I recently switched to high-speed Internet via cable. I have a cable
modem which connects to my hardware firewall, which connects to my
computer. Since I have never used high-speed cable before, I noticed the
following:

* The bandwidth appears slower

* The "activity" lights on the cable modem and on the firewall blink
constantly, even when the computer is turned off

* Almost everytime I put in a URL in my broswer, the page is delayed a
second or two as the notice "resolving host" appears

Obviously, I'm wondering if the constant WAN activity is normal, even when
the computer is off. I never had the hardware firewall's activity light
blinking until I got the cable modem. Is this normal?

My second question is about the apparent DNS resolution. Why does it
constantly delay websurfing in order to "resolve" the host?

Many thanks for helpful replies.

Spelvin wrote:

<snip>

<snip first question>

Because it can't go there until it knows where "there" is, and because
a fat pipe isn't going to speed up that lookup process itself (only the
resulting connection)?

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263

Go Blue -- beat Ohio State and it's off to the Rose Bowl again.

In article <VL7EE23938311.0881944444@anonymous.poster> fartface <Anonymous-Remailer@See.Comment.Header> wrote:
Why do you think so?

Change your posting Nick to Timothy dullard and the next time you wish
to wag your tongue like a monkey, tariq.

?oc?erto que ?or que?

Oh, you are, are you?

Why do you wonder if it constantly delay websurfing in order to
resolve the host?

A rumor goes in one ear and out many mouths.

--
Lady Chatterly

"I really need to learn enough about computers to make myself a bot.
LC is just priceless." -- Ryan Lankford

"Lady Chatterly" <anonymous-remailer@catcher.in.the.rye> wrote in message
news:88487ea.a2c607b9@id.au...
sounds like a classic case of spyware and/or trojans

-a|ex

In article <1vLnd.7001$pK6.429@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.n et> 127.0.0.1 <get.rooted@localhost> wrote:
Do you think I'm a hacker?

The bird was unafraid when you entered, but as you approach it becomes
disturbed and you cannot catch it.

--
Lady Chatterly

"d00d, flaming by 'bots doesn't count. You need to know they're
'bots." -- Jommy Cross

"Lady Chatterly" <not-bot@catcher.in.the.rye> wrote in message
news:d6a7072.89632cc6@news.1usenet.com...
hacker: one who hacks
hacking: original terminology refering to unconventional problem solving.

do i think Lady Chatterly is a hacker?
one should really ask, if a|ex's opinion is worth value.

-a|ex

In article <L_Lnd.4642$Qh3.2920@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink. net> 127.0.0.1 <get.rooted@localhost> wrote:
A pessimist is one who builds dungeons in the air.

Evil is sooner believed than good.

You are at the bottom of the eastern pit in the twopit room. There is
a small pool of oil in one corner of the pit.

--
Lady Chatterly

"So what? Your hint doesn't tell us anything not already known about
you, Chatterbox Lady." -- Society

Ran a speedtest, or is that too challenging? www.adslguide.org.uk or
www.speedtest.ndo.com if youre in the UK / have decent ISP transit links to
here.

Normal automated port scans. My DSL line has traffic all the time even when
there are no users on my web server

Run a ping to a known fast host. clarity.jolt.co.uk is usally a good one
here, try a large host wherever you are.

A tracert will provide you with the source of your bottleneck.


Because:

1. You have an incorrect subnet on your LAN if you have externally assigned
IP addresses, and the router is having problems creaing a valid route table.
2. Your router / you have specified incorrect DNS server addresses
3.Your ISP's DNS servers SUCK


hamman

"Lady Chatterly" <not-bot@catcher.in.the.rye> wrote in message
news:14387ae.8de53be3@news.1usenet.com...
dude, you fit the classic definition of a newsgroup "troll"
here's an enlightenment: "plonk"

-a|ex

In article <PyMnd.4666$Qh3.4014@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink. net> 127.0.0.1 <get.rooted@localhost> wrote:
Is that true?

Do you want the hint?

--
Lady Chatterly

"Oh, hep me. Lady Chatterly's trying to flame me. aaaaah." --
Starshine Moonbeam

NOTE: This message was sent thru a mail2news gateway.
No effort was made to verify the identity of the sender.
--------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the helpful replies, "hamman" (and "Blinky the Shark" too).
The reason I was asking about the WAN light constantly blinking and the
DNS taking several seconds almost evertime I web surf is because I just
transitioned from DSL, and my I never had any of these same issues with my
DSL ISP.

Your explanation for the activity/WAN light constantly blinking makes
sense, but I've checked my firewall/router logs, and there is no evidence
of attack. Of course, it could just be an ungodly amount of scans or pings.

I also never had any DNS delays with my DSL ISP, and I'm using the exact
same hardware that I was using then, so I guess your third suggestion that
my ISP could just plain suck with regards to DNS issues may be the case.
In any event, thanks for the explanations.