Question What causes an ethernet connection to both flicker and block cloud services? (Possible DNS or LAN issue???)

[DRaelrich]

This is going to be a long one, but only because there's a laundry list of symptoms and attempted fixes to go over.

A while back I made this post. The short version of it is that when my desktop is hooked up to an ethernet connection, it will be fast (it's even faster now that I use a direct line instead of a Powerline adapter, something like 600Mbps down/175Mbps up) it will seem to "flicker," disconnecting and then reconnecting every 10-15 minutes, and basically stops cloud storage services (particularly Dropbox & Google Drive) in their tracks.

These problems completely stop via 2 methods:
-Switching off Ethernet to Wifi, or
-Activating a VPN.

Things I tried:

• ipconfig /flushdns and /renew
• changing DNS to 8.8.8.8, alternate 8.8.4.4
• clearing Google Drive's file stream and Dropbox's cache
• replacing ethernet cables
• replacing the router entirely with a brand new one
• antivirus scan
• disabling firewall
• Upgrading to Windows 11

None of it seems to have worked. I basically just sidestepped the problem for a while by using wifi, but the reception isn't great in my room and if I could get this to work I'd have consistent speeds to work from home with so I'm taking another stab at it.

There's a lot more info from my previous attempt at dealing with this in the Reddit link from when someone was trying to help me with it before.

EDIT: from my previous attempts, some test results:

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:

Packets: Sent = 900, Received = 900, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 685ms, Average = 148ms

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:

Packets: Sent = 900, Received = 897, Lost = 3 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 6ms, Maximum = 1309ms, Average = 150ms

-----

tracert 192.168.1.1

Tracing route to 192.168.1.1 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 2 ms 2 ms 3 ms 192.168.1.1

Trace complete.

C:\Users\mrefl>tracert 8.8.8.8

Tracing route to dns.google [8.8.8.8]

over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 4 ms 2 ms 2 ms 192.168.1.1

2 5 ms 5 ms 3 ms lo0-100.NYCMNY-VFTTP-379.verizon-gni.net [96.250.220.1]

3 7 ms 6 ms 7 ms 100.41.23.66

4 14 ms 9 ms 8 ms 0.csi1.WHPLNYWP-MSE01-BB-SU1.ALTER.NET [140.222.3.212]

5 * * * Request timed out.

6 * * * Request timed out.

7 * * * Request timed out.

8 15 ms 34 ms 16 ms 0.et-10-1-5.GW15.NYC1.ALTER.NET [140.222.230.217]

9 7 ms 20 ms 17 ms 72.14.208.130

10 8 ms 8 ms 10 ms 108.170.229.101

11 10 ms 6 ms 9 ms 108.170.236.91

12 6 ms 15 ms 7 ms dns.google [8.8.8.8]

Trace complete.

----
route print -4

===========================================================================

Interface List

17...70 85 c2 c7 bf 69 ......Marvell AQtion 10Gbit Network Adapter

5...70 85 c2 c7 bf 6b ......Intel(R) I211 Gigabit Network Connection

11...d4 3b 04 4f 0d 95 ......Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter

22...d6 3b 04 4f 0d 94 ......Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #2

20...d4 3b 04 4f 0d 98 ......Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)

6...d4 3b 04 4f 0d 94 ......Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168

1...........................Software Loopback Interface 1
----
IPv4 Route Table

===========================================================================

Active Routes:

Network Destination Netmask Gateway Interface Metric

0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.73 25

127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 On-link 127.0.0.1 331

127.0.0.1 255.255.255.255 On-link 127.0.0.1 331

127.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 127.0.0.1 331

192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 On-link 192.168.1.73 281

192.168.1.73 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.1.73 281

192.168.1.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.1.73 281

224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 On-link 127.0.0.1 331

224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 On-link 192.168.1.73 281

255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 127.0.0.1 331

255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.1.73 281

===========================================================================

Persistent Routes:

None



Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

have your ISP come out to the location and run their own tests.
one thing it can prove is that the issue(s) result from your own system configuration and not from their output.

There's a lot more info from my previous attempt at dealing with this in the Reddit link from when someone was trying to help me with it before.

then include important information here.
others are not likely to track your info down to 3rd party sites just to offer insight here.

 

[DRaelrich]

have your ISP come out to the location and run their own tests.
one thing it can prove is that the issue(s) result from your own system configuration and not from their output.

then include important information here.
others are not likely to track your info down to 3rd party sites just to offer insight here.

Not sure which parts of it are actually important and figured it would be clearer in that format that stuffed in here, but fair enough; appended some to the OP.

I recently had a technician come out to deal with the wifi acting up, and he tested our connection to the building's infrastructure; didn't seem to find anything notable, would he need to be specifically looking for something related to this problem or would a broader diagnostic show results?

 

[Ralston18]

Make and model information for modem, router, or modem/router if combined?

Are you certain that only one network adapter is enabled on the PC. Either wired or wireless - not both at the same time.

Nor two adapters of either sort at the same time.

Run and post the results of "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

 

[DRaelrich]

Router is a Verizon G3100, with an E3200 as a repeater.

EDIT: I didn't answer one your adapter questions: Device Manager shows Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168, Intel(R) I211 Gigabit Network Connection, and Marvell AQtion 10Gbit Network Adapter.

ipconfig /all results:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP-RP82LM0
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mynetworksettings.com

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Marvell AQtion 10Gbit Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 70-85-C2-C7-BF-69
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 3:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mynetworksettings.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) I211 Gigabit Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 70-85-C2-C7-BF-6B
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:bb87:da63:887e:6463(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:441f:ddd5:a79b:1e5b(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::e726:60f2:7365:f09a%5(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.73(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, September 23, 2023 12:02:20 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, September 26, 2023 4:04:49 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::3ebd:c5ff:feb8:916b%5
192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 829457858
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-26-7C-B3-D5-70-85-C2-C7-BF-6B
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:4860:4860::8888
2001:4860:4860::8844
8.8.8.8
9.9.9.9
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 1:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D4-3B-04-4F-0D-95
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #4
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D6-3B-04-4F-0D-94
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mynetworksettings.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D4-3B-04-4F-0D-94
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:d8fd:205d:54e8:e14c(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:7578:f57c:89a2:4337(Deprecated)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:b1c8:31d3:7b3e:8670(Deprecated)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:f9b6:7d7:793b:35eb(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::e785:b9c6:784b:a6be%20(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.175(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, September 23, 2023 2:43:52 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, September 26, 2023 4:04:45 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::3ebd:c5ff:feb8:916b%20
192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 349453060
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-26-7C-B3-D5-70-85-C2-C7-BF-6B
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500::1
192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D4-3B-04-4F-0D-98
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

 

[kanewolf]

Router is a Verizon G3100, with an E3200 as a repeater.

EDIT: I didn't answer one your adapter questions: Device Manager shows Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168, Intel(R) I211 Gigabit Network Connection, and Marvell AQtion 10Gbit Network Adapter.

ipconfig /all results:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP-RP82LM0
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mynetworksettings.com

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Marvell AQtion 10Gbit Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 70-85-C2-C7-BF-69
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 3:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mynetworksettings.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) I211 Gigabit Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 70-85-C2-C7-BF-6B
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:bb87:da63:887e:6463(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:441f:ddd5:a79b:1e5b(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::e726:60f2:7365:f09a%5(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.73(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, September 23, 2023 12:02:20 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, September 26, 2023 4:04:49 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::3ebd:c5ff:feb8:916b%5
192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 829457858
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-26-7C-B3-D5-70-85-C2-C7-BF-6B
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:4860:4860::8888
2001:4860:4860::8844
8.8.8.8
9.9.9.9
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 1:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D4-3B-04-4F-0D-95
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #4
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D6-3B-04-4F-0D-94
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mynetworksettings.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D4-3B-04-4F-0D-94
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:d8fd:205d:54e8:e14c(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:7578:f57c:89a2:4337(Deprecated)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:b1c8:31d3:7b3e:8670(Deprecated)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500:f9b6:7d7:793b:35eb(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::e785:b9c6:784b:a6be%20(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.175(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, September 23, 2023 2:43:52 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, September 26, 2023 4:04:45 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::3ebd:c5ff:feb8:916b%20
192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 349453060
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-26-7C-B3-D5-70-85-C2-C7-BF-6B
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 2600:4041:5508:2500::1
192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D4-3B-04-4F-0D-98
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

I would recommend starting by disabling IPv6 on the host. SIMPLIFY.

 

[DRaelrich]

I would recommend starting by disabling IPv6 on the host. SIMPLIFY.

If memory serves, it started out disabled; I tried switching it on as part of my "try everything" stage of desperation. Disabling it again didn't do anything.

 

[kanewolf]

If memory serves, it started out disabled; I tried switching it on as part of my "try everything" stage of desperation. Disabling it again didn't do anything.

It is just a troubleshooting tool. Again, it is just to simplify the problem. NOW there is only one path that traffic can traverse.

 

[DRaelrich]

It is just a troubleshooting tool. Again, it is just to simplify the problem. NOW there is only one path that traffic can traverse.

Understandable, and that principle just proved itself.

I had tried uninstalling and reinstalling the network adapter drivers, but I hadn't tried disabling them. I disabled the ethernet adapter and found that my wireless speeds jumped up; I tried disabling the wireless adapter and the ethernet connection is now functioning smoothly.

I don't understand why that was necessary - I've switched between wireless and wired connections for years without needing to disable the driver in Device Manager - but I'm just glad SOMETHING works.

 

[kanewolf]

Understandable, and that principle just proved itself.

I had tried uninstalling and reinstalling the network adapter drivers, but I hadn't tried disabling them. I disabled the ethernet adapter and found that my wireless speeds jumped up; I tried disabling the wireless adapter and the ethernet connection is now functioning smoothly.

I don't understand why that was necessary - I've switched between wireless and wired connections for years without needing to disable the driver in Device Manager - but I'm just glad SOMETHING works.

Windows does NOT like having two paths. It gets confused. Usually, a wireless adapter will disable when ethernet is enabled. But if it didn't in your case, then there is your problem. Two paths and Windows gets confused.

 

[DRaelrich]

Windows does NOT like having two paths. It gets confused. Usually, a wireless adapter will disable when ethernet is enabled. But if it didn't in your case, then there is your problem. Two paths and Windows gets confused.

After all this time, it 's finally solved! I appreciate the help.

 

[Senathon]

Try pinging your local devices and/or gateway with "ping -t IP ADRESS".

You might want to look at your physical layer(network cable or connector).

My two bits.