Static IP connectivity problems

[Rogery]

I have a static IP on my Optus NBN connection and in the past month (a rough) it's become very flaky. I can't get hold of a technical support person that can handle anything outside of the standard script ("turn the modem off and on again") and it's not a black & white problem.

There are certain IP addresses on the internet that are uncontactable, or occasionally contactable and it also depends on protocol/port.

One problematic example is `ppa.launchpad.net` (91.189.95.83), which mostly doesn't respond on any protocol, but occasionally will. `www.samba.org` (144.76.82.156) is another one that has about the same reliability. An interesting case is `github.com` which resolves to both 192.30.255.112 and 192.30.255.113, these usually work but ICMP (ping) doesn't work at all on the second IP address but does on the first (as per below, it works when I'm not on my Optus static IP).

I know this is a problem with my static IP NBN connection because:

• If I connect via a VPN hosted outside of Optus, all my problems disappear
• If I connect via my phone as a hotspot (Optus), the problems disappear
• I can bypass all of my LAN infrastructure and connect directly via my Optus modem and the problem persists, so it's not a problem on my side of the modem
• I requested a change in static IP address from Optus because I had a hunch it might be to do with the routing for my specific connection. In the process of switching I was first put onto a dynamic IP address and the problems disappeared. When I was switched to a new static IP, the problems reappeared.
• This occurs on different devices with very different operating systems and configurations within my network.

My suspicion is that there's routing problems in their static IP pool.

Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Can anyone suggest how to get in contact with someone in Optus that might have enough of a clue to (a) understand and (b) diagnose this?

[petergdownload]

You are a business customer?

Peter Gillespie

[Rogery]

I'm begining to think that there might be a problem with protocols/ports as well as routing. Some hosts seem problematic regardless of protocol, but some protocols seem problematic too. As of right now, I can't find a host that I can consistently connect to via ssh, connections are successful to varying degrees but all of the (many and varied) hosts I have access to time out initial connections on occasional connections. I can do repeated connections to the same host and watch occasional connections timeout and others go straight through. Again, on different operating systems and configurations, I have a lot of different hardware connected to my network that I can try these things out on.

If this doesn't get resolved soon I'll have to try ditching the static IP completely as my next step.

[Rogery]

Good question @petergdownload, I think I might only be residential for NBN but business for my mobiles.

[petergdownload]

I'm just curious how you are on a static IP. Optus don't offer static IP for residential customers.

Peter Gillespie

[Rogery]

@petergdownloadI asked for one over the phone, I think it's as simple as that. It could very well be that I'm on a business connection. My mobiles say they are on "Business" Plans but my NBN just says it's a "My Broadband" plan. Although, if I look at an actual bill, the help link says "Visit www.optus.com.au/BusinessCare" but that'd be the only clue.

[GuyCS]

Hey @Rogery - not great to hear if your Static IP is playing up. Generally speaking, we only offer this to business customers, so that would suggest you're on a business account.

I should be able to get someone to look into this for you though. Can you please shoot me a private message with the following info:

Are you the primary account holder: Y/N
Name on account: 
Business name: 
Account number:

Billing address:

Your position in the business:

Once we have that, we should be able to refer this on to a specialist team.