What would keep me from accessing my router firmware page?

When I enter the http address for my router (Linksys WRT54G), the browser waits about 30 seconds and then throws up a 'could not connect to remote server'. This is using Opera and Firefox, results are the same through one wired and one wireless client. The router is set to go through http but https and http192.168.1.1:8080 give the same result.

Last night the wired computer was able to connect, though it was incredibly slow to do so and to navigate each menu page. The wireless computer could get to the main page but then would not go further. Now, nothing can access the router site. Yesterday I changed the broadcast channel from 6 to 1 and things have been great with internet connection, normal internet connectivity works perfectly and signal strength is very good. I can still ping 4 packets sent, 4 received.

It's just the router's ip access that is the problem. I don't want to reset the router until I've asked around a bit because that looses all the security settings and then if I still can't access the router page to reconfigure, then that's bad.


EDIT: just after posting this I tried again on the wireless computer. I was taken straight to the login/pw page as normal, then slooowly to the home menu screen. I select 'administration' and about 30 seconds of blank screen later, 'cannot connect to remote server'.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

You could always try IE safe-mode (no add-on one) and disable both AV software and software firewall just to be on the safe side but it seems a reset to factory settings is in order if these actions don't help.
Also keep in mind that you should perform a factory-reset after a firmware update anyway so if you're planning on doing so you're not gonna escape this action for long even if you manage to get to firmware-update page.
Side note- backing up your settings to a file and restoring them is also not recommended (after a firmware update that is) for the same reason a factory- reset is recommended- old firmware may have slightly different settings or store them in different places in NVRAM or in the backup file- it may cause problems in the long run.

 

Disconnect everything from it except power and your computer and cycle the power. Try different ports as well, don't use wireless.

That's about it, there isn't much else you can do that I can think of. Personally, I would be going for a reset and firmware update. Both of which, like Downloads said, you will have to do regardless really.

 

Heh, well this did it. I disconnected the internet cable, pulled out the power plug, put it back in. Everything is great again.

What would cause this to happen?

I've never experienced this before and I could use a firmware update (running 1.02.7 but 1.02.8 is available) but I could also put it off until I have more reason and time to do it.

Thanks a lot!

 

I know on some firmware an access log is kept, if the software isn't quite right the log can fill up the memory and lock up the router. Look around you may find where/if there is one on your model.

The difference between 1.02.7 and 1.02.8 is minimal (most likely) however it may just be them correcting the exact issue you faced. It could also introduce another issue. No router is perfect.

 

it happened to me sometimes and resetting the router solves all the problem , you can use soft reset by pushing the reset button or the spartan way by unplugging the cables

 

You're lucky that was all it was. I've had a similar problem with a router that was getting ready to fail and was starting to act buggy.

 

That particular router shouldn't be having any access log issues. Do a 30-30-30 reset on it. It will reset everything to default for sure. You may want to consider aftermarket firmwares for the WRT54G like tomato or dd-wrt, but only once you've determined the router isn't somehow toast.

As far as security settings go, you can always reset those. I'd actually be a little concerned that if you can't access the router's config page, you might not know someone else has jumped onto your wireless network and is hammering the crap out of your router, making it slowdown.