I've had my Z100G for almost a year. Love the thing. Never locks up, and just works.

The only thing I don't like about it is the time rules function.

I've got a network object set up for one of the computers on the network that my son uses. I've got it set up to deny access to any service/ports at a certain time (let's say from 9pm-3pm the following day).

The problem is, it doens't work. If my son is playing World of Warcraft at 8:59, and 9:00pm rolls around, it will not stop transmitting information and he can stay on. If he were to be disconnected, it won't let him back on, though. So the rule is there, but it seems once a session is active, the rule does not force the session offline. He's often given a specific deadline to wrap up his playtime and he often goes over it. I then have to tell him to get off. I give him a minute, and then have to manually go into the router and terminate the connection to the internet.

It would be so much better if the stupid rule worked and terminated the specific computer from the internet instead. Am I maybe not setting the rule correctly?

I don't have time to test but wondering if this would work.
On my network I have HIGH security set so I have to write rules for ALL access in or out.

This may even work in Medium Security. try two rules.

Rule 1) Allow PC-X to Internet From 3PM->9PM
Rule 2) BLOCK PC-X to Internet ANYTIME

I know on a real checkpoint firewall you can set the connection timeout - but cannot find the same setting here.

On mine it takes about 10 minutes to shut down active windows. Make sure you have proxy sites blocked. It would be nice if it severed the connection instantly but for now just set it for 15 minutes before you actually want it to go off and monitor.

Confused X - That's good to know. Thanks

I have the same issue and I want to use the time based rules for the exact same reason. I do have my router set to high security and have set all the rules I need for access in and out.

You would think that they could correct the issue so that the rules are enforced even if a session is active prior to the cut off time.

I forgot to try setting the time slot to 10 minutes and checking it. However, that won't fully work. If my step son is NOT in a game, it'll prevent him from getting in even though he's got 10 minutes left of time available.

I guess I could set rules to only block World of Warcraft and tell him he can't log in prior to 10 minutes from cutoff time, but that seems silly. That's the only complaint I have with this router. I used to use 3Com routers prior to this, and their time function worked like it should. You hit the time, no more connection for that computer. I don't understand why this router should be any different.

My son can go on for hours and has in fact done so when I didnt check on him. The 10 minute timeout period doesnt work unless I'm not understanding what you mean.

I just tried setting and testing it, and it didn't work. I set the rule to block Any service from the gateway to his computer (Network Object) from 8:45pm - 7pm. 9pm rolled around and still not disconnected. There's only the occasional DNS block entry in the log file regarding that specific rule. I also have another rule blocking any service from his computer to the gateway. Same time slot. Same result. Nothing. It just doesn't kick him off if he's got an active WoW session going.

That seems like a huge flaw in a router with this many security features.

In hopes of getting it to work, I just set the router to block all traffic except those I set rules for.

I set a rule to "Allow" (not allow and forward) the Source (WAN:Internet) and Destination (IP Address of computer with WoW on it), and then made another rule with the reverse. I set both with a time slot of 6pm - 7pm. 7pm has officially come and gone and my son is still happily playing WoW oblivious to the time.

What's the point of time slot rules if they don't work?

I also tried Stan's method of setting a block at all times rule in there as well as the timeslot to allow.

Same issue.

It's also been well after 10 minutes and he's still playing, so obviously that doesn't work either. :(

Just a follow up to this, for public viewing. I took my question to their support team, and was basically told its on a "roadmap" as a future feature, but no ETA on when it'll be done. Also, it seems their other Internet devices also suffer from this same issue, so you can't even "upgrade" to one of their enterprise gateways to get real time limiting control. :(

So, if understand this correctly, tehy told you this is on their "roadmap" for future features, yet it is marketed as one of the many features of this router, yet it doesn't even work correctly to begin with. Thats classic.

quote:

Originally posted by acourtney5:
So, if understand this correctly, tehy told you this is on their "roadmap" for future features, yet it is marketed as one of the many features of this router, yet it doesn't even work correctly to begin with. Thats classic.

Actually, I don't know if this feature was specifically mentioned anywhere. However, all other cheap routers (Linksys, D-Link. Netgear, etc...) all use "real" time slot rules. If you're outside the time slot, the connection is closed, no exception. It does seem super silly that something that's trying to be more of an enterprise server and/or parent friendly (the web filtering is awesome!!), really screwed up the time slot filter.

Also, another annoying thing is the Remote Desktop feature. I don't know how many people have ever VPN'd or logged into it remotely and tried to click on the Remote Desktop button, but nothing ever happens. It took me forever to find out that it only seems to support 640x480 resolution on the computer starting the connection. So any computer made in the last... ohhh... 10 years or so who's running 800x600 or higher (most of us I'd guess), gets a blank screen and no error. That's a listed feature that just plain can't be used, unless they've changed it to allow for a higher resolution. I can only assume they intended for a PDA or phone with QVGA or VGA ability would be logging in, but that's not mentioned as a requirement of the feature that I saw.

I really wish I could find a better router than this... Something that works without locking up or requiring a reboot, something with web filters, VPN End point, and something with real time slots. I'd buy that up and never look back. I'm almost half tempted to take an old P3 computer out of the closet, toss Linux on it and make it a gateway/router with the same services. Unfortunately that would take up a lot more space and power than the Z100g. :(

That time function does not work with various chats and online games. Here's an earlier thread about it.

http://sofaware.infopop.cc/eve...=569104231#569104231

The $20 electronic timer works very well. My son's friends think it's pretty cool. Plus I like having the DSL box off during the night when no one's using the internet. Less chance of a hack that way.

The netopia parental control router time control function didn't work either.

Those time slot functions apparently are not the same as using a seperate electronic timer to hard shut off the DSL/internet connection to the Z100G. We leave the Z100G on so the LAN and WLAN is still active but there is no connection from the Z100G to the internet.

It's kind of weird, the time slot function will shut off most internet traffic, I have no clue as to why it shuts off what it does, and doesn't shut off what it doesn't. What I have noticed is that the function doesn't shut off IM, and Runescape where the window or session doesn't have to be refreshed. If the browser window or chat session is refreshed in the off time, then the router dumps the connection.

quote:

It's kind of weird, the time slot function will shut off most internet traffic, I have no clue as to why it shuts off what it does, and doesn't shut off what it doesn't. What I have noticed is that the function doesn't shut off IM, and Runescape where the window or session doesn't have to be refreshed. If the browser window or chat session is refreshed in the off time, then the router dumps the connection.

I had gone so far as to set the router to its highest security, where you actually have to create rules to let any traffic pass, in OR out. You'd figure this would be the ultimate way to force a break in connection... If the rule isn't valid (i.e. isn't in the proper time slot), then it simply would revert to the high security and not let anything pass.

Nope, still let's active connections to keep on going.

Unfortunately, being a VPN router I'm sometimes outside my network and need access at night so having it turn off via an automatic switch isn't an option for me. Besides, Linksys, Netgear, D-Link and a host of other companies all have time slots that work. I wonder what the reasoning is behind leaving active connections open?

I don't know how routers work, but like I said the Netopia Parental Control router did not shut off traffic either. I haven't used any but the Netopia and the Z100G, I assumed it was something that home routers in genral couldn't be programmed or built to do.

Have you verified yourself that other's router time slots actually work?

We haven't had too many complaints about the timer killing the DSL router, probably because the momster and big bad dad are off the internet too. So the kids can't say, it's not faaaiiir, you are on and we are off.

I know using the timer on the DSL router cuts communication between the Z100G and it's services, but that doesn't seem to have caused any problems, updates work, overall I'm happy with the Z100G and will renew. In fact if the subscription upgrade is a one time cost as opposed to every year I'm gonna do that too.

Oh, I know the 3Com, Linksys and D-Link time slots worked because I used to use them all the time. Having a pre-teen boy interested in World of Warcraft makes it a priority. If left on his own, he'd never eat or sleep.

The problem with those other routers, though, is they'd periodically lock up with high traffic use (I'd occasionally run a Ventrillo server for some friends). The Z100g is the first router I've used that I don't have to mess with. It just works. I also absolutely love the filters. My only complaint is the time slots. For an "all around" parental controls feature, those time slots should cut off access when the time is over. That would make this router perfect for a parental controls router, which I think is what they're aiming for with the filters.

Also, as far as I know, the 5 to 15 user upgrade is a single time only. I've been meaning to do it, but honestly the time slot filters not working properly (in my opinion) have stopped me. If a stable router comes along with the same features, and time slots that work, I'm going to abandon this router and I'd rather not sink another 100 bucks into it if I'm going to do that.