I have cable internet and a Debian Etch install. I don't like to leave my cable modem on all the time, so I unplug the power on it when not in use. Sometimes when I plug it back in, it doesn't connect to the internet properly, typically if it has been 10-12 hours since the last time I used it. Rebooting fixes the problem, but I'd like to be able to run a command or script to fix it without the reboot.

The only thing I've really found so far is through running the route command.

When it's working correctly, route reveals this:

Kernel IP routing table
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
24.255.224.0 * 255.255.224.0 U 0 0 0 eth0
default ip24-255-224-1. 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 eth0


When I can't connect to the internet, the routing table looks like this.
Kernel IP routing table
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
24.255.224.0 * 255.255.224.0 U 0 0 0 eth0

I've tried manually adding the default route, but maybe I entered it wrong, I've tried taking the eth0 down and back up. Maybe I just need to manually run DHCP? Anybody have any ideas?

I appreciate any help anybody might have. Thanks.

Maybe you just need to refresh the network interface (I assume it's eth0) once you've plugged the cable modem back in.

As root, after the cable modem is powered up:

# ifdown eth0
# ifup eth0



sleepy