DIY-IT

David Gewirtz

How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

By David Gewirtz | January 10, 2012, 5:00am PST

Summary: Nah, it couldn’t be, could it? It couldn’t be my branny-new iPhone killing my network. Could it? Really?

Shortly after I got my iPhone 4S, I decided I wanted to check out this AirPlay thing. I have an Apple TV, I now had a phone modern enough to be AirPlay compatible, and I thought it’d be neat to see what all the shouting was about.

So, I fired up my iPhone 4S, enabled AirPlay, saw my iPhone screen connect to the Apple TV, and, then…

…nothing…

And, by nothing, I mean nothing. No Internet. No internal connectivity. No shares.

Nothing.

Weird, well, okay, I’ll do the time tested thing of rebooting the router, and if that didn’t work, I expected to reboot the cable modem. One router cycle later and everything was back. Deep sigh of relief.

Okay, so where was I? Oh, yeah, I was playing with AirPlay. I fired up my iPhone 4S, enabled AirPlay, saw my iPhone screen connect to the Apple TV, and, then…

…nothing…

And, by nothing, I mean nothing. No Internet. No internal connectivity. No shares.

Nothing. Again?

Nah, it couldn’t be, could it? It couldn’t be my branny-new iPhone killing my network. Could it? Really? Fine, let’s be scientific about this. Let’s try it again. I fired up my iPhone 4S, enabled AirPlay, saw my iPhone screen connect to the Apple TV, and, then…

…nothing…

And, by nothing, I mean nothing. No Internet. No internal connectivity. No shares.

Nothing.

Wow, apparently my iPhone was killing my entire network. Next question: was it just me? As it turns out, the answer to that is no. There is, according to the nice people on the Cisco Home Community Forum what you might call a problem.

As it turns out, the Cisco E4200 router has some sort of incompatibility with AirPlay. When you run AirPlay, out of the box, with an unmodified router, AirPlay takes down the router.

For the record, I really like my E4200. I do hate the fact it doesn’t have any indicator lights (apparently, the 140-character generation also doesn’t like extraneous data that comes from indicator lights). The E4200 is the most robust router I’ve ever used for smashing large amounts of video across my GigE pipes here at Camp David.

It just can’t handle AirPlay. At least until you apply a fix so generously described by user AdminLB. Here’s what you do:

Login to your router
Click on Application and Gaming
Click on QOS
Disable WMM Support
Done

So, yes, using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network. But it’s a pretty easy fix to make it stop.

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Topics

Apple iPhone, Router, Network, Apple iPhone 4S, Apple TV, AirPlay, Routers & Switches, Smart Phones, Network Technology, Networking, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, David Gewirtz

David Gewirtz, Distinguished Lecturer at CBS Interactive, is an author, U.S. policy advisor, and computer scientist. He is featured in The History Channel special The President's Book of Secrets.

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David Gewirtz

At various times during his adult life, David has voted for both Democrats and Republicans, and has been disappointed by both. He is deeply disturbed by how partisanship has come before patriotism in America, which gives him the freedom to pick on both sides.

David is a frequent guest on TV and radio stations across America and can usually be heard or seen on-the-air at least once a week. He writes weekly commentary and analysis for CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 and has been interviewed by Fox News, CNN, various ABC and NBC affiliates, and Canada’s Global TV. He has been a featured guest on National Public Radio and has also been featured on Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Liberty where his commentaries on technology, industry, and emerging nations have been broadcast into 46 countries (all in their own unique translations).

David is the executive director of U.S. Strategic Perspective Institute, a nonprofit research and policy organization. He is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, a columnist for The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security and a special contributor to Frontline Security Magazine. He is a member of the FBI’s InfraGard program, the security partnership between the FBI and industry. David is also a member of the U.S. Naval Institute and the National Defense Industrial Association, the leading defense industry association promoting national security.

David is an advisory board member for the Technical Communications and Management Certificate program at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He is also a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension.

David’s “day job” is as publisher and editor-in-chief of ZATZ publishing, an online publisher of technical magazines. Other than than his ownership stake in Component Enterprises, Inc. (the parent company of ZATZ), David has no additional industry investments.

ZATZ has many advertisers who do, in part, provide for David’s lush income and extravagant lifestyle. Most of them are IBM and Lotus aftermarket suppliers, some of them make goodies for Microsoft Outlook, and a few make all sorts of strange mobile devices and add-on products. David has been a regular judge of the IBM Awards, but has no formal financial interest in or with IBM.

Because the ZATZ online magazines often review products, David and ZATZ are sent an overwhelming stream of unsolicited, silly, and often useless products to review. Because they’re such a pain to track and ship back, these products often wind up in a dumpster or fill up the corner of a large closet. Although David has no plans to review products in connection to his ZDNet blog, if he does do a product review, he will disclose any relationship completely in that posting.

Both through ZATZ and independently, David derives a small income through various advertising and sales relationships with Amazon.com and Google. These are minor relationships and they will not impede his willingness or ability to chastise either company should they deserve it.

David has many other business relationships, but none of them relate to anything he covers in his ZDNet blog. David does have a bit of the sales-guy bug and if he’s not doing a sales deal with someone at least once a month, he goes through withdrawal. He has a number of consulting clients, but none of them relate to anything he covers for ZDNet (and if they ever do, he will either disclose that fact, or decline to write about them).

Back in the 1980s, David held the unusual title of “Godfather” at Apple. He has written and published 40 incredibly simplistic applications for Apple’s iPhone.

Although David is forbidden to disclose the terms of his iPhone developer agreement, he isn’t drinking the Apple Kool Aid, will never be confused with a metrosexual, and feels free to mock Apple, and Apple users, any time the occasion permits, on alternate Tuesdays, or if he’s bored.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

richvball44 1st Feb

@Aerowind Good question. Does Airplay work only with AppleTV. My brother had some sort of app for his iPhone, a 3g I think, and he was using his phone to change channels. But I think that was because he had whatever application installed that lets you watch tv over the internet remotely

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Nice

happyharry_z 10th Jan

Thanks for the tip. Good to know.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

dsf3g Updated - 10th Jan

Wait, so is this a post about how the iPhone 4S can kill your network, or about how Cisco built router so crappy that it can be brought down by one of the most popular and ubiquitous network devices on the planet?

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Putting Cisco in the headline means no one would read

baggins_z 10th Jan

It.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Aerowind 10th Jan

@dsf3g *rolls eyes* I've yet to meet an iPhone/iPad user that uses AirPlay. I'm not even sure they know it exists.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

psquared007 10th Jan

@Aerowind I'm one and I'm guessing there are a lot more. I had no problems setting it up on my wifi network at home.

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I know several

use_what_works_4_U 10th Jan

@Aerowind
Although none of them has ever had a problem like this, if anyone does it is good to know what to suggest.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

richvball44 1st Feb

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Badgered 10th Jan

@dsf3g

Since I also have a E4200 Router, and a band spankin' new iPhone 4S, it was informative to me. Albeit a click bait headline, at least it meant I'd read the piece and learn something.

or about how Cisco built router so crappy that it can be brought down by one of the most popular and ubiquitous network devices on the planet?

Actually, it's probably the best router I've ever owned. Just because they included one feature that Apple doesn't play nice with (or vice versa), does not make it a crappy router.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Yuniverse 10th Jan

@Badgered very well put.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

danbi 19th Jan

@Badgered

It might be a feature, that sounded good to have in the checklist, but actually nobody ever tested it.. that WMM thing.
Most other wireless devices I have come across have this disabled by default. Perhaps for good reasons.

Maybe a firmware update of the router will fix this issue.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Nate_K Updated - 10th Jan

@dsf3g
The very same device that is showing more problems by the week. Battery's, double data usage, tracking and security issues, killing a device from one of the largest manufacturers on the planet that also makes the routers, hubs and switches that feed the rest of the world Internet, so your $500 iphone (you paid for with a smile) that lasts 2 hours on battery can work for you. Routers that let you send that text message to the person you just tried to call but couldn't hear you because apple has not fixed the outbound calling issue. I bet that router didn't cost $500 and the issue can be fixed in seconds, which I can not say for all of the iphone 4s glitches that still have not been fixed or ignored because good ol' apple says there is no problem.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Rick_Kl 10th Jan

@Nate_K depending on usage I get between 7.52 hours and 19 hours, so your 2 hour comment sounds like a fanboy lie. I remember the HTC Touch Pro 2 I was issued at a Job that was barely able to make it three hours, without needing to be plugged in.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

WarhavenSC 10th Jan

"I bet that router didn't cost $500 and the issue can be fixed in seconds..."

My God, he's psychic! How could he know this?!

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Pete "athynz" Athens 10th Jan

@Nate_K point by point - because I like to point out your FUD and lies...

The very same device that is showing more problems by the week.

Now imma let ya finish but I gotta tell ya that the issues are entirely overblown and sensationalized so the gullible Apple Haters (like YOU for example) are sucked in.

Battery's, double data usage, tracking and security issues,

The correct spelling of the word is "batteries" and while ihaters like yourself claim that it happens on every iOS device the fact is that it does not - it's a pretty small percentage and Apple has replaced the defective devices and put out a couple of software fixes.

Double Data usage - what double data usage? you mean the charge for broadband and tethering/hotspot using the same bucket of minutes and being charged twice? THAT is a carrier charge that applies across the board on iOS, Android, WP7, and RIM devices. FAIL!

Security Issues? Come up Nate_K come up with some links! Seriously the whole "Apple sucks because I say so" thing is getting old.

killing a device from one of the largest manufacturers on the planet that also makes the routers, hubs and switches that feed the rest of the world Internet, so your $500 iphone (you paid for with a smile)

Ahhh again with the say something first, ask question later mentality of the average iHater. I bought an iPhone 4 32GB that was $299 NOT $500... no research, that is why you FAIL again.

that lasts 2 hours on battery can work for you.

Funny I have an iPhone 4 running iOS 5 that lasts 2 days on a charge with moderate to heavy use. By comparison my old RIM BB Curve lasted about a day and a half and my Android based Samsung Fascinate lasts about 10 hours. but don't let the facts stand in your way!

Routers that let you send that text message to the person you just tried to call but couldn't hear you because apple has not fixed the outbound calling issue.

Again, PROOF! Come on dude, post some links verifying your claims or have a nice tall glass of shut the fck up! Thus far I have your word about all of these issues and yet my hands on personal experience differe completely from what you put forth as facts.

I bet that router didn't cost $500 and the issue can be fixed in seconds, which I can not say for all of the iphone 4s glitches that still have not been fixed or ignored because good ol' apple says there is no problem.

Yet again provide some sort of proof. My God man you are almost as bad as The Linux Geek...

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Wow

use_what_works_4_U Updated - 10th Jan

@Nate_K
Double data usage - So using the phone more, by your own choice, is a bad thing? Better yet - it's the phone's fault that you chose to use it over some other device?

Tracking and Security issues - from the only phone that requires you to *opt in* before your data is collected, *anonymized* and **encrypted**? That's more of an issue than CarrierIQ which you have to opt out of despite not being told of its existence?

Killing a device from ... - Despite the fact that it does nothing of the sort. A 30 second setting adjustment fixed it. Apple designed a device that plays well with every other router out there so perhaps it has something with the way Cisco implemented QOS on this one device? nah, couldn't be anyone but Apple's fault.

Battery issue? - See Rick KL

Outbound call issue? - This one might be a legitimate problem but after all you "sky is falling" one is tempted to pass it over. I know several dozen people with iPhone 4s and 4Ss and not one has the issue. After a Google search it does seem to be real for a percentage of users, but I wonder how big a percentage? Apple is replacing phones that show the problem. Based on my brief Google search, combined with the reports of satisfaction from the vaset majority of iPhone users and the fact that not one of the people I've ever met has that issue, I would conclude that it is real, but not widespread.

So one out of five claims has some (but how much I am not convinced of how much) validity. Sounds like a reasonably successful product to me, although it'll be another year until I can upgrade and get mine.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

danbi 19th Jan

@Nate_K

Don't be silly, although it bears the Cisco logo, that device is actually made by Linksys.

Unfortunately, Cisco is not what it used to be.

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So, this is a story about a Cisco router having trouble with Airplay...

BillDem 10th Jan

@dsf3g Yeah, this is obviously another troll-labeled article designed to bring page views. Sadly, it worked. This story says the iPhone 4s can bring down one model of Cisco routers. The headline doesn't match. Sorry, but the iPhone 4s does NOT kill MY entire network, as the shock-value headline proclaims. (true story)

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Pete "athynz" Athens 10th Jan

@dsf3g It's about how Cisco built a crappy router. But "Apple killing my network" guarantees more page hits than "Cisco built a crappy router".

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

kris_stapley@... 31st Jan

@dsf3g
How much do you want to bet that the router was released long before the phone? You sounds like Steve Jobs... and that's not a good thing.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

richvball44 1st Feb

@dsf3g yes, that is correct. The problem lies in that Cisco router, the E400 he specified. In fact it could be the only model from Cisco that needs to have setting corrected to make it function properly.
In fact if he were being scientific about it, as he claims, he would have checked the forums at Cisco to see if other users of Cisco are having the same problem when using a "branny-new"iPhone 4s.
But he is just a journalist and finding fixes isn't something he will do. Just find a problem with a product and cry wolf about it

I would be saying the same thing if it were any other phone/router combo if the journalist wrote the same thing. Mislead.distort to get hits

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Got an AirPort router.

Userama 10th Jan

Got no problems.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Bates_ 10th Jan

The title was pretty misleading. It's great that it is an easy fix though.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

non-biased 12th Jan

@Bates_ David has to bash Apple any way possible even if only in the headline.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

wendellgee@... 10th Jan

You got me. I clicked.

happy?

lame story.

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I have a question about your headline

toddybottom 10th Jan

Should we assume that if you do not include the words (true story) in your headline, that the blog we are about to read is pure fiction?

Just curious why you needed to highlight the fact that you weren't about to lie.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Badgered 10th Jan

@toddybottom

I have the same issue with my teenagers. When I hear them say "I'm not gonna lie" to start a sentence, I always ask.. "should I assume the rest of the time, that you ARE lying"?

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Flagged?

use_what_works_4_U 10th Jan

@toddybottom
Can someone tell me why this comment was flagged but none of the other criticisms for "click baiting" headlines were? Toddy and I have our disagreements but he/she is rightfully pointing out that the headline was sensationalistic, that's all.

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I have a sneaking suspicion Rick_Kl flags my posts on sight

toddybottom 10th Jan

@macadam
I wear it as a badge of honor considering the flagger.

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If you're right ...

use_what_works_4_U Updated - 10th Jan

@toddybottom...
Then I don't blame you. What surprises me is the number of times recently when you and I have been agreeing.

Trying not to add lots of extra posts but +1 on the clock analogy, and on the 'different opinions' observation!

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Maybe we are both clocks

toddybottom 10th Jan

@macadam
Even a broken clock will agree with a working clock twice a day.

I suspect different ZDNet posters will have different opinions on which of us is the broken clock.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

non-biased 12th Jan

@macadam Guess it was just a reflex action by somebody since a vast majority of his/her posts are worthy of reading.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

partman1969@... 10th Jan

Actually many wireless devices may need slight network tweaks before they function properly, but you guys really do know how to start flamers spew.

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I read the headline and I just "KNEW" it was you my friend:)

James Quinn 10th Jan

You and that water thing in Yellow Stone very reliable. Good to know in this ever changing world you can rely on somethings to always go off.

Pagan jim

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Why did you use a third party router??

jscott418 10th Jan

OMG you used a third party router with a Apple device? Shame on you! Don't you know Apple only tests its products against all other Apple products. What kind of Apple product owner are you for not buying a Apple Airport Extreme router? Serves you right to have your third party router mess up. OK I'm done with my rant.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

partman1969@... 10th Jan

@jscott418
Now Larry The Cable Guy would say "Now that there's funny!"

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

use_what_works_4_U 10th Jan

@partman1969@...
Except that Larry's 'that was funny' remarks are usually grounded in reality. This one just isn't. The issue doesn't seem to be with the Apple device (which works fine with any other network) but rather sonething in the way Cisco implements QOS and WMM for this *particular* product.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Pete "athynz" Athens 10th Jan

@jscott418 And yet I've had no issues with using my iPhone on an Actiontec, Linksys, Netgear, and even Cisco routers. And whatever they ise at various Starbucks, McDonalds, Chik Fil A, Panera, and other places where they have free WiFi. okay I'm done with bringing up facts to counter your misinformed fanboi rant.

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I call shenanigans

use_what_works_4_U 10th Jan

@jscott418
And yet Apple's networking gear is completely standards compliant, robust, and easy to manage to a fine detail. There is nothing about the way Apple's gear transfers network traffic that is unique to Apple.

I have been using Apple gear with pretty much any and every network I've ever found since the late 80's (WiFi since about 2000-2001) and NEVER had a problem unless it was an archaic WINS network that was in and of itself not standards compliant.

I have an Airport Extreme router, although I seriously considered the Cisco 4200 device. The *only* reasons I went Apple were because I knew (from experience) that it would work with any standards compliant device, I like the management interface better than most others, and it was within $10 of any other product from any other vendor that offered the same feature set (some were more some were less and I think the 4200 was the same price).

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How everyone else's tech is better than yours or mine......

partman1969@... 10th Jan

Time to throw out all your gear and use what everyone else uses without issues, and do it without hesitations. Everyone should then be satisfied because I said so!

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Been doing tech repair/support for almost 30 years now.

James Quinn 10th Jan

@partman1969@... Everyone even Apple (Less so) but still it does occur says they are "standard" but need some tweaking every now and again. That is the nature of tech and dealing with different companies with different philosophy's. Nothing new or different in this story at all.

Pagan jim

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buy an Apple Airport Extreme

jnobis 10th Jan

Having used Cisco, Netgear and Apple networking equipment, I'm sold on the Apple networking solutions. Intuitive and comes with native support for airplay. Perfect if you have Apple TV, an airport express and iphones/ipods. Also, no issues with compatibility with Microsoft gear and OS. My Xbox works great with this as well.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

YaBaby 10th Jan

Would have been nice if you explained what "WMM" is and what effects one might experience once it was turned off.

From the netgear support page.

What is WMM (WiFi Multimedia)?
This technology maintains the priority of audio, video and voice applications in a Wi-Fi network so that other applications and traffic are less likely to slow them.

Sounds like Cisco did not implement this feature correctly.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

Badgered 10th Jan

@YaBaby Sounds like Cisco did not implement this feature correctly.

yeah... that... or the iPhone is abusing it. Want to play guess what number I'm thinking of while we're at it?

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

YaBaby 10th Jan

@Badgered, lets say the iPhone is "abusing" the protocol. Under what scenario is it okay for the router to effectively shut down?

What the author of the blog also fails to state is: Did his airplay function correctly without the WMM feature?

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Contributr

RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

David Gewirtz 10th Jan

@YaBaby "Did his airplay function correctly without the WMM feature?"

Yep, it worked, and the change didn't cause any other problem to the rest of the house network. Airplay is relatively uninteresting feature after the novelty value wore off (I spent the first hour saying "check this out" to my wife, but then grew bored). Haven't had reason to use it since. Of course, I have a PS3 and XBox 360, so playing iPhone and iPad games on the TV seems, well, silly.

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Good to know

toddybottom 10th Jan

I've been thinking about buying Apple TV for AirPlay but I had a sneaking suspicion that AirPlay was more of a gimmick. I'll take your experience under consideration.

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Contributr

RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

David Gewirtz 10th Jan

@toddy Don't buy an Apple TV for Airplay, but do get it for podcasts and Netflix. As much as certain aspects of it annoy me (surprise, right?), the Netflix interface (when it works -- a recent update fixed some problems) on the Apple TV is the best implemented of any I've seen. I know this seems pretty strange given my normal whining, but I actually quite enjoy the Apple TV. I've watched my way all the way through Star Trek TNG, Enterprise, and now I'm working on DS9. My wife and I are also watching our way through the Office. Quite nice on the Apple TV. So worth a buy, just don't see if for Airplay alone.

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

non-biased 12th Jan

@Badgered If the iPhone is abusing it then why is this the only router that seems to have problems with Airplay?

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RE: How using an iPhone 4S can kill your entire network (true story)

sbf95070 10th Jan

Title aside, I wish there were more articles on "here is a real problem and here is a solution/work around". This is a lot more useful than constant flaming between competing fan-camps.