Westell 327W DSL router/modem and BitTorrent (Solved)

[Andy Axnot]

I have Verizon DSL and a Verizon provided Westell 327W DSL router/modem.  It doesn't much like BitTorrent.  BitTorrents die quickly, my internet connection locks up, I get a report of eth0 going down, all sorts of problems.  If I test the incoming port in Transmission it says the port is closed or it locks up the modem (and occasionally the computer).

I went to a site that checks if the ISP is throttling BitTorrent, and it reported there was no sign of throttling.  The real clincher, though, is that if I totally disable the router's hardware firewall BitTorrent usually works OK.  So it seems to me that the culprit is the Westell.

If I enable the firewall, at almost any setting, everything I use, other than BitTorrent, works just fine.  So I'd like to have it enabled, but I just can't figure out how to get it to allow BitTorrent to pass.

Does anybody here use a Westell 327W DSL router/modem and BitTorrent?

Thanks,

Andy

[nixer]

Hi Andy.  I don't have a fix for that particular westell modem/router, but I did overcome similar network traffic problems.

I do not have a Verizon account but I do have DSL with AT&T.  A couple of years ago I had similar problems with network traffic on a westell modem and I fixed it by purchasing a cheap router that is compatible with third-party firmware (dd-wrt, tomato, etc.), flashed the device with the firmware, configured the new router for the dsl connection information, then bridged the westell modem, and finally hooked everything up.  It has worked much better since.  Actually it works, where before I did this, it didn't.

I mention purchasing a cheap router because I saw an asus router for sale online just yesterday for $12 (after a $10 rebate).  Asus routers can be had for around $20-$25 without a rebate.  I picked up an extra (as in spare) wireless N router a month or so ago for $25, it is just waiting to be flashed and used.

But back to your problem:

...if I totally disable the router's hardware firewall BitTorrent usually works OK.  So it seems to me that the culprit is the Westell.

If I enable the firewall, at almost any setting, everything I use, other than BitTorrent, works just fine.  So I'd like to have it enabled, but I just can't figure out how to get it to allow BitTorrent to pass.

Just to verify, do you have port forwarding properly configured and also, do you have the setting in transmission to automatically change the port number when starting the program?  This might throw it off.  I have it set to maintain the same port number.

[Andy Axnot]

Hi nixer!  Thanks for the info.

As far as the port number is concerned I've tried both a stable port number and random assignment.  Same results.

'port forwarding properly configured', I'm not sure.  I've read quite a bit about port forwarding, but I don't understand half of it... and I'm not sure which half.   

This is why I was hoping someone with a 327W could just give me a "recipe" to enable BitTorrent with the firewall active.

I may just try your router solution.  Or I may just forget the whole thing.  I have very seldom used BitTorrent lately, though I'm not sure that isn't because I've had difficulties with it.

In any case, thanks much and Happy Holidays.

Andy

[nixer]

Here is a pretty good link describing how to port forward for your router -
http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Westell/Versalink327W/DC++.htm

You will naturally have to change the port numbers, of course.  The older westell modems were not very good at network traffic control, and I am not sure how old this model is.

I hope this helps you sort this problem out. 

[Andy Axnot]

OK, nixer, thanks much.

Andy

[Andy Axnot]

It seems that enabling port forwarding has cured my problem, so I've marked this solved.

I'll enable or disable the port forwarding service as needed, since it leaves ports open which I confirmed with GRC.com's ShieldsUp.

Thanks again.

Andy