Member Avatar for jhauben

Every so often my computers connected by ethernet cable or wireless to a new Cisco Valet router stop connecting to web sites with the message in Firefox "Server Not Found/Problem loading Page" problem only started when I added the router. Problem resolves temporarily every time I reboot the router. After a longer or shorter time the problem reappears.

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Intermittent "Server not found" on both wired and wireless clients that clears only after reboot points to the Valet itself failing to forward traffic (rather than a browser or single PC). and raised addressing and hardware causes; the checklist below zeroes in on three distinct failure modes—DNS, WAN/routing, and router resource exhaustion—and gives concrete checks that produce verifiable data.

Basic, reproducible diagnostics (run while the problem is happening):

Windows

ping -t 192.168.1.1
ping -t 8.8.8.8
nslookup www.google.com 8.8.8.8
tracert www.google.com
ipconfig /all

macOS / Linux

ping 192.168.1.1
ping 8.8.8.8
dig @8.8.8.8 www.google.com
traceroute www.google.com
ip addr show

Interpretation notes: if the router IP responds but 8.8.8.8 does not, the Valet has lost its WAN/ISP connection. If 8.8.8.8 responds but DNS resolution fails, the issue is DNS (set a client to 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1 to test).

A common cause that matches "works until reboot" is NAT/connection-tracking exhaustion: low-end consumer routers can run out of simultaneous sessions when many connections (P2P, many devices or a misbehaving client) are open. Symptoms include local LAN staying up while external access stops and recovery only after reboot. The Valet admin/status pages may show high active-session counts or CPU load; if present, reduce concurrent connections in P2P clients, enable any built‑in connection limits/QoS, or consider hardware with a larger connection table.

Other useful steps: temporarily connect a PC directly to the modem to rule out the ISP, back up settings then try a factory reset and an official firmware update from Cisco, check for persistent high uptime or heat, and replace the unit if instability continues. Helpful diagnostics to include in follow-ups: exact Valet model and firmware, router uptime at failure, DHCP client count, active session/connection count from the admin page, and the ping/traceroute outputs above.

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Member Avatar for Rik_

Is the router set to DHCP or static IP? You also need to check if there is any IP address restrictions on the router!

Edited by Rik_ because: n/a
Member Avatar for mjdodd

It is not unknown for routers to freeze, or even to overheat. They freeze because software calls are conflicting, they overheat because lack of ventilation. They also do not like power surges or mini power cuts. Any of the above can give the symptoms you have.
M

Member Avatar for mjdodd

routers are basically a switch. They direct the incoming and outgoing electronic messages to the computers either side of the router. (either by internet or by networks)
So they also have a protection against overheating (like they switch off to cooldown) and they have firewalls to stop nasties getting in. See RIK above about the addressing and DCHP etc to ensure that the computers (behind the router) can actually be used by the 'home' computers / network. Each router normally has its own address and the computers must be able to see these.
It is also possible that whatever browser you are using cannot respond to the router. this may be because you have a firewall on the computer that has not been allowing access to the router. It may be that your hosts file has inadvertantly got the address of your router in it and cant respond. It may be that you have dodgy cables or wireless connections. Any interuption in the flow of data will probably cause the router to be upset and stop.(including intermittant electroinc faults in the router... swap with a known good one and see if there are any differences)
It is also possible that the configuration of your browser (eg privacy / security controls) are stopping web pages from appearing.
It could also be that your router has not got the latest updates and is struggling with older software; (use device manager to see if there are any problems)
M

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