Messenger now locks up Netgear Routers

Question

After an exhaustive talk with Netgear, I am dismayed to find they won't be doing any more firmware updates on the FVS124G - a gigabit firewall router that is an Enterprise network solution.

Messenger, when you try to log in, immediately causes the router to lock up. Nothing else causes this issue. Several users are extremely unhappy about it, and quite honestly I think Netgear really should rethink their EOL idealistic approach and do something about it.

We've tried changing the MTU lower, but there is nothing really else we can do.

Problem appeared mid-week, with many users reporting it, and the only two common elements being Messenger and the FVS124G. Obviously something changed in Messenger early this week (around the 21st of July 2009). What I want to know is: Anyone have any ideas what could be causing it? Is there a simple solution I could employ to stop it? Will Microsoft review the issue and see if they can do anything about it (doubtful)? Can they roll back whatever change caused it?

I'm pretty unimpressed - with Netgear mostly, and a little with Microsoft.

Answer 1

I have the exact same issue at my office, with the Exact same Router in place a FVS124G, it has gones down the second you open up Windows Live Messenger, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one facing this issue, If I can't resolve by tomorrow I will be forced to Replace the Router. I hope that works since I have Customers and Internal users not happy about the outages.

There has to be something that has changed with Messengers Login Service that is causing some sort of Attack, or the Router thinks it is an Attack. Unfotunatly the only course of Action is a Hard Reboot of the Router which causes the Log enteries to be lost.

---

Z

Answer 2

Join the Netgear forums, it's easy to register.. all you need is the serial number off the router.

There is a thread in the Enterprise / VPN routers section going on it, and perhaps you could help (or at least add your voice).

Answer 3

Not sure, but I think this is my first post on these forums.  Anyway, I don't know how long a response from mods will take here because I'm a noob...I'm guessing after 4 days that might mean we don't get any consideration?

For what it's worth, I too am an owner of the Netgear FVS124G and experienced the WLM lockup.  No one on the LAN has an internet connection and the router can't be logged into immediately after a LAN user logs into MS Messenger or Window Live Messenger.  It started about 2 weeks ago now.  Theoretically, every unit sold will be having this issue and Netgear is only 50% of the problem (in the eye of the user).  Even though this device is End of Life at Netgear, there's a user on the forums that claims that they've contacted Netgear and an email response from Netgear states they may produce one more firmware release...but it's not certain...the idea is at least being discussed.  I sure would like to see MS and Netgear collaborate on this and decide a means to fix it.

Answer 4

I tried signing up for the Netgear forum two days ago and never got an Email with a login for it. I ended up switching out to an older FVS318 and we are now able to use Messenger again, and the Firewall stays up. It is definitly that Firewall and Messenger together that is the problem.

---

Z

Answer 5

I of course also happen to be a 124G owner, and I've posted at the netgear forums already.

I don't place the blame on MS in this due to the fact that no other router, that I know of at least, has this issue.

This is, IMHO, Netgear selling a piece of equipment which has failed, and they refuse to fix said equipment because it's EOL.

It's really a shame, as I really enjoy all my netgear equipment, and equipment I use recommend for my clients, however this isn't the first time Netgear has released something that they refuse to suppose/fix, so I myself will never purchase or recommmend them again.

Answer 6

Hi all,
I'm in the same boat.

I doubt Netgear will release a firmware update, so I bough a new router.

Like a great philosopher once said: "fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again."

Regards,
Christian

Answer 7

It took me a while to figure out this particular problem, but once I did and searched the Internet, I found many folks suffering from the same malady!

The same problem exists with the Netgear's FVG318, at least as of the 1.0.49NA firmware upgrade.

I have an open support ticket with Netgear, and will provide feedback to this forum when their support tech answers my questions.

Answer 8

Hi Christian,

we are also planning to buy another router. Which one have you bought?

Best wishes,
Whads

Answer 9

Cisco WRVS4400N Wireless-N Gigabit Security Router - VPN v2.0

Answer 10

Here is the Netgear response I received for the FVS124G WLM problem submitted...

8/12/2009 6:55:00 PM
refer to log#9999999 same problem again. I saw on the internet something about a live.com conflict and turned off all live.com signon
and got back to a semi stable network connection (from dropping 10-15 times a day to every day or two).
I understand this router, purchased after May 2007 is under lifetime warrenty and also Netgear is saying EOL, no more firmware support.
What can I do to go back to solid performance like I had before July 22, 2009 and also support live.com?
Thanks.

8/13/2009 2:29:00 AM
Hello XXXXX,
Thank you for choosing NETGEAR. My name is Ryan and I will be your support engineer. Since we are doing this online, it may require a
few mail exchanges before we can resolve the issue. We will do our best to help resolve your case in the least possible time.
The device does have a lifetime Hardware warranty, however it does not have a lifetime Software warranty, and the device is currently End
of Life, and as such there will be no forthcoming firmware's made for the device. As for making it work however we would recommend
checking with Microsoft Live Support, to see if it can be downgraded or if there is a patch which resolves this issue.
We hope that the information provided above will resolve your case. Please feel free to contact us again if you require further assistance.
Thank you again for choosing NETGEAR. Have a great day!
Sincerely,

It seems to me, they just can't find it in their business plan to support a router that is less than 2 years old (in my case).  It is easier to put the burden on the forward thinking companies producing new and better applications for business growth and discontinue the product.  New router / router company in my future also!

Answer 11

I've been fighting this fight for something like 2 weeks. Maybe 3. I have the FVG318 router. I hate to hear how they are just shrugging it off as EOL. No more Netgear for me. I'll stick to Cisco from here out.

Answer 12

After reading this forum I would like to share my thoughts also.
I have the same problems with my Netgear FVG318.
I have reinstalled my complete domain and build this soully based upon windows 2008 server.
The clients I am using are Windows Vista and a Windows 7 both the machines are equiped with Windows Live Messenger.
After signing on with my windows 7 client (Wired) after a little while lets say 10 minutes my Netgear FVG318 Completly locks up and I need to give it a hardware reset by pulling the powercord.
When signing on with the Vista client (Wireless) after 5 minutes the FVG318 completly locksup and I need to give it a hardware reset.
Both clients have WLM installed and become active as the windows user logs on.
I switched of the automatic signing on of the WLM and disabled the auto startup of WLM and the Netgear FVG318 now stay's up and running.
As I am typing this forum, no lockups of the netgear.

I am also going to try to log a service ticket with netgear to try and resolve this issue.

This is just a layout of my problem and what I understand of this forum is that also live is probably guilty for the lockups.
I will also start a trace of the network traffic towards and from live. maybe something intressting pops up.

Try to keep you guys posted.

Grtz,
wessel van Sandwijk
Netherlands

additional information.

I have solved my issue with locking up of my netgear FVG318
The problem was in the DNS Forwarder in my DNS Server.
I forwarded all unknown DNS request towards my FVG318 Router.
This caused my netgear to lock up.
I filled in a NS from my provider as a DNS forwarder.
Adjusted the DHCP setting so that my dns server is the primary DNS and my FVG318 the secondary.
After changing these settings, my fvg318 did not lockup for 4 days in a row now.

Answer 13

Thanks to all that participated in this. Interested if any resolution was ever found.

I believe that I am experiencing the same issue with the FVS124G. However, the lockup isn't caused by live messenger, it's caused by Blackberry Enterprise Server.

But, I believe that there is a patch that affects both BES and Live Messenger.

Has anyone identified what the patch is?

We currently use the dual-ISP feature of the FVS124G. I would be curious to know what percentage of people experiencing this issue is using the dual-ISP feature.

Thanks

Answer 14

I have the same problem over an FVS124G with the lastest firmware. My router isn't in dual wan mode so i think there is not the problem

Answer 15

No joy, after several months. I was lucky enough to get a return through the distributor (not Netgear however). Netgear pretty much said that I had to live with my bad purchase. Funny. I had three routers, a switch and a ADSL modem all listed on my account. Seems now when upgrade time comes around they'll be replaced with non-Netgear items, won't they?

I purchased a Cisco/Linksys RVS 4000. All my future upgrade will go with that company.

Never buying Netgear again, as they refused to support a product less than 18 months old.

Answer 16

I have the same problem with FVG318 less than year old, Lifetime Warranty -  sounds like a 'cast iron guarantee' foes it not?  Where have I heard that before?

Goodbye Netgear.  I am also not too pleased with MS over this problem.  They recommended to uprade from vanilla Hotmail to this crock called Messenger.When I go to help in WLM, it says I need a later version.  I downloaded the later version which tells me 'This program is already installed'. Terrific!

Answer 17

I also  have FVG318.   Where did you change these settings, please? 

I have laptop with earlier version of Netmeeting connects through Netgear router OK.  My tower has later version of WLM and that locks up router if sign in is attempted.  A search for this shows not just Netgear routers are affected.  That would point to a software problem in the later version of WLM.

Come on Microsoft, sort this out.

Answer 18

Hi Wessel


Thanks for that!  I put the router IP as the secondary DNS server in the TCP/IP properties of the Network adapter andNO LOCKUPS.

You are a star, sir!  I was getting ready to put a fire axe through this kit. (not really!)

Answer 19

\hi \wessel,

\i spoke too soon.  I logged in to WM 4.7.3001 OK  but there is another icon for WLM and that still does lock up the router.

Next time I will leave things 14hrs before responding. 

Regards