Superhub : Superhub 2

[Dark Fiber]

Originally Posted by teg

Problems - WOL.

1. WOL does not work via port forwarding for packets sent externally. The port forwarding only works if the LAN wired PC is on - tested with a magic packet program in receive mode. It's not a problem with the PC (Windows 8.1) because the PC wakes from sleep if a packet is sent via the local network. The WOL worked perfectly with the Superhub 1. Anyone with any ideas?
Trev

I have no specific knowledge of Superhubs, but I am surprised that you say the SH1 supported port forwarding of UDP9. Most home routers sold in the last decade have prevented this as a "security" measure. I keep an old Belkin to allow just that when needed.
So your SH2 is just conforming to the present norm.

[Kushan]

Originally Posted by Dark Fiber

I have no specific knowledge of Superhubs, but I am surprised that you say the SH1 supported port forwarding of UDP9. Most home routers sold in the last decade have prevented this as a "security" measure. I keep an old Belkin to allow just that when needed.
So your SH2 is just conforming to the present norm.

A security flaw on the Superhub? Say it ain't so!

[Dark Fiber]

I wrote in haste yesterday, so the post as it stands is nonsense.
I left out four words- it should have read:
"... I am surprised that you say the SH1 supported port forwarding of UDP9 to the broadcast address."
Modern routers prevent the forwarding of any port to the broadcast address [e.g. 192.168.0.255] for security reasons.

[qasdfdsaq]

I don't think that's what he was getting at.

[teg]

Originally Posted by Dark Fiber

I wrote in haste yesterday, so the post as it stands is nonsense.
I left out four words- it should have read:
"... I am surprised that you say the SH1 supported port forwarding of UDP9 to the broadcast address."
Modern routers prevent the forwarding of any port to the broadcast address [e.g. 192.168.0.255] for security reasons.

Superhub 1 and 2 both support port forwarding - see attached.

My point is that WOL worked perfectly with the superhub 1. It may be that the LAN connection to the PC must be handled differently in that the connection is in a different state when the PC is in sleep mode. I know the WOL packets are getting through when the PC is on.

On the subject of using a different router with the superhub in modem mode do Virgin do a separate modem - they used to? I'm not sure if I would want two full sized routers on my desk.

Trev

[General Maximus]

Originally Posted by teg

On the subject of using a different router with the superhub in modem mode do Virgin do a separate modem - they used to? I'm not sure if I would want two full sized routers on my desk.

no they do not, if they did it would make the modem mode fuction on the router pretty redundant because then all they would have to do is ask customers whether they want a shub (router) or modem. The whole point of the shub is that it is an alleged all-in-one solution which makes end user support for VM a lot easier.

I know you have previously been able to wakeup the computer using a shub1 but are you sure none of the settings have also been change on the pc as well? Have you has a look at the adapter properties, power management and checked to see whether the option for "allow this device to wakeup the computer" and "only allow a magic packet to wakeup the computer" are enabled/disabled

[teg]

Originally Posted by General Maximus

....
I know you have previously been able to wakeup the computer using a shub1 but are you sure none of the settings have also been change on the pc as well? Have you has a look at the adapter properties, power management and checked to see whether the option for "allow this device to wakeup the computer" and "only allow a magic packet to wakeup the computer" are enabled/disabled

I'm not aware of changing any settings. I've checked all the options I know of i.e. adaptor settings, BIOS, power management settings etc. etc. I was thinking of trying the old superhub 1 which worked but will I have to go through the activation process with Virgin again?

Trev

[General Maximus]

ya and I very much doubt they will be willing to reactivate it, as far as they are concerned it is defunct 4 years old cpe

[Dark Fiber]

Originally Posted by teg

Superhub 1 and 2 both support port forwarding - see attached.
Trev

Please reread my corrected post. True WoL requires the "magic packet" to be sent to the broadcast address (from your graphic that is likely to be 192.168.0.255 in your case) not to the specific address of the particular computer. I used it to selectively wake any one computer out of five on my home LAN.
I don't know why what you were doing apparently worked with your SH1 (no knowledge of SHs and little of Windows) but I stand by my comments.

[qasdfdsaq]

^^ Dark FIber is right. Though as an addendum, there's a reason "Wake on LAN" is called "Wake on LAN". It's only really designed to work on a LAN. Otherwise it'd be called Wake on WAN or Wake on N. Making it work on anything other than the LAN requires non-standard hacks and tomfoolery in any case so it's not surprising to get different success rates between different equipment

[Dark Fiber]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

^^ Dark FIber is right.

Though as an addendum, there's a reason "Wake on LAN" is called "Wake on LAN". It's only really designed to work on a LAN. Otherwise it'd be called Wake on WAN or Wake on N. Making it work on anything other than the LAN requires non-standard hacks and tomfoolery in any case so it's not surprising to get different success rates between different equipment

Thanks, qasdfdsaq
Although I found waking from WAN straightforward for me before the "security" fix became common.

Believe it or not, I'm trying to help teg. I sympathise with his anger and frustration when something that was working well suddenly stops for no apparent reason- that is exactly how I felt when I upgraded from my old Belkin and found that WoL no longer worked although I'd set the same port forwarding rules in the new router.
My Googling at that time showed three distinct sorts of workaround:
1) Alter the subnet mask so that the broadcast address is no longer what the router designer expected ( this can work with some cheap-and-cheerful routers)
2) Flash the router with non-standard firmware to allow Wake from WAN ( qasdfdsaq, from your sig you might help there )
3) Set up a WOLF- a small computer like an Arduino or Raspberry Pi that is left on all the time to send magic packets within the LAN.

teg should Google "Wake on LAN Forwarder" as I think it's the best solution for him.

[qasdfdsaq]

Well, the way it "worked" before was a bit of a hack to begin with, port forwarding to a broadcast address wasn't ever meant to work in the first place.

Nonetheless, I'd recommend a variation of 3). Not sure what the prices are now, but it used to be possible to get used DIR-615's off Ebay for £5 delivered. Cheaper and faster than an Arduino, and can do the same job. Unfortunately it's not possible to modify the firmware on the Superhub itself without removing it's ability to connect to the VM network, so that'd be rather pointless for an average user.

[spanna]

I enquired about getting a Superhub 2 the other night, asked for the cheapest way to get one mentioning self install

The guy went away and came back quoting £75

When I finished laughing I told him not to bother

[General Maximus]

that is stupid, the absolute most they should cost is £50 and that is the max price for just rining up and requesting one for the sake of it. If you have a fault and require a new shub you will get one for free.

That being said, if you are after a new router and are happy to pay for one you would be better off putting your existing shub in modem mode and investing in a 3rd party router (recommendations can be provided upon request )

[Kushan]

What the general says is correct - for that price, for less even, you are far far better off buying your own router.

That said, you should be able to get a SHUB2 for way less, however I personally wouldn't bother. It's a bit better than the SH1, bit more stable, but I wouldn't say it's worth paying any money for. If you're going to pay, get a router.

I've yet to see a single person who's taken the plunge to get their own router and regretted it.