September 2007
The Problem
At random times, my Tivo Desktop software will stop 'seeing' the Tivo DVR on the network, and I will get the following error message:
Basic connectivity testing
To determine if the problem is simple network connectivity I performed the following actions:
Note: If some of these options are not working, you need to troubleshoot basic network connectivity and temporarily disable any firewalls on your PC.
Ping the Tivo DVR
Pinging 192.168.0.50 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.50: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64 Reply from 192.168.0.50: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64 Reply from 192.168.0.50: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64 Reply from 192.168.0.50: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=64
Ping statistics for 192.168.0.50:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 4ms, Average = 2ms
PC to Tivo using the standard Port 80 URL (http://{tivo IP Address}
This provides a basic connectivity test between your PC and the Tivo box:
PC to Tivo using the Http SSL Port 443 URL (https://{tivo IP Address}
This provides you with your now playing list, so you download your shows without Tivo Desktop.
Note: You will get Certificate errors (IE6 will prompt you, IE7 will show you a web page), there are complex instructions to remove these errors which include installing a Root Authority Certificate, and configuring Name resolution (hosts file) , so just continue to the website as you know your local Tivo is a trusted site.
Tivo to PC
This verifies that the Tivo DVR can establish a connection with the PC (in the opposite direction to what you are having the issue with)
First, make sure the Tivo Server has started on your PC. From Tivo Desktop, select Server.... Tivo Server properties
Verify that the Server is Running
Now from the Tivo DVR, selectMusic, Photos, Products, & More :
Now scroll down the list until you see your published Music, Photos etc:
Select the "Music" or "Photos" to attempt to browse the content on your PC.
You will now get the following error message:
Browsing music will give you Error#3-43-100.
My Setup
PC is a Dell Dimension 8400 with 1GB Ram, 3.2Ghz Pentium 4, Radeon X300 Series Display, Netgear WG311T Wireless adapter
IP: 192.168.0.99 (Static not DHCP)
Tivo Desktop V2.5 (same behavior with 2.3a)
Tivo Series 2 with Software level 8.3-01-2-649, Built in Ethernet (Update: see Conclusion below)
IP: 192.168.0.50 (Static not DHCP)
Connectivity
PC -------wireless 108MB-------Netgear WGT624v2 Router------Wired 100MB------Tivo Series 2
Netgear Router Firmware V4.2.11_1.0.1
Immediate Resolution
Just resetting the router fixes the issue. You do not need to reset the PC or the Tivo DVR, once the network becomes available, everything will work.
Also tried restarting the Tivo box (does not fix)
Also tried restarting the PC (does not fix)
Reinstalled Tivo Desktop software (does not fix)
Re-entered MAK (does not fix)
Investigating the issue
From the testing done, the problem obviously lies in the router or the network. All other network functionality continues to work (e.g. Internet access, PC to PC connections and Tivo to PC connections).
So this narrows the issue down to how the Tivo Desktop software communicates with the Tivo DVR to enable transfers.
The method used is auto discovery using a multicast of the Tivo Beacon on UDP port 2190. The Tivo Beacon Service is used as the 'listener' so must be started for the Tivo Desktop software to work:
To check the Tivo beacon message on the network, I monitored the network to see what was being communicated to and from the Tivo.
Here is what I found:
A working Broadcast trace (Tivo Desktop working normally)
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 UDP UDP: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
Details of the UDP packet:
FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 11 D9 04 56 3D 08 00 45 00 ÿÿÿÿÿÿ..Ù.V=..E.
00 D5 00 00 40 00 40 11 B7 96 C0 A8 00 32 C0 A8 .Õ..@.@.·À¨.2À¨
00 FF 08 8E 08 8E 00 C1 70 B6 74 69 76 6F 63 6F .ÿ.?.?.Áp¶tivoco
6E 6E 65 63 74 3D 31 0A 73 77 76 65 72 73 69 6F nnect=1.swversio
6E 3D 38 2E 33 2D 30 31 2D 32 2D 36 34 39 0A 6D n=8.3-01-2-649.m
65 74 68 6F 64 3D 62 72 6F 61 64 63 61 73 74 0A ethod=broadcast.
69 64 65 6E 74 69 74 79 3D 36 34 39 33 38 30 31 identity=6493801
38 30 38 39 44 42 37 46 0A 6D 61 63 68 69 6E 65 8089DB7F.machine
3D 44 56 52 2D 44 42 37 46 0A 70 6C 61 74 66 6F =DVR-DB7F.platfo
72 6D 3D 74 63 64 2F 53 65 72 69 65 73 32 0A 73 rm=tcd/Series2.s
65 72 76 69 63 65 73 3D 54 69 56 6F 2D 53 65 72 ervices=TiVo-Ser
76 65 54 63 64 56 69 64 65 6F 2D 31 3A 32 31 39 veTcdVideo-1:219
31 2F 74 76 62 75 73 5F 76 33 2C 54 69 56 6F 4D 1/tvbus_v3,TiVoM
65 64 69 61 53 65 72 76 65 72 3A 38 30 2F 68 74 ediaServer:80/ht
74 70 0A
tp.
Frame:
- Ethernet: Etype = Internet IP (IPv4)
- DestinationAddress: *BROADCAST
IG: (1.......) Group address
UL: (.1......) Locally Administered Address
Rsv: (..111111)
- SourceAddress: TiVo 04563D
UL: .0...... Universally Administered Address
EthernetType: Internet IP (IPv4), 2048(0x800)
- Ipv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 213
- Versions: IPv4, Internet Protocol; Header Length = 20
Version: (0100....) IPv4, Internet Protocol
HeaderLength: (....0101) 20 bytes (0x5)
- DifferentiatedServicesField: DSCP: 0, ECN: 0
DSCP: (000000..) Differentiated services codepoint 0
ECT: (......0.) ECN-Capable Transport not set
CE: (.......0) ECN-CE not set
TotalLength: 213 (0xD5)
Identification: 0 (0x0)
- FragmentFlags: 16384 (0x4000)
Reserved: (0...............)
DF: (.1..............) Do not fragment
MF: (..0.............) This is the last fragment
Offset: (...0000000000000) 0
TimeToLive: 64 (0x40)
NextProtocol: UDP, 17(0x11)
Checksum: 46998 (0xB796)
SourceAddress: 192.168.0.50
DestinationAddress: 192.168.0.255
- Udp: SrcPort = 2190, DstPort = 2190, Length = 193
SourcePort: 2190, 2190(0x88e)
DestinationPort: 2190, 2190(0x88e)
TotalLength: 193 (0xC1)
Checksum: 28854 (0x70B6)
UDPPayloadData: Binary Large Object (185 Bytes)
A failed Broadcast trace (Tivo Desktop cannot find a DVR)
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
192.168.0.50 192.168.0.255 IPv4 IPv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
Details of the UDP packet (changes shown in Red):
FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 11 D9 04 56 3D 08 00 00 00 ÿÿÿÿÿÿ..Ù.V=....
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 11 00 C1 C0 A8 00 32 C0 A8 .........ÁÀ¨.2À¨
00 FF 08 8E 08 8E 00 C1 00 00 74 69 76 6F 63 6F .ÿ.?.?.Á..tivoco
6E 6E 65 63 74 3D 31 0A 73 77 76 65 72 73 69 6F nnect=1.swversio
6E 3D 38 2E 33 2D 30 31 2D 32 2D 36 34 39 0A 6D n=8.3-01-2-649.m
65 74 68 6F 64 3D 62 72 6F 61 64 63 61 73 74 0A ethod=broadcast.
69 64 65 6E 74 69 74 79 3D 36 34 39 33 38 30 31 identity=6493801
38 30 38 39 44 42 37 46 0A 6D 61 63 68 69 6E 65 8089DB7F.machine
3D 44 56 52 2D 44 42 37 46 0A 70 6C 61 74 66 6F =DVR-DB7F.platfo
72 6D 3D 74 63 64 2F 53 65 72 69 65 73 32 0A 73 rm=tcd/Series2.s
65 72 76 69 63 65 73 3D 54 69 56 6F 2D 53 65 72 ervices=TiVo-Ser
76 65 54 63 64 56 69 64 65 6F 2D 31 3A 32 31 39 veTcdVideo-1:219
31 2F 74 76 62 75 73 5F 76 33 2C 54 69 56 6F 4D 1/tvbus_v3,TiVoM
65 64 69 61 53 65 72 76 65 72 3A 38 30 2F 68 74 ediaServer:80/ht
74 70 0A tp.
Frame:
- Ethernet: Etype = Internet IP (IPv4)
- DestinationAddress: *BROADCAST
IG: (1.......) Group address
UL: (.1......) Locally Administered Address
Rsv: (..111111)
- SourceAddress: TiVo 04563D
UL: .0...... Universally Administered Address
EthernetType: Internet IP (IPv4), 2048(0x800)
UnkownData: Binary Large Object (193 Bytes)
- Ipv4: Next Protocol = UDP, Packet ID = 0, Total IP Length = 0
- Versions: Reserved; Header Length = 0
Version: (0000....) Reserved
HeaderLength: (....0000) 0 bytes (0)
- DifferentiatedServicesField: DSCP: 0, ECN: 0
DSCP: (000000..) Differentiated services codepoint 0
ECT: (......0.) ECN-Capable Transport not set
CE: (.......0) ECN-CE not set
TotalLength: 0 (0x0)
Identification: 0 (0x0)
- FragmentFlags: 0 (0x0)
Reserved: (0...............)
DF: (.0..............) Fragment if necessary
MF: (..0.............) This is the last fragment
Offset: (...0000000000000) 0
TimeToLive: 0 (0x0)
NextProtocol: UDP, 17(0x11)
Checksum: 193 (0xC1)
SourceAddress: 192.168.0.50
DestinationAddress: 192.168.0.255
Udp:
The problem is that the UDP broadcasts are not getting to the PC. This could be the Tivo not sending them correctly, or the router is blocking them.
To check this theory, I connected the PC to the router using a wired connection (i.e. the same connection as the Tivo DVR) and captured another network trace.
The trace showed that the working broadcast UDP packets were being sent by the Tivo on the wired part of the network.
Conclusion
The problem is with the router passing UDP broadcast packets from the wired side of the router across to the Wireless side of the router. Resetting the router fixes the issue temporarily. There is no pattern as to when the broadcasts stop.
What I am looking into.....
Investigate UPnP to see if that solves the issue.
Update: Setting UPnP on the router does not fix the issue.
Investigate turning on RIP to see if that solves the issue.
Update: Setting RIP on the router does not fix the issue.
No other configurable options on the router
Most of the LAN settings are limited to Wireless connectivity, not local routing which in most cases is 'built-in' to the firmware of the router.
Why Cant we hard code an IP address into Tivo Desktop? So we do not have to rely on broadcasts?
Potential Fix (29th February, 2008)
It has been a few weeks now where this problem has not been experienced. The Router has been reset randomly, but the issue normally appears within a few days.
No changes have been made except for the Tivo Software Version. It is now at 9.1a-01-2-649.