INET800 ISDN router keeps logging on

[cleverdic]

I have installed an INET800 ISDN router with 4 computers on a network. The network comprises of a 10/100 switch with 2 computers, the ISDNrouter and an uplink to a 10 mbs hub which connects 2 further computers. The INET800 is setup up as DHCP and everything is working extremely well except for one problem.

I am finding that the INET800 keeps logging into my ISDN service provider whenever there is any network traffic. To test this, with the router switched on but not dialled in to ISDN, I used Zone Alarm to lock all internet activity from the 3 computers and then waited. After between 10 and 30 seconds, there was network activity as seen by flashing leds on the switch and a connection (to the B1 channel) was made. None of the Zone Alarms detected any activity.

Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening. Is there any freely available software that I could use to detect what this network traffic is?

[Steve]

This will NOT be the fault of the router. It will be one or more of your PC's trying to contact the 'net; probably the DSN server. If you look at the status page for the router it will tell you which PC caused the connection and what port it was trying to go out on. This should help trace the cause of the problem. Check to make sure that you PC's are NOT trying to contact the remote DNS; this is the common problem with windows. Personally I would say dump the insecure and pain in the bum TCP/IP protocol and use IPX as the default network protocol. You will still need TCP for the internet but use IPX as you main network protocol.

[cleverdic]

In fact, since I wrote about the problem, I have checked the status pages and indeed, various PC's on my network are initiating the call with port nos. I don't recognise. The problem is certainly not with the router which, by the way, I am highly delighted with. This is why I have posted my question in the Networking forum.

2 follow on questions,

1. How can I check out what is generating these call requests against the port nos. I can post the numbers tonight if that is any help.

2. I am using only TCPIP for my network protocol. I can add IPX but surely I still need TCP to run so that each of my PC's can make (legitimate) ISDN calls through the router.

Finally, let me slip in a third quesion... if I add IPX how do I prioritise my network to use IPX over TCP if both protocols are being used.

Thanks,