Firmware Upgrade + Recommended Settings

[billi24]

Hello,

I had an old Billion BiPAC 7800 which stopped working after 10+ years,
so I managed to get a barely used Billion BiPAC 8900AX 2400 on eBay.
Antenna broken, but I don't need wireless anyway.
Everything else should be working.

First, I reset it, turned off wireless, then opened the WEB based GUI [http://192.168.1.254] .
I just entered 3 things...
• Layer2 Interface: PTM (VDSL)
• username: bthomehub@btbroadband.com
• pw: bt
... and internet came up!

I see the firmware is 2.52.d41, so I downloaded
"Zcomax8900AX2400_2.52.d48.afw" via the forum.
But it didn't upgrade. Waited an hour... What can I do?

BTW I have BT Fibre 1 (FTTC) - what are the recommended settings?

Many thanks!

[billion_fan]

Try using another web browser to upgrade the device

Attached is a link the latest firmware 2.52.d52

Bipac 8900AX-2400 2.52.d52 fw

[billi24]

Thank you!

That new firmware version isn't even on the website yet.
I had used Safari on a Mac, and probably the default security settings were too much!
The Brave browser did it without a problem.

It seems EZSO is for IE only, so it doesn't come up on a Mac.

1. I went through Quick Start and selcted PTM (VDSL)
2. I kept "PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE)" Is this right?
3. I entered my BT (Fibre 1) username and password.
4. Do I need a "Service Name"?
5. I kept "AUTO" as Authentication method.
6. Do I have to enable "IPv6 for this service"? (I haven't yet.)
7. For MTU I kept "1492".
=> "Your WAN port has been successfully configured."
I skipped both wireless.

8. Is there anything else to set up for BT as my ISP?

9. With https://broadbandtest.which.co.uk/ I got:
Response time (latency): 12 ms
Download: 53 Mbps
Upload: 7 Mbps
- I think upload could be 9 Mbps for Fibre 1...?

10. Finally, are the diagnostics OK? I see a lot of FAILs...

Thanks for your help!

[billion_fan]

Thank you!

That new firmware version isn't even on the website yet.
I had used Safari on a Mac, and probably the default security settings were too much!
The Brave browser did it without a problem.

It seems EZSO is for IE only, so it doesn't come up on a Mac.

1. I went through Quick Start and selcted PTM (VDSL)
2. I kept "PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE)" Is this right?
3. I entered my BT (Fibre 1) username and password.
4. Do I need a "Service Name"?
5. I kept "AUTO" as Authentication method.
6. Do I have to enable "IPv6 for this service"? (I haven't yet.)
7. For MTU I kept "1492".
=> "Your WAN port has been successfully configured."
I skipped both wireless.

8. Is there anything else to set up for BT as my ISP?

9. With https://broadbandtest.which.co.uk/ I got:
Response time (latency): 12 ms
Download: 53 Mbps
Upload: 7 Mbps
- I think upload could be 9 Mbps for Fibre 1...?

10. Finally, are the diagnostics OK? I see a lot of FAILs...

Thanks for your help!

Your internet should be fine as you have working internet connection.




1. I went through Quick Start and selcted PTM (VDSL) - Thats right
2. I kept "PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE)" Is this right? Thats right
3. I entered my BT (Fibre 1) username and password. Thats right
4. Do I need a "Service Name"? Not needed only for your reference
5. I kept "AUTO" as Authentication method. Thats right
6. Do I have to enable "IPv6 for this service"? (I haven't yet.) Up to you, BT do support it, you have to enable under Configuration > LAN > IPv6 Autoconfig also
7. For MTU I kept "1492". Thats right
=> "Your WAN port has been successfully configured."
I skipped both wireless.
8. Is there anything else to set up for BT as my ISP? Not really, you can still use the wireless, along as the antenna is still attached,
9. With https://broadbandtest.which.co.uk/ I got: Sync speeds depend on the line quality/length this can't be tweaked on VDSL with this model
10. Finally, are the diagnostics OK? I see a lot of FAILs... This is normal as this was checking the ADSL/ATM connection (your on a VDSL/PTM connection)

[billi24]

>> 6. Do I have to enable "IPv6 for this service"? (I haven't yet.)
> Up to you, BT do support it, you have to enable under Configuration > LAN > IPv6 Autoconfig also

Would that only be "DHCPv6 Server [x] Enable"?

Do you know, what the advantage(s)/disadvantage(s) would be?

>> 10. Finally, are the diagnostics OK? I see a lot of FAILs...
> This is normal as this was checking the ADSL/ATM connection (your on a VDSL/PTM connection)

OK, I attached the correct diagnostics below. Are they OK?

I noticed the router assigns the ethernet ports randomly to the connected computers.
This canges from time to time.
Can I configure the router so that persistent addresses are assigned?

Thanks!!

[billion_fan]

Would that only be "DHCPv6 Server [x] Enable"?

Check the following link

BT Broadband and IPv6 setup

Do you know, what the advantage(s)/disadvantage(s) would be?

Disadvantages - some legacy devices get mixed up with Ipv4 and Ipv6 addresses,

Advantages - you get to take advantages of using IPv6 (websites/clients etc that support it)

OK, I attached the correct diagnostics below. Are they OK?

The results look fine

Can I configure the router so that persistent addresses are assigned?

Yes Configuration >> LAN, in the middle of the page under 'Host Label' click on 'Add' enter a Host Label for your reference, the MAC address of the device you want to have the same IP address, and a IP address outside the DHCP range, finally click on Apply

[billi24]

>> Would that only be "DHCPv6 Server [x] Enable"?
> Check the following link
> viewtopic.php?p=157693&sid=35a9a0435460 ... 684aeab23f

This screenshot is of a Billion 8800..., I have a Billion 8900...,
so there are differences in that section.
I guess I'll have to check "Issue Router Advertisements" too?
But below that...?


| | |


>> Can I configure the router so that persistent addresses are assigned?
> Yes Configuration >> LAN, in the middle of the page under 'Host Label' click on 'Add'
> enter a Host Label for your reference, the MAC address of the device you want to have the same IP address,
> and a IP address outside the DHCP range, finally click on Apply

IP address "outside" the DHCP range...?
Could I simply enter the details found at Status > DHCP > Leased Table
(Host Name, MAC Address, IP Address) in the desired combination?

[billion_fan]

>> Would that only be "DHCPv6 Server [x] Enable"?
> Check the following link
> viewtopic.php?p=157693&sid=35a9a0435460 ... 684aeab23f

This screenshot is of a Billion 8800..., I have a Billion 8900...,
so there are differences in that section.
I guess I'll have to check "Issue Router Advertisements" too?
But below that...?


| | |


>> Can I configure the router so that persistent addresses are assigned?
> Yes Configuration >> LAN, in the middle of the page under 'Host Label' click on 'Add'
> enter a Host Label for your reference, the MAC address of the device you want to have the same IP address,
> and a IP address outside the DHCP range, finally click on Apply

IP address "outside" the DHCP range...?
Could I simply enter the details found at Status > DHCP > Leased Table
(Host Name, MAC Address, IP Address) in the desired combination?

The web interface is the same with the 8800 and 8900 (both BCM solutions)

Yes enable "Issue Router Advertisements"

No need to enable MLD snooping

IP address "outside" the DHCP range...?

You have to use a IP address outside the DHCP range to avoid IP conflicts, you can copy and paste the MAC addresses from the DHCP table, but the IP address must be outside the range eg 192.168.1.200

[billi24]

OK, thanks! So summarized (to be sure I got everything!):

• First, in Quick Start, second screen, I set "IPv6 for this service" by checking "Enable"
(Nothing else here to modify.)

• Then, in Configuration > LAN > IPv6 Autoconfig...
• I set "DHCPv6 Server" by checking "Enable"
• I set "Issue Router Advertisements" by checking "Enable"
• I set "ULA Prefix Advertisement" by checking "Enable"
• I don't have this "Prefix" entry "fd9b.............64"
=> Shall I add it?
• I deactivate "MLD Snooping" by unchecking "Enable"
=> For what would that have been? On this router it was on by default.
This also hides the lines "MLD Snooping Mode" (option set to "Blocking Mode") and
the line "MLD LAN to LAN Multicast" (not enabled).

> You have to use a IP address outside the DHCP range to avoid IP conflicts...

Did it and it worked! Thanks!

[billion_fan]

OK, thanks! So summarized (to be sure I got everything!):

• First, in Quick Start, second screen, I set "IPv6 for this service" by checking "Enable"
(Nothing else here to modify.)

• Then, in Configuration > LAN > IPv6 Autoconfig...
• I set "DHCPv6 Server" by checking "Enable"
• I set "Issue Router Advertisements" by checking "Enable"
• I set "ULA Prefix Advertisement" by checking "Enable"
• I don't have this "Prefix" entry "fd9b.............64"
=> Shall I add it?
• I deactivate "MLD Snooping" by unchecking "Enable"
=> For what would that have been? On this router it was on by default.
This also hides the lines "MLD Snooping Mode" (option set to "Blocking Mode") and
the line "MLD LAN to LAN Multicast" (not enabled).

> You have to use a IP address outside the DHCP range to avoid IP conflicts...

Did it and it worked! Thanks!

Everything looks fine, you can also enable the IPv6 on the WAN side under 'Configuration >> WAN >> WAN service and editing the ppp1.1 interface.

No need to add a prefix.