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Bizzare Network / Internet Problem - What am I missing ?

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AndreN

Vendor
May 21, 2003
1
ZA
I have a client with an existing Novell 3.12 network over co-axial cable (10Base2)with Ethernet 802.3 protocol (IPX/SPX) and the workstations are running Win98SE

The client has requested me to install internet access for everyone on the network.

I have added a 16 port hub with a BNC connector to the co-axial cable to give me access to UTP CAT 5 ports on which I have connected a Netgear RT338 ISDN router with dial-on-demand configuration.

The router also handles DNS proxy for the clients.

At this point in time the only filters in the router is for blocking ports 137,138,139

I have configured the router to handle DHCP for the TCP/IP addresses for the workstations.

The workstations have IPX lan drivers installed for access to the Novell Server as well as TCP/IP lan drivers to access the router (gateway) for internet and mail services.

The Novell server does not have TCP/IP drivers loaded as I prefer to use IPX/SPX as it is faster than TCP/IP

With Telnet to the router I can view router connection details.

From the workstations when launching Internet Explorer or Outlook Express, the router is triggered in placing a call to the ISP and appears to be successful every time.

The ISP dynamically assigns IP addresses to the router correctly each time (WAN/ISDN side).

Here's the problem. The more frustrating because it is intermittent.

Although the IP address has been dynamically assigned by the ISP correctly every time I cannot ping/tracert any remote sites.

I get a successful ping/tracert to the router itself (LAN side)

After disconnecting the call (dropping the ISDN B channel) and reconnecting again, I will get perfect pinging/tracert and internet services/mail.

In fact everything works the way it should.

When I disconnect and reconnect again the problem starts again.

Its almost if the protocols are not being correctly implemented or possibly being interfered with by the Novell packets.

The router supplier thinks there are possibly some Novell services that could be causing the problem. ?????????

So, any ideas on what I am doing wrong or overlooked would be appreciated.

Thanks for reading through all of this !

Andre Neusch

Excalibur Distribution
South Africa
 
Hi Andre

Not sure why, but I would look at making your IP's static addresses with Static NAT mappings on your router, this should over come the problem.
On the client leave the prefered protocol as IPX\SPX and then when you want to browse the PC will make a call to the IP stack and away you go, no need to worry about DHCP etc.
Its a little more administration, but far more secure. ie In your current config, I could plug in a laptop be issued with a vaild IP and away I go....

Regards

David
 
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