PROBLEM DESCRIPTION

The Dlink DSL-G604T is a wifi/adsl/ethernet router, which seems to be rather common in NZ due to various ISPs offering them at cheap prices with new ADSL customers.

They do the job, but I’ve found a few problems with mine.
1) My unit seems to like to emit a quiet, high-pitch whine, when the ADSL line is connected.
2) DNS relaying is iffy.
3) Features in the web interface sometimes don’t work.

The only problem which really bother me is number 2 (as no.1 can’t normally be heard and I don’t normally have to touch the web int).

I found it would operate fine most of the time, but randomly it would suddenly do incorrect resolution and resolve a name to the IP of 1.0.0.0! In some cases, it would only affect certain programs. :-/

This could affect quite a few people, since I think the router has the relay feature and DHCP turned on by default. So, here’s the workaround for google to find. :-)

PROBLEM WORKAROUND

I found the fix is to disable the DNS relay completely, and simply pass out the ISP’s DNS address over DHCP from the router.

Todo that:
1) Login to the router web interface.
2) Select the DNS tab.
3) Change “DNS Relay Selection” to “Disable DNS Relay”.
4) Add your desired DNS servers.
5) Click “apply” – the router will prompt you to save & reboot.

Simple, but annoying when I didn’t know the cause. :-)

See my post to Wellylug if you are looking for step-by-step instructions for a Linux newbie user.

Over the Christmas break I’ve been working on my Jedo Linux distro. Here’s what I’ve done so far:

• Released temp status website at www.jedolinux.com.
• Have written all the base packages for the distro.
• Built most of those packages.

And what I will be doing next:

• Getting all the packages built.
• Writing an installer (I’m thinking about using newt)
• Testing the base of the distro heavily.

The idea is to get all the distro written (installer, base packages, website, package manager) and test it heavily (and get others to test it as well).

Once that is all working well, I will then add all the other packages needed (eg: gnome, services, etc). Most of the packages I’m just adjusting the ebuilds I wrote for Jedo Linux 0.3, so that will move fairly rappidly.

Here’s a rough time guestimate, that will probably be wrong. :-)

• Jan 07: Complete a working base package selection.
• Feb 07: Adjust package manager to suit.
• Mar 07: Complete the installer and release ISO to get feedback.
• Apr 07: Write website with bug management, etc.
• May 07: Write packages.
• Jun 07: Release ISO for testing & make adjustments based on feedback.
• Jul 07: Release new version.

I still have to decide what versioning scheme to use – the new release will either be Jedo Linux 1.0 or Jedo Linux 2007.

I’ve just released my new homepage! It’s been a little while in the making, but it was worth it. :-)

Various features have been written such as:

• Content management system (using wikipedia style syntax)
• User permissions – can create user groups for fine level access control to pages.
• Photo album page, that supports browsing images and generates low res versions.
• My new blog – since 99.9% of the rest of the world seems to have one these days, I decided it would make it easy to detail what I’m up to, and the status of various technical projects I’m working on.

I’m still adding stuff to the site, so check back later and there will probably be more for you to see here. I’ll make a note of any new stuff I add in my blog.