Can't Find Computer (ASAP Response Please)

[robctech]

Ok here's one for everyone...I need help ASAP.

I have two Servers running here in our environment. One is an NT4 sp6a machine the other a 2000 server. Up until about a week ago our other offices and myself included were able to browse the servers, map drives etc etc through TCP/IP. Now for some reason when I try to map to a drive on my NT Server \\ns1.myserver.com it tells me it can't find it...yet I have no problem with my 2000 server ns2.myserver.com . I also noticed when I went remotely from home and said find computer it found my 2000 server no problem but it can't find my NT4 server. Anyone have any ideas as to what could have happened here.

 

[rtichnor]

Was your 2000 server in 'mixed mode' and got switched to 'native' mode?

-or-

check your event logs to see what errors you have.

 

[robctech]

No my 2000 server is a seperate PDM and no configuration changes have been made for over 4 months...and there are no errors in the event log on the NT4 server...everything appears to be running as it should.

 

[AustinPowers]

Hola,

I'd look into the HOSTS file....

Good luck!
AP

 

[robctech]

I have looked into the hosts file but it has nothing to do with hosts file as I can not even see this machine by IP address.

 

[AustinPowers]

Hola,

Not seeing IP address indicates a number of possibilities...
bad NIC, loose/broken cable, wrong subnet mask, etc.

What have you already looked into?

also, can you see/ping other servers/workstation from the questionable NT server?

AP

 

[AustinPowers]

Also, have you restarted the questionable server? Do not just press Reset button to restart, you have to actually power cycle the server.

AP

 

[robctech]

LOL...ok little more description.

The Server in question is a fully running on the internet web based server. You can get to web sites...it can go outbound..all mail is functioning as well as the sql services..just suddenly you can no longer map a drive to it from the outside world yet nothing has changed. I have also eliminated the fact that it is the ISP blocking the port as I can still map to my 2000 server without any problem. All services are running, no errors in event log, just \\IP Address\SharedDrive doesn't map and a search for computer does not find it via IP address... yet everything is fine doing this with the 2000 server and was with the NT serve up till about 2 weeks ago. And yes I have done full virus scanning and no viruses are present on the system. Like I said...this one has be completely stumped.

 

[robctech]

Austin I hate to respond to your reply in this manner as I know you are just trying to suggest but DUHHHH of course I've done that...keep in mind guys I have been running and maintaining servers for a number of years and have tried all the standard trouble shooting procedures without any success...thats why I'm posting this question. This one has me completely stumped as to the possible cause.

 

[AustinPowers]

Hola robctech,

No problemo!

Is your server plugged to DMZ port on a NAT-enabled firewall? if so, you may want to check into firewall config. to make sure there's also real world IP address assigned. Since your setup is not new, I won't suggest that it was improperly configured. All I'm saying is the config. could have gotten messed up, somehow ....

Since you said no changes were made to the server itself, there's no mention of the firewall. also, just when you think absolutely nothing was changed, there's always something that got changed inadvertently. Just when you think you covered everything, there's always something amissed...

Hasta La Vista, Baby! :-}

AP

 

[rtichnor]

robctech,
Instead of connecting to your server with...\\IP Address\SharedDrive

Use the machine's name, not the IP address...\\servername\SharedDrive

Is there a Netbios problem?

hth