Superhub : Superhub & Virgin Media Business

[Skie]

Originally Posted by Mick Fisher

I always have to smile when I read subs have installed their superhubs in the loft.

Its not as big a derp as you probably think. If they didn't have the hub in the loft they would have a modem. Can't reboot those either.

But not having that sort of functionality on a router, at least the "business class" one, is a pretty stupid omission.

[accsys]

Originally Posted by ccarmock

I have the beta version of the business superhub firmware on my box now.

I don't suppose this new firmware has a modem only mode does it? It would be so much better if we could choose a decent router for ourselves!

[ccarmock]

No there are no new features in the trial firmware. It's purely a bugfix release. So sorry no modem mode.

When I initially signed up for the business service I was told that modem
Mode would be available in the future. However have more recently been to it may never be offered on the business Superhub due to the need for the L2TP tunnel to provide fixed IP addresses.

I have heard one view that the modem side of the device forms the tunnel and another view that the router code does this. If the latter is true that might explain the lack of modem mode.

If used with a routable subnet option though some of the router features are not used. Ie the device is in no NAT mode in this config.

[General Maximus]

the router defo forms the tunnel which is why should want them to release modem mode (surely it cant be that hard because they have already done it for residential) and then you can buy a proper router which will do it for you *cough* Cisco

[Sephiroth]

To amplify mon General's remarks, L2TP can be formed at any CPE (e.g. PC or router) and the job of the cable modem is then to forward data at the Data Link Layer.

The redidential SH in modem mode adequately handles this. IMO there'll be some head up their backside reason for not offering modem mode on the business SH.

[ccarmock]

I agree - and nothing would please me more than to form the tunnel on the Cisco 892W I have sitting behind the business superhub, but from what they have told me they won't support that as an option.

Since they will not supply business cable broadband unless the actual cable service already exists now I am not sure how serious this product is to VMB any more.

I agree it can't be too hard. The core firmware is the same.

The release version for business users is 5.5.2R04-BU I suspect derived from the same base 5.5.2 version used on the residential device. I am not sure if this means it's a derivation of R04 residential firmware htough or whether build numbers don't correspond in any way. However it shouldn't be rocket science to port features.

[minesht]

Hi All,

My first post I actually have access to a business virgin superhub 2 with the option to enable modem mode.

Problem is Virgin said it does work but is not supported, so I have to figure out how configure the Draytek 2820 myself.

The reason I am changing is the previous firmware used to loose all its setting and the new firmware seems to crash the hub whenever anything big happens, e.g. a user upgraded so dropbox pro and started to upload all his file to this and the superhub died every hour.

We have the 5 IP address option with virgin and although I worked in IT for 25 years for the last year I have been focusing on other things so my knowledge is a bit less so some to the technical things you guys have been talking about (L2TP for connecting form modem to VM) I had not idea it did this ( if it have that right).

My plan is to just put the same setting that I type into the super hub into the Draytek instead and see if that works, and if not add the username and password that I would normally type into the superhub after it looses its settings.

I'll let you know how I get on and if anyone has done this already let me know as it will be easier than trying to work this out myself.

[ccarmock]

Good luck and do let us know if you get the tunnel and therefore fixed IP addresses working.

One thing I'll add though is if you have the fixed IP options your Superhub is s Superhub 1 and you have the 50 Mb/s option.

You might have seen reference in the user interface to hardware version 2.00. But that's still a supethub 1

[minesht]

He he,

Wishful thinking I would get this working on my first attempt.

I'm using mobile to post this.

Yes your right it is Superhub 1,

On the Draytek the options I have on wan to don't seem to make sense to me. I'm guessing I need to select pptp/l2tb tab and enable l2tp, but then this asks for

server address, which I don't know so I left blank

Gateway address, which I'm guessing is the gateway address specified by vm on their guide to setting up with 5 IP addresses.

Username I guess is the one they supplied with cable. Vmbusiness Net on the end and also password below this.

Ppp setup I left as default, pap or chap.

Then another bit that confused me is it not only has IP address assignment method and wan IP setting.

Just guessing again, but I set the wan IP assignment to the first of the usable IP addresses and the wan IP network setting as the network IP and mask on the setup sheet from vm.

This did not work.

Any ideas what I should try next?

---------- Post added at 01:48 ---------- Previous post was at 00:33 ----------

Looks like to speak to someone at vm that actually knows something you have to call their support at 1AM.

The person I spoke to confirmed that they have had customers with Draytek router, 5 IP addresses working on modem mode, but he could not confirm which Draytek model.

I will speak to Draytek later today when they open, but so far have had not luck with the old 2820.

I think k he was trying to hint at entering PPP username and password in vm modem before enabling modem mode so I'll try that before I leave.

[johnnyboyleeds]

Hi Minesht, did you get the L2TP tunnel working. I have a similar problem. The VM guys will give me a username/password, but no server or endpoint address for the tunnel.

any info that you have would be useful

John