity between the Virgin Superhub being up and a usable internet connection.

My director has been chasing refunds that they promised (but haven't deilvered on, surprise surprise), he asked for an update on the 'faulty firmware' and they said that they had rolled out a fixed version to a few superhubs. Now, our firmware is still on the same .13 version but all of the problems we had before have vanished and it's all a bit too good to be true.. do you think they're also stupid enough to roll out a fix on the same version number?

I'm yet to test "Modem Only Mode" again, and I'm in no great rush to do so, but has anyone else suddenly found their Superhub is usable to some degree again?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Ours SH is not locking up as much, however it is rebooting itself randomly every 1-2 days (does anyone else see this?). I wonder if as a temporary fix VMB have put in place a patch to reboot the SH if VM or the SH detect a condition that will cause the device will lock up.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Since about November the company I support has had almost daily incidents of the SuperHub going strange.

The symptom is the LAN side stops responding to ARP requests. So their machines can't ping or contact the SuperHub. The SuperHub is still responding to pings and it's web interface on the WAN (Cable) side.. I have to remote into it and reboot it or ask them to power cycle the SuperHub - then things return to normal.

It's really getting annoying... so I started searching for bridge / modem only mode instructions and stumbled across this thread. I'm still unsure what the procedure is.
Anyone have any simple instructions? They have a single static IP address and a SuperHub that offers Modem Only mode (and provides some PPP details on that same screen).
Do they need to use these PPPoE details or just set their ethernet router to DHCP?

Tom - www.mouselike.org

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

No offense drsox but if you had bothered to read the thread you'd know it's broken.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I did and I don't really see that - I see some people saying that it works fine and many people use bridge mode, some people saying you need to use PPPoE and some saying you need to use PPTP / L2TP.

Personally I think that the PPPoE method is the most likely method but.. this, being a help forum?, I thought I would check if someone had some advice before I potentially wasted my time and annoyed those at the company while breaking the internet to attempt potentially futile changes.

Tom - www.mouselike.org

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Hey... mouselike.org, there's something I haven't heard of in a while... I used to use your SIP testing server all the time!

Anyway. Whether the Superhub works for you is rather hit-and-miss. There is no universally reliable way to make it work for someone if it is currently causing issues on the business service.

Bridge mode has recently appeared on the Superhub business firmware but is still officially unsupported. I'm not aware of anyone having actually used it successfully. It would, however, be a universally reliable way of resolving the Superhub's problems if it did work, like on the residential service.

VM don't use PPPoE on cable. The L2TP thing is relevant only if you have a routed, fixed-IP subnet from VM, as that is how the service works. Theoretically if you put the modem in bridge mode you would have to create the tunnel yourself to establish connectivity. To date however, I'm not aware of anyone actually using it successfully. It is merely theoretical, given that thus far VM have refused to give out the connection details we need to actually set up a tunnel.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

It is still going.. Good tool to test with. I regularly use it via the PSTN number when trying to fix phone issues.

Shame about bridge mode. The office with the issue is staffed 24/7 and their broadband is pretty critical.

Testing settings _would_ have been fine if someone had not cancelled the Fax line last week, taking out the backup ADSL they had :( so I can't easily test without making the workers angry until the Backup DSL has been reinstated.

Tom - www.mouselike.org

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

As I've mentioned before, we're using the standard superhub with the .06 firmware to supply a routed 5 Static IP subnet and its stable.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Still going strong since the suspicious restart... there may be hope for some of you yet! :)

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Called sales again - they are now saying first half of this year for 152 Mb/s with fixed IP address

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Hi all,

We've had some downtime here and there, but it has definitely been "more" stable, may jut be luck though.

Today our superhub rebooted again and lost all its config, so if you haven't already I recommend you take a fresh backup just in case.

What a crock of sh*t

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Thanks for the heads up, I'll do a backup of mine now.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

We used to have a SuperHub that would regularly fail, but a power cycle would get it back.

Now we have a SuperHub that doesn't regularly fail, but when it does it loses all of its config entirely.

Progress.......not sure.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Are you still on the .13 firmware release?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Yes

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

Our 2nd office has just suffered the same fate.

Don't forget to take backups and save yourself a pain :)

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

does anyone know why VMB will not roll an affected location back to the .06 release of firmware?

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

We are on the .13 firmware and are having a lockup about once per week. We got fed up with resetting the modem so a couple of months ago I raised this as a formal complaint and was eventually offered 3 months rental as compensation which came through on our account this month. There was no timescale for a fix given, just an apology for the continuing fault.

I would encourage everyone affected to demand refunds too, as loss of revenue might kick VM into action to solve the problem, as there is no sign they are in any hurry to fix the issue.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

There has been some talk of an alternative (non Netgear based) device for business services so I wonder if they are aiming for that instead.....

I see no sign of Superhub 2AC business firmware to support fixed IP addresses at the faster speed yet.

Re: Virgin Business Superhub now has Modem Mode
 

I don't know if it adds much to the discussion but.....

After filling in a VM Business survey at the beginning of the month I had a call with customer services. First I was offered to leave VM without penalty, then she said she would work out if she could organise a one off goodwill payment (holding my breath still). She also offered their leased line of course, but that isn't really an alternative in terms of cost.

And she wouldn't commit to any fix for the existing service, or any date for SH2 and fixed IP.