Target Machine Actively Refused Connection

wbc99 · 03-01-2005, 10:38 PM

When transferring shows to my PC, the transfer starts and usually gets about 10 - 20 percent complete and then stops. The error message says that a connection could not be made because the target machine actively refused it. Does anyone know what the deal is and how to fix it? TIA.

wbc99 · 03-03-2005, 12:17 PM

No one?

jkwhalen · 03-03-2005, 05:42 PM

I am having the same problem. I do have my TiVo's on a wireless network that has been working fine for several months (both downloading OK and being able to transfer shows from one box to another - even if it is quite slow).

Any help on this one?

John

alyssa · 03-03-2005, 11:39 PM

Me too

I've been transfering shows with no problems then all of a sudden ... "an existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host'

wired network, I'm guessing it's a hardware issue on the 'bad' tivo end since I can still transfer from my other tivo.

edited to add; rebooted & the 'bad' tivo seems to be tranfering

CrispyCritter · 03-04-2005, 08:39 PM

MY theory, but nobody has substantiated it yet (or disproven it), is that the actively refused message comes after the TiVo has lost its DHCP lease and changes IP addresses. For some adapter/router combinations the IP addresses change very frequently on the TiVo, and nobody has figured out why. That's why things seem to work again after rebooting the TiVo; it acquires a brand-new fresh lease.

If you're having the problem, could you keep an eye on the TiVo IP address (Phone and Network settings screen)?

Note that if it is an IP changing problem, a workaround would be to go to a static IP address on the TiVo.

Virt · 03-05-2005, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrispyCritter

MY theory, but nobody has substantiated it yet (or disproven it), is that the actively refused message comes after the TiVo has lost its DHCP lease and changes IP addresses. For some adapter/router combinations the IP addresses change very frequently on the TiVo, and nobody has figured out why. That's why things seem to work again after rebooting the TiVo; it acquires a brand-new fresh lease.

If that IS the case, then it would be a Router/Firewall issue. Double check your router settings. WinXP user should be sure to also open WinXP Firewall rules (especially SP2 users).

I'd also be sure the ports that TiVo uses are open in your router, software firewall (Panda, Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, BlackIce, etc) and also WinXP Firewall (if activated - especially SP2 users):

TCP Port 2190
UDP Port 2190
TCP Ports 8080-8089

http://customersupport.tivo.com/know...lic/tv2161.htm

Lastly, I would also make sure to visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and be sure that you have the latest .NET updates.

Microsoft AntiSpyware users should also be sure to allow the TiVo programs access to the Internet/LAN/WAN. SpyBot Search and Destory users need to also allow the TiVo programs to make registry changes and allow access.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...+Connection%22

CrispyCritter · 03-05-2005, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virt

If that IS the case, then it would be a Router/Firewall issue. Double check your router settings. WinXP user should be sure to also open WinXP Firewall rules (especially SP2 users).

I'd also be sure the ports that TiVo uses are open in your router, software firewall (Panda, Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, BlackIce, etc) and also WinXP Firewall (if activated - especially SP2 users):

TCP Port 2190
UDP Port 2190
TCP Ports 8080-8089

http://customersupport.tivo.com/know...lic/tv2161.htm

Lastly, I would also make sure to visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and be sure that you have the latest .NET updates.

Microsoft AntiSpyware users should also be sure to allow the TiVo programs access to the Internet/LAN/WAN. SpyBot Search and Destory users need to also allow the TiVo programs to make registry changes and allow access.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...+Connection%22

Your suggestions are excellent, and should be the things looked at first. But I'm suspicious of things at a lower level. Both wireless hardware (and firmware on the wireless hardware) and linux wireless/USB drivers are still not mature; they're evolving too rapidly. I can see, for instance, a TiVo trying to reset something on the adapter because of excessive congestion/interference/ corruption/non-responsiveness, and during the reset process, good information might not get to the router in the proper timing sequence (eg the TiVo MAC, causing the router to assign a new IP address). This is based on looking at problems in the immature Linux wired ethernet drivers over 10 years ago; I haven't ever looked at wireless/USB drivers.

There's been too many people here who've reported solving their wireless problems by just going to a static IP addresss. Something strange is going on for those few people.

gschlact · 03-13-2005, 01:20 PM

I do have Fixed IP address for my whole network including the Tivo machine. I am having both problems - either
1. The Tivo starts to download to PC and then "actively refuses connection"
or
2. message: an existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host'

What is the deal?

-Guy

ryandelany · 03-13-2005, 07:58 PM

I was having the same problem last night when I was trying to download shows before a trip I was taking. What I noticed was that if I had the Network settings page on the TV screen, and I started a download from the Tivo desktop, a few minutes would pass and all of a sudden the Tivo would lose the IP address and request a different one.

I suspect that there is a bug on the Tivo itself where it drops the connection and requests a new IP. If the Tivo receives the same IP it had from the DHCP server (which it should because that is how DHCP works when the lease time has not expired), the Tivo rejects it and requests another IP address. This is what ultimately causes the problem.

I also noticed that you will get the "... tivo is busy transferring another show..." until you reboot the Tivo. I hope that Tivo can get on this and fix it!

I solved the issue by assigning a static IP to the Tivo. Afterwards, I was able to download non-stop through the night without a single problem. So in a nutshell, the solution should be to set a static IP... if that doesn't work, you have other issues.

Ryan

CrispyCritter · 03-13-2005, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryandelany

I was having the same problem last night when I was trying to download shows before a trip I was taking. What I noticed was that if I had the Network settings page on the TV screen, and I started a download from the Tivo desktop, a few minutes would pass and all of a sudden the Tivo would lose the IP address and request a different one. ...
I solved the issue by assigning a static IP to the Tivo. Afterwards, I was able to download non-stop through the night without a single problem. So in a nutshell, the solution should be to set a static IP... if that doesn't work, you have other issues.

Yes, that's the sort of behavior that others have seen, but more explicit in your case. Thanks for posting!

Could you post your adapter and router models, so that we can start watching out for particular hardware that might cause problems?

Stu_Bee · 03-13-2005, 09:01 PM

I suddenly starting getting the same issue...thanks to previous posters I changed my Tivo to a static IP Address and it seems to have cleared up.

Strangely my Router (Linksys) settings had at some point changed to only give a 1 minute lease for DHCP addresses. Maybe this happened during a Firmware upgrade of the Router...odd, but would explain why Tivo may have kept dropping connections during the transfers.

evancg · 03-14-2005, 04:11 AM

I'm having this same problem, and whether I'm using a static IP address or not, it doesn't transfer. I've been transfering from two different tivos to two different computers with no problems until now. I've only been able to try out one of my Tivos, but both computers give the same error. I've restarted the tivo (unplugged from the wall and everything), reset the router, uninstalled and wiped clean tivo desktop...just keep getting the same error. Hoping it's something annoying that'll just work itself out in a day or two, cause I'm running out of ideas.

On a hopefully unrelated note, my recording of the Simpsons at 8pm on Sunday the 13th didn't record sound, yet arrested development directly after and whatever it was recording directly before both recorded with sound just fine.

bmillsap · 03-14-2005, 10:48 PM

Add me to the list, it's been working fine until now and suddenly we can't transfer shows to either of our computers. Everything else works fine, including viewing music & photos on the TiVo. Haven't tried restarting the TiVo yet since it's recording.

evancg · 03-16-2005, 09:26 PM

Update to my previous post, it turns out that something about that simpsons was causing problems. The one that had no sound. Tivotogo transfers would work until it tried to do that one. Deleted it, restarted, no problems since.

zornwil · 03-18-2005, 07:39 PM

I all of a sudden out of nowhere also started having issues like this a few days ago. Seems to have started just after the last software update, though I really am specuating, note "seems".

piper · 03-26-2005, 03:08 PM

I had no problems at all until I installed the TiVo server software on my laptop in addition to my desktop.

Now my TiVo 'actively refuses' my connections. Networking software that doesn't work over more than one PC?

I know a lot of people really love their TiVos but the software that came with 7.1 is a joke.

zornwil · 03-26-2005, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piper

I had no problems at all until I installed the TiVo server software on my laptop in addition to my desktop.

Now my TiVo 'actively refuses' my connections. Networking software that doesn't work over more than one PC?

I know a lot of people really love their TiVos but the software that came with 7.1 is a joke.

Yes, there is some relationship there, you're right. Essentialy it's best never ot have more than one machine in your house with a Tivo server.

No comment on the joke, I've said enough already.

zornwil · 03-26-2005, 07:10 PM

PS - I also just went ahead and bought a setup to transfer VHS to my computer without futzing with Tivo. Sick of it, it worked like crap with video, errant file downloads, constant and unpredictable problems with downloads being utterly screwed up and so on. It seems better for TV shows, not 100%, but at least acceptable, like 95% or something. For VHS recorded into the Tivo it's literally a 33%-50% error rate, still, of getting something that can't be used.

mhurley · 03-27-2005, 09:05 AM

Add me to the list to. This is a sudden "new" development, say in the last week. Prior to this, I've been transferring TTG files just fine. Now suddenly, "Connection actively refused". The IP of the Tivo has never changed.

I queued of 5 episodes of Stars Wars Clone Wars to transfer overnight. 2 of them made it fine and the problem started with the 3rd.

Wireless network here...If I force a connection off the Tivo, it connects just fine, so I know it's getting to the network.

Very frustrating.

kohlerp · 04-03-2005, 11:03 PM

Add me to the list also. This is a sudden "new" development, say in the last week or two. Prior to this, I've been transferring TTG files just fine. Now suddenly, "Connection actively refused". The IP of the Tivo has never changed.

I can't transfer anything now. Prior to this, I transferred at least 50 programs, now all of the sudden, I can't transfer a thing. Thus my TiVo drive is filling up.

Wireless network here as well. I'll try the static IP to see if that makes a difference. Very confusing, and of course, very frustrating.

kohlerp · 04-04-2005, 04:21 PM

Take me off the list, for now, I found after reading these threads and the ones on TiVo Support, a suggestion about the IP address. So I started a transfer and checked, as soon as TTG told me that the transfer was delayed, I checked my router and found the IP address had changed. So I asigned my TiVo a static IP and starting transferring files and the problem has gone away. So, I suggest, going to a static IP for anyone still troubled by this issue. Although I am still troubled that what caused it start in the first place. My TTG was working fine for quite some time, then it stopped.

adamk · 04-08-2005, 09:46 PM

Perhaps someone with more time than me can check this:

I have seen this same problem happen whether I am using a static or DHCP address. My theory, from my experience is that the TIVO does not realize that the DESKTOP has stopped receiving the transfer (if you kill the DESKTOP without stopping the transfer). So next time you run DESKTOP, it thinks there is already a transfer in effect. Therefore, the only way to reset this flag in the TIVO is to reboot it, which seems to work every time, albeit pretty annoying.

What compounds the problem is that if you have a few items in the queue, you can't stop the transfer without a new one immediately starting over.

If I am correct, I would like to make a few suggestions to the developers:

1) Put a built-in timeout in the TIVO transfer utility, so if it does not hear back from the DESKTOP within a certain amount of time, it will automatically reset its "transfer status"

2) Put a "pause transfer" command in the DESKTOP, which can be set-true by the user, and is also automatically transmitted to the TIVO when the user chooses to exit from the DESKTOP. This will clear the "transfer-status" on the TIVO side, and make it not cause a problem next time you run the DESKTOP.

Any feedback from more informed people is appreciated.

Thanks,
Adam

estilein · 06-15-2005, 11:50 PM

Wanted to add my name to the list. I'd been able to record over a 100 hours using my TiVo To Go, from both my TiVo Series 2 DVRs. Transferred some files before I went on vacation. Came back and wanted to clear out some space to record more, and began getting the "No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it" error message.

After reading the postings in the forum, I set a static IP on one of the DVRs to see if it made a difference. I've tried disabling my local firewall. I tried another PC (even though having two TiVo servers on the same network wasn't recommended - I figured if the one wasn't working, it was worth trying). I reset the DVRs and the PCs. Nothing seems to have made any difference.

I have a wireless network in the house using a Linksys router, however both DVRs are connected via wired connections because I read that would give me faster transfer speeds.

Need other ideas to try. Please?

petew · 06-16-2005, 06:31 PM

Have you rebooted the Tivos?

estilein · 06-17-2005, 07:35 PM

Yes, I rebooted (called it "reset" in my posting) both the TiVos and the PCs. Have done it several times, in fact.

estilein · 06-19-2005, 07:53 AM

I asked a friend who is good at networking and security to help me troubleshoot. He was also unable to resolve the issue. Did have one question that I couldn't answer: which machine is the "target" machine? (Needs to know which one needs the troubleshooting.) IMO, the PC is the target since that's the one being "sent to" and I can see the list of episodes on both DVRs, but I wasn't certain. He thought the TiVo might be it since all the solutions revolved around changing one of its settings. He checked the security settings on the PC and said none of the required ports are being blocked. Any ideas about what else I need to check on my PC?

Thanks!

petew · 06-20-2005, 12:11 PM

"No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it"

I would interpret this as meaning the remote machine, the one that is not initiating the connection.

At what point are you getting the error. When you try to view available recordings or when you attempt to start a transfer.

Have you tried connecting directly to the web server as descirbed in this thread http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...hreadid=215838

Also have you checked system information to see if TivoToGo is still enabled.

Finally if you have or can install netmon on your PC and can capture the IP traffic between your PC and the Tivo box I can review the log and compare it to some captures I collected from my own system.

g35tr · 06-20-2005, 03:46 PM

Wow, just started getting this proplem myself this morning.

estilein · 06-24-2005, 09:02 AM

I get the error after it begins trying to do the transfer. Starts, but about 15-20 seconds in, it fails. So far, viewing has not been a problem.

Thanks for the link to the other thread! I was able to successfully download and view one of the shows that way. Kind of interesting though, it didn't ask me for my playback password, which is fine since I'm the only one with access to the PC, but still interesting. This will be a slower method since I can only do one show at a time, but I can do it from anywhere! The GUI of TTG makes things more convenient, but if it's not working, then it doesn't do me any good.

When you say "have you checked system information to see if TivoToGo is still enabled", I'm not sure what you mean. The TiVo Server is activated as are transfers for both units.

I'll see what I can do about getting netmon going, but for now can live with the alternate method of downloading. Thanks for your help!

Tres · 06-24-2005, 09:35 AM

I've been having this problem as well for about 2 weeks now.. Going to try making static IP tonight, but I doubt it will work since my tivo always has the same IP all the time anyway.. Mine will transfer about 38MB till it has problems and moves on to the next show. then at some point that one will have problems as well.. I notice it happens alot faster when tivo starts or stops recording somthing. Anyone else notice that?