Detailed dialup network connection logging?

[JJ]

On Windows XP, is there a log that describe the detailed log of the
network initialization phase of a dialup connection? The information I
need is the primary and secondary DNS addresses.

The reason I need it is because I already set my DNS to Google DNS
statically. I don't want to change it nor disconnect current connection. I
just want to know the "offered" DNS addresses at the time the dialup is
connected.

 

[glee]

I think there was a c:\windows\modem.log or something, but I don't
remember it showing DNS information. Can't you just run ipconfig.exe
/all through cmd.exe after connecting in dial-up?

In XP, the modem log is a text file in the Windows folder, called
"ModemLog_<name of modem>.txt
For example, mine is called ModemLog_Broadxent DSI V.92 PCI DI3631.txt

You're right, it doesn't contain any IP addresses or other DNS info....
you get that from the command prompt with ipconfig /all

 

[Char Jackson]

In XP, the modem log is a text file in the Windows folder, called
"ModemLog_<name of modem>.txt
For example, mine is called ModemLog_Broadxent DSI V.92 PCI DI3631.txt

You're right, it doesn't contain any IP addresses or other DNS info....
you get that from the command prompt with ipconfig /all

Except in cases like JJ described, you can't get it from ipconfig.

To the OP: if you don't want to make the changes to your host that you
mentioned above, perhaps you have a router in your network, in which
case you may be able to see the ISP's DNS IP's by logging into the
router.

 

[glee]

Except in cases like JJ described, you can't get it from ipconfig.

To the OP: if you don't want to make the changes to your host that you
mentioned above, perhaps you have a router in your network, in which
case you may be able to see the ISP's DNS IP's by logging into the
router.

It's been a few years since I've used dial-up but I believe ipconfig
does show the DNS info for dial-up while connected.
Microsoft Windows XP - Ipconfig
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ipconfig.mspx?mfr=true

IIRC in order to have a router in the dial-up system, they would have to
be using ICS on a host computer, yes?

 

[VanguardLH]

On Windows XP, is there a log that describe the detailed log of the
network initialization phase of a dialup connection? The information
I need is the primary and secondary DNS addresses.

The reason I need it is because I already set my DNS to Google DNS
statically. I don't want to change it nor disconnect current
connection. I just want to know the "offered" DNS addresses at the
time the dialup is connected.

Right-click on the dial-up connectoid in the Network applet in Control
Panel. Select the Properties context menu item. Under the Networking
tab, select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click Properties.

At that point, did you select to automatically get assigned an IP
address (a dynamically assigned IP address by the upstream DHCP server)
or did you enter an IP address so you have a static one? For the DNS
server specification, did you elect to have one dynamically assigned to
your host or did you select "Use the following DNS server addresses" and
specify some?

For the DNS setup, click on the Advanced button. Go to the DNS tab.
How many DNS servers do you have defined there? Here is where you
specify what DNS server(s) to use. Each connectoid can specify
differently whether it gets a dynamic or static assigned IP address,
uses a dynamically assigned DNS server or those you specify, in what
order the DNS servers are used, and other setup on a per-connectoid
basis.

If you specified the Google DNS server here and if you want that one
used first then make sure it is at the top of the list. Although you
might want to always use Google, sometimes a DNS lookup will fail so you
might want to specify a secondary DNS server (and even a third and
fourth). If you only want Google as your primary DNS server, I'd
suggest entering the IP address of your router (probably 192.168.1.1) as
a secondary DNS server. Your router is probably configured for dynamic
IP address assignment and DNS server assignment by your ISP's DHCP
server, so specifying your router as your secondary DNS server means it
fails the DNS lookup request (it always does this) to pass the request
further upstream which is to your ISP's DNS server. That way, if there
is a problem with the Google DNS server or it is unreachable (i.e., the
route to it doesn't work) then you have your ISP's DNS server (through
your router) as a backup.

My setup is probably similar to your own regarding DNS servers. My LAN
connectoid uses Google DNS as the primary and my router as the secondary
(and my router gets dynamically assign IP address and DNS server so it
forwards DNS requests to my ISP's DNS server). I used to have multiple
public DNS servers listed (Google, OpenDNS, DynDNS, Comodo, and another
one that I don't remember right now) but many like to redirect you their
"helper" web site if the DNS lookup fails. That lets them advertize on
failed DNS lookups (either with ads or tracking the clicks to record to
where you navigate for info sold to their customers). Even my ISP
defaults to redirecting to their "helper" page on a failed lookup but
their customers can opt out of that so-called feature (which I did).
That redirection violates DNS protocol which should be reporting a
failure to the client, not a success by redirection to elsewhere. So
I've trimmed down to just Google (which doesn't redirect on a failed
lookup) and my router (which goes to my ISP's DNS server).

I haven't used a dial-up connection in maybe 15-20 years. Others have
suggested you use "ipconfig.exe /all" to get info on your IP address,
DNS server, and other network info. Since that only shows info for
network adapters that are currently active, you won't see any info for
the dial-up connection until after you establish that connection.
Nirsoft's AdapterWatch also gives you networking info but, again, I
don't think you'll see your dial-up connectoid listed until it is active
(i.e., after you have a binding to it).

I suspect an easy way to see which DNS server you are using is to ask it
to resolve an IP address or hostname. In a command shell, do a DNS
lookup using the 'nslookup' command, as in:

nslookup www.yahoo.com
nslookup 209.191.122.70

The 2nd instance is only to test if your DNS server will do a reverse
DNS lookup (IP address to hostname). Sometimes you get a hostname where
you want to check what is its IP address but you also want to check if
its IP address resolves back to the same hostname or to something else.

The first line of output from nslookup tells you which DNS server to
which you sent the lookup request. For the normal use (where you get
the IP address for a specified hostname), you'll get output that looks
like the following:

nslookup www.yahoo.com

Server: google-public-dns-a.google.com
Address: 8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: ds-any-fp3-real.wa1.b.yahoo.com
Addresses: 209.191.122.70, 98.139.183.24
Aliases: www.yahoo.com, fd-fp3.wg1.b.yahoo.com, ds-fp3.wg1.b.yahoo.com
ds-any-fp3-lfb.wa1.b.yahoo.com

The "Server:" line tells you which DNS server you used. You can specify
the DNS server to use for the lookup by running nslookup without any
command-line parameters to go into its interactive mode ("nslookup" with
nothing after it goes into its interactive mode). Because you specified
on the command line what to lookup, it uses the default DNS server.

 

[Char Jackson]

It's been a few years since I've used dial-up but I believe ipconfig
does show the DNS info for dial-up while connected.

It shows the ISP's DNS IP's even if the user sets static (non-ISP) DNS
IP's? Like you, I haven't used dial-up in many years so my memory is
hazy on that part. Non-dial-up doesn't work that way, but maybe I'm
not remembering correctly when it comes to dial-up.

Microsoft Windows XP - Ipconfig
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ipconfig.mspx?mfr=true

IIRC in order to have a router in the dial-up system, they would have to
be using ICS on a host computer, yes?

No, ICS isn't required. There used to be many people with broadband
who kept dial-up around because they didn't trust the reliability of
their broadband connection, although that number has probably dwindled
by now.

Having said that, I probably shouldn't have mentioned routers in this
discussion. Whatever DNS IP's are provided by the broadband ISP are
very likely different from those provided by the dial-up ISP, so
checking the router, if there is one, won't help.

In short, in order to see the ISP's DNS IP's I think he just has to
(temporarily, at least) abandon the hard coded DNS IP's and let the
ISP assign them during the next connection setup. Make a note of them,
and at that point the OP can revert back to his hardcoded IP's if he
wants to.

 

[glee]

inline....

It shows the ISP's DNS IP's even if the user sets static (non-ISP) DNS
IP's? Like you, I haven't used dial-up in many years so my memory is
hazy on that part. Non-dial-up doesn't work that way, but maybe I'm
not remembering correctly when it comes to dial-up.

As I said, it's been years since dial-up for me.... I was thinking that
Default Gateway, DHCP Server, or DNS Servers in ipconfig might show what
he wants, but if he has DNS servers set to something else, perhaps not,
eh?

No, ICS isn't required. There used to be many people with broadband
who kept dial-up around because they didn't trust the reliability of
their broadband connection, although that number has probably dwindled
by now.

Broadband? But we (and the OP) are talking about dial-up, not
broadband, yes? Unless you have a fairly rare router that was made for
dial-up use, tell me how you use a router with a dial-up connection
without using ICS. Actually even with ICS you would use a hub, not a
router. What am I missing from what you are stating?

Those people you mention who kept dial-up around for when their
broadband was down, did not share the connection via a router, it was
dialed via their modem and only shared if ICS was used. I can still use
dial-up here with my old Juno account and my dial-up modem, but it isn't
for use with a router or for sharing without ICS.

Having said that, I probably shouldn't have mentioned routers in this
discussion. Whatever DNS IP's are provided by the broadband ISP are
very likely different from those provided by the dial-up ISP, so
checking the router, if there is one, won't help.

Ahh, but you DID mention routers... lol! I'm actually wondering why
broadband keeps getting mentioned when the OP didn't state anything
about broadband being available, and asked about dial-up. ;-)

In short, in order to see the ISP's DNS IP's I think he just has to
(temporarily, at least) abandon the hard coded DNS IP's and let the
ISP assign them during the next connection setup. Make a note of them,
and at that point the OP can revert back to his hardcoded IP's if he
wants to.

Probably so...

 

[Char Jackson]

Broadband? But we (and the OP) are talking about dial-up, not
broadband, yes?

The OP only mentioned dial-up, yes. I shouldn't have brought routers
into the discussion.

Unless you have a fairly rare router that was made for
dial-up use, tell me how you use a router with a dial-up connection
without using ICS. Actually even with ICS you would use a hub, not a
router. What am I missing from what you are stating?

In almost every case, you simply leave a dial-up modem installed in
the PC. When the broadband connection goes down, you have the option
of using dial-up. In that case, the router won't be involved.

Those people you mention who kept dial-up around for when their
broadband was down, did not share the connection via a router, it was
dialed via their modem and only shared if ICS was used. I can still use
dial-up here with my old Juno account and my dial-up modem, but it isn't
for use with a router or for sharing without ICS.
Agreed.


Ahh, but you DID mention routers... lol! I'm actually wondering why
broadband keeps getting mentioned when the OP didn't state anything
about broadband being available, and asked about dial-up. ;-)

Because a door once opened, even if opened in error, becomes hard to
close. ;-)

 

[glee]

inline skates...

The OP only mentioned dial-up, yes. I shouldn't have brought routers
into the discussion.

Bad Char, no cookies!

In almost every case, you simply leave a dial-up modem installed in
the PC. When the broadband connection goes down, you have the option
of using dial-up. In that case, the router won't be involved.

Yes, but that's not what I was asking. It was mentioned that you
didn't need to use ICS to use a router with dial-up, and I said
something like "what? huh?" My point is that to share an Internet
connection via modem, you must use either ICS or a rare dial-up router.
Boy, did we get sidetracked or what? lol

Because a door once opened, even if opened in error, becomes hard to
close. ;-)

OK, door closing now... hopefully will not hit either of us in the ass.

 

[Char Jackson]

inline skates...




Bad Char, no cookies!

BTW, I don't think I've seen a hub in at least 15 years, maybe longer.

Yes, but that's not what I was asking. It was mentioned that you
didn't need to use ICS to use a router with dial-up,

Oh, ok. I must have missed that. I'll step back so that whoever said
it can slide in here and explain it. ;-)

For me, all I said was that dial-up doesn't require a router nor does
it require ICS. Dial-up can stand on its own.

and I said
something like "what? huh?" My point is that to share an Internet
connection via modem, you must use either ICS or a rare dial-up router.
Boy, did we get sidetracked or what? lol

Typical Usenet.

OK, door closing now... hopefully will not hit either of us in the ass.

I don't think any damage has been done. Hope not, anyway.

 

[glee]

inline...

BTW, I don't think I've seen a hub in at least 15 years, maybe longer.

We used one with ICS and dial-up where I used to work about 15 years
ago...

Oh, ok. I must have missed that. I'll step back so that whoever said
it can slide in here and explain it. ;-)

....but, but.... it was you! Or we really had a communication
breakdown...

For me, all I said was that dial-up doesn't require a router nor does
it require ICS. Dial-up can stand on its own.


Typical Usenet.


I don't think any damage has been done. Hope not, anyway.

Oops.... mine got cracked...

 

[JJ]

I think there was a c:\windows\modem.log or something, but I don't
remember it showing DNS information. Can't you just run ipconfig.exe
/all through cmd.exe after connecting in dial-up?

ipconfig only shows the currently assigned DNS servers which is the Google
DNS in my case.

 

[JJ]

Except in cases like JJ described, you can't get it from ipconfig.

To the OP: if you don't want to make the changes to your host that you
mentioned above, perhaps you have a router in your network, in which
case you may be able to see the ISP's DNS IP's by logging into the
router.

There's no router in my network. It's just my dial-up CDMA USB modem and
it's not a router type. Like plain 56k phone line modem.

 

[JJ]

I think there was a c:\windows\modem.log or something, but I don't
remember it showing DNS information. Can't you just run ipconfig.exe
/all through cmd.exe after connecting in dial-up?

The modem_xxx.log is for modem level logging only. i.e.: the modem AT
commands. Network protocols are beyond it's scope.

 

[JJ]

or did you enter an IP address so you have a static one? For the DNS
server specification, did you elect to have one dynamically assigned to
your host or did you select "Use the following DNS server addresses" and
specify some?

The DNS is no longer dynamic since I specifically set the DNS setting to
Google DNS.

fourth). If you only want Google as your primary DNS server, I'd
suggest entering the IP address of your router (probably 192.168.1.1) as
a secondary DNS server. Your router is probably configured for

dynamic

I only use Google DNS since my ISP DNS blocks some host names. But I
still need them as a very last resort in case Google DNS server (and my
second DNS) is down and not because a host name is not in Google DNS nor
the second DNS. My second DNS is from other ISP and not my own ISP. I
also have a tertiary DNS which I have never used since Google DNS is
quite reliable.

Also, there is no router at my side. It's just my dialup USB modem and
it's not a router type.

IP address assignment and DNS server assignment by your ISP's DHCP
server, so specifying your router as your secondary DNS server means

it

I had a hunch that the dynamic IP address and DNS addresses are
retrieved from my ISP DHCP, but I was told that they are part of dialup
PPP negotiation. My dialup connection has no DHCP settings either. I
don't know if DHCP might be the solution, but I've been searching for a
DHCP client software that interact with my ISP DHCP on-demand, but I
haven't found one. There's a DNS Locator from Windows 2003 Resource Kit,
but it doesn't seem able to find the DHCP and it only acts as a monitor
that passively wait for a status update from DHCP.

I suspect an easy way to see which DNS server you are using is to ask it
to resolve an IP address or hostname. In a command shell, do a DNS
lookup using the 'nslookup' command, as in:

nslookup www.yahoo.com
nslookup 209.191.122.70

It's kind of unreliable to use nslookup since the given address must be
correct (i.e.: my ISP). Otherwise, the DNS address might be from other
ISP. e.g.: Same ISP but a branch in other province.

 

[Char Jackson]

inline...


...but, but.... it was you! Or we really had a communication
breakdown...

Apparently. I would be surprised to learn I had said that.

Oops.... mine got cracked...

Are you sure it didn't come that way from the factory?

 

[Char Jackson]

There's no router in my network. It's just my dial-up CDMA USB modem and
it's not a router type. Like plain 56k phone line modem.

Sorry, when it comes to dial-up I don't remember much. I last used it
around 1995-96 so it's all faded away.

If ipconfig (while you're connected) doesn't show anything, then I
don't know. It's not like you can easily sniff the traffic and see
where DNS queries are going. Good luck with it, I hope someone posts a
helpful answer so we can all (re)learn.

 

[VanguardLH]

I had a hunch that the dynamic IP address and DNS addresses are
retrieved from my ISP DHCP, but I was told that they are part of
dialup PPP negotiation. My dialup connection has no DHCP settings
either.

You're saying on your host that when you right-click on the dialup
connectoid in the Network applet in Control Panel, select Properties,
look under the Networking tab, that is is no networking component listed
for "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)"? If not, just WHERE were you defining
your static (non-DHCP) list of DNS servers?

Are you using a dialup connectoid defined by Windows or are you using
some 3rd party dialup software that operates using its own protocol? If
you use their dialer then you get what they give you. That's what I
remember of the AOL dialer but that was back around 20 years ago that I
last used it. Do you really have to use their dialer program? They
don't have a listing of telephone numbers that you can call but use a
dialup connectoid that you defined using Windows?

It's kind of unreliable to use nslookup since the given address must
be correct (i.e.: my ISP). Otherwise, the DNS address might be from
other ISP. e.g.: Same ISP but a branch in other province.

Why is nslookup unreliable? If you don't specify a DNS server (by going
into interactive mode) then nslookup will use the DNS server(s) in the
priority order that you specified in the TCP/IP properties for your
dialup connectoid. If the "given address" (is that the hostname?) is
not correct, none of the DNS servers you specified is going to return a
positive result.

 

[VanguardLH]

ipconfig only shows the currently assigned DNS servers which is the Google
DNS in my case.

Then isn't that what you wanted - to find out which DNS server your
dialup connection was using?

 

[Char Jackson]

Then isn't that what you wanted - to find out which DNS server your
dialup connection was using?

He already knows what he's currently using, since he hardcoded it to
use Google's DNS.

He has mentioned several times, across two different threads in two
different newsgroups, that he wants to see what his ISP offers up for
DNS IP's. Those IP's will almost certainly NOT be Google's DNS.