Router Loses Connection when inserting a USB drive

LarryNG

Lowest Priority

Oddly, when inserting a USB drive in Budgie, the Internet connection fails. Unplugging and plugging back in the ethernet cable has no effect. A quick unplugging (powering down) and plugging back in (powering back up) of a router switch solves the problem. The problem never occurs until a USB drive is inserted.

(chuckling to myself) That is really weird that the switch triggers off. I've never seen anything like it before.

The switch is mounted to my desk, making it easy to reboot, so for me it isn't a problem. I just wanted to mention it just to let it be known that the oddity exists. (Actually, this might be the first imperfection I have seen in my two years of using Budgie, and I may still blame it on the switch. <grin>)

brent

LarryNG At this point in my Linux, I am completely unsurprised by the weird ones...but still irritated when I get them.
this is weird though.
Router switch outside of PC fixes (resets) internet connection. I imagine some precious time being wasted for that reboot.
But what does a usb port have to with an internet LAN?
If nothing I'm convinced this is 100% a hardware problems (tho I'm wrong about 97% of the time...)....

What does an LAN ether connection have to do with a USB port?
Both plugged into the same board? Both on the same card?
Same USB that effects it? All or all USBs?
Depending on settings the Solus sees, reads, and mounts the USB (so you can see it in file manager). I don't think in this reading/mounting actions anything is corrupt....but internet shutoff as a result? Maybe the modemanager or other .service is set to manually turn on only instead of always active?
Where could this conflict between usb mounting and killing the eher connection start?

[deleted]

What kind of device are you using and what dmesg says when that happens?

LarryNG

[deleted]

Aha, apparently it was a cheap-o PNY 64gb USB3 thumb drive causing the problem. The problem doesn't occur when using a Kingston 8gb USB2 drive. Later I will test it with other brands while determining if perhaps it is a specific drive or if perhaps the drive might have some funky file on it (I use the PNY for transferring files between Budgie and a WIndows PC).

I didn't think to do dmesg, but if it happens again I will remember to do so. Thank you for the tip!

LarryNG

[deleted]

(The forum editor is not permitting me to edit my previous reply, so I adding this one.) The Budgie is loaded on a basic PC with an MSI AM1i motherboard, AMD 5350 APU, 1tb hdd, and nothing else. I used to run the Budgie on a Biostar motherboard, but never had a problem there, so maybe the PNY is not playing nice with the MSI. I will continue doing tests and give an update if I find the specific culprit.

[deleted]

LarryNG Now that it seems to be a specific USB stick being the culprit, I'd really like to see a dmesg of plugging it in 😆

I used to have a PNY pendrive. A few flashes of Solus and other distros and it just died. /ot

LarryNG

brent

But what does a usb port have to with an internet LAN?

Wow I have the same questions! I've never seen anything like it either. It's as if a file on the USB is attempting to call out, but the router switch crashes. On my setup, the USB is case-wired to the MB, an ethernet cable runs from the MB to the switch, and the switch reroutes all ethernet cables throughout the house. If the problem is a spyware/malware file, then theoretically it could affect all Windows computers on the network (fortunately there is only one).

But yeah, I will be investigating this further over the next few days.

brent

LarryNG I hope you get other opinions and keep the board informed.
I hate your circumstances but many here, and me of course, love a good mystery.

LarryNG It's as if a file on the USB is attempting to call out, but the router switch crashes

interesting. so whatever firewall (or router) rules you have are protecting you...if I'm interpreting this right. Blocking the outbound call then crashing is weird.
Malware/spyware is the sexy choice here. didn't stuxnet a few years back mimic this? one usb injects one computer and hooks them all on the intranet. but if it were spyware/malware it would already be buried on the usb drives...very likely but all the ones you use at the same time very unlikely. Where would the rascal hide? In a .bin? service? process?

LarryNG On my setup, the USB is case-wired to the MB, an ethernet cable runs from the MB to the switch, and the switch reroutes all ethernet cables throughout the house

there's also some variables there, i guess.
I'd ask what does Occam's Razor suggest but I'm not sure I know the answer.
edit/sp

Axios

Aha, apparently it was a cheap-o PNY 64gb USB3 thumb drive causing the problem
Does it work otherwise besides the router crashing

brent

Axios much of my life is on "a cheap-o PNY 64gb USB3 thumb drive". you remind me I need to do something about that🙂

LarryNG

Thank you everyone for your help! I found the problem! Darn dumbest thing I've ever seen, and, unfortunately, I have to see it every morning in the mirror. <stressed chuckle>

Since all of my pcs use the same CPU, and most use the same motherboards, then I am accustomed to swapping Linux hard drives on occasion. Well, I swapped the Budgie drive from a pc that has the one motherboard that is a different brand and a little different than the rest, and, of course, the drivers wouldn't be the same. No problems at all if the hdd is in the original pc. (I was also under the assumption that since some Linux distros automatically update drivers when placed with different motherboards, then I would assume that Budgie would do likewise, but my assumption was incorrect this time.)

The switch problem reoccurred when using the Kingston and other brands of USB, it just took longer to happen. I also discovered that the USB3 ports are zooming right along at around 2mbs. lol!

But, on the bright side, since the switch is about 15 years old, it gave me the incentive to order a backup if/when the current switch does fail.

But that's still weird that the router shut itself off. My best guess at the moment is that the wrong ethernet driver was sending a 'just right' signal that triggered the switch to turn off. I no longer have an oscilloscope, so I can't view the actual signals, but, the fix has been easy enough: just put the hard drive back into the correct pc! 🙂

@brent: at present I don't have any special firewall setup, just using the little UFW. I've been wanting to setup a better firewall since the W2K days, just haven't got the gumption yet. 😉

@Axios: Yes, fortunately the PNY USB drive works well in all of my pcs, albeit usually somewhat slow as compared to the better quality USB drives. Since I normally only write 1-5mb files, it's been plenty good enough for my needs (especially since it only cost about $5.00).

@[deleted]: If I ever place the hard drive back in that wrong pc, I'll do a dmesg, just to satisfy both of our curiosities.

Thank you again everyone for your help, and I apologize for having made such a dumb blunder.

brent

LarryNG Darn dumbest thing I've ever seen, and, unfortunately, I have to see it every morning in the mirror. <stressed chuckle>

this is how all my solved threads end: in shame🙂. PS--ufw is superior, that's the firewall I meant.

We will leave it at a 15-year old switch and hardware drivers. but i don't remember hardware driver issues like this when I've plugged and played HDD's in different mobos/setups....across different eras. then again I dont have a 15 your old switch...but why wouldn't these drivers be back-compatible? (rhetorical)

LarryNG My best guess at the moment is that the wrong ethernet driver was sending a 'just right' signal that triggered the switch to turn off.

this ^ seems Occam's. makes sense

[deleted]

LarryNG

Well, I swapped the Budgie drive from a pc that has the one motherboard that is a different brand and a little different than the rest, and, of course, the drivers wouldn't be the same.

If you're not using out-of-tree modules or something, the drivers are the same.

LarryNG

[deleted] If you're not using out-of-tree modules or something, the drivers are the same.

Aha, thank you, I didn't know that. I haven't coded drivers since the DOS days, so I have definitely not attempted anything new in Solus. But anyway, everything appears peachy now, and I'm going to leave well-enough alone! 😉