Automatically Reboot Your Router: A Geek's Guide

Addressing Frequent Verizon FIOS Router Reboots

Verizon FIOS delivers exceptional internet speeds, though the associated cost can be relatively high. A significant issue for many users, however, centers around the reliability of the provided router.

Frequent reboots are often necessary, which is particularly inconvenient if the router is located in a difficult-to-access area, such as a basement. The need to physically interact with the device presents a challenge for user convenience.

Exploring a Technological Solution

Rather than repeatedly visiting the router's location, a more automated approach was considered. This involved leveraging technology to proactively address the reboot requirement.

While contacting Verizon to request a router upgrade is an option, and firmware updates can sometimes help, these solutions aren't always viable. Specifically, older router models may lack available firmware updates.

Implementing a Cron Job and Telnet Script

A solution was identified involving the use of telnet and a scheduled cron job. This approach allows for automated execution of commands on the router.

Enabling telnet access on the router, coupled with a script to issue reboot commands via the telnet interface, allows for remote control. This script can then be scheduled using a cron job.

In this instance, the script was configured to run twice daily: at 7:00 AM, prior to waking, and at 5:30 PM, while typically away from home. This proactive reboot schedule minimizes disruption.

On-Demand Reboot Capability

Furthermore, a separate script can be created to initiate an immediate router reboot whenever needed, providing additional control and flexibility.

Router Compatibility

It's important to note that this method isn't exclusive to Verizon FIOS routers. The feasibility of implementation depends on your specific router model.

Users should consult their router's administration panel to determine if telnet access can be enabled and to understand the available command options. The process may vary depending on the manufacturer and model.

Establishing a Telnet Connection to Your Router

Initially, the process involves determining how to activate telnet access on your router. Specifically for Verizon routers, this necessitates navigating to the Advanced settings, then selecting Local Administration. Ensure the "Using Primary Telnet Port" option is activated and remember to apply the changes.

With this configuration complete, a telnet connection can be readily established from either the terminal or command prompt. Users of Windows operating systems may first need to enable the telnet client.

To initiate the connection, utilize the following command, replacing the IP address with the specific address assigned to your router. Most routers default to the 192.168.1.x range.

telnet 192.168.1.1

Upon successful connection, the 'help' command is typically available to display a list of available options. For Verizon FIOS routers, the desired function, a reboot command, is located within the 'system' sub-section.

It's important to note that the complete command, "system reboot," must be entered, as simply typing "reboot" will not execute the function.

Following command execution, the connection will terminate, and the router will begin its reboot sequence. This method provides a direct means of restarting the device.

However, manually entering this command repeatedly can be cumbersome. Automating this process offers a more efficient solution.

Utilizing Terminal Scripting for Telnet Access (OS X, Linux, or Cygwin)

This guide presumes you possess access to the bash shell environment, either natively within your operating system or through an installation like Cygwin if you are using Windows.

Scripting a sequence of commands and directing them to the telnet application is a straightforward process. This can be achieved using a simple construct like the following:

(echo commandname; echo anothercommand) | telnet 192.168.1.1

A common challenge arises with the login prompt, which may not be immediately recognized by the script. Simply echoing a username followed by a password can occur too rapidly for the server to process.

To address this, the sleep command is essential. Introducing brief pauses allows the server sufficient time to respond to each input.

By incorporating several 'sleep 3' commands – pausing for three seconds each – the issue is resolved. The username and password are echoed first, followed by a reboot command, with a three-second delay between each action. This ensures the server receives each command correctly:

(sleep 3; echo admin; sleep 3; echo mypassword; sleep 3; echo system reboot; sleep 3;) | telnet 192.168.1.1

This sequence can be encapsulated within a shell script for repeated execution. Alternatively, it can be scheduled using cron on OS X or Linux systems.

To edit your crontab, use the following command:

crontab -e

Then, add a line similar to this:

1 7 * * * (sleep 3; echo admin; sleep 3; echo mypassword; sleep 3; echo system reboot; sleep 3;) | telnet 192.168.1.1

This configuration will initiate a server reboot at 7:01 AM daily.

Router Rebooting on Windows Systems

Automated scheduling of router reboots presents a greater challenge within the Windows operating system. However, a scripting solution can be readily implemented to achieve this functionality.

The initial step involves accessing the Control Panel and navigating to the "Turn Windows features on or off" settings. This can be conveniently done by utilizing the search function within Windows.

Once located, enable the Telnet Client feature. This will provide the necessary tools for remote command execution.