Clients randomly lose contact with server.

[mysteryn11]

Very strange one this: SBS 2003 on a HP g3 server on a, network with around 5
users (4 XP SP2's and 1 2000). The clients randomly lose contact with the
server (cannot even ping to it). The hardware checks out in as much as we
have changed the switch, cables, network card in server. Nothing special in
the event log either server or client end. It happens about 3-4 times a day.
when the clients are down they are disconnected from a few minutes to a whole
day. We have checked DNS (although this would not help with not being able to
ping IP of server), checked use of bandwidth on the internal net, DHCP checks
out fine. We did find a problem with W32Time and synchonising, but that is
fixed (although we haven't had a loss of connection since, that is only a few
hours ago.) One other symptom is a terribly long log on time. This is a real
head-scratcher Even though I am not expecting a hot fix for this does
anyone have any further angles /concepts that we could check? Mysteryn11,
Reaktor IT Service, Norway.

 

[TheLad]

Are you using the latest network card drivers? Is the network configuration of the card correct (eg. correct default gateway and subnet mask for your network) and is the speed/duplex settings forced both on the switch and on the server?

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"Insert funny comment in here!"
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[Seaspray0]

The next time you lose connection to the server, see if you can get a client to ping another client on the same subnet. If you can't, then your hub/switch may be acting up.

Start, Help. You'll be surprised what's there. A+/MCP/MCSE/MCDBA

 

[bobsa32]

I had a similar problem, clients would loose connection to the server, or wouldn't be able to logon. The issue was that the company involved didn't have enough CALs installed.

 

[Fatboy0341]

Are these desktop clients or laptops?

If they are laptops - would you happen to be using Broadcom network cards?

 

[mysteryn11]

Thanks so far guys; but unfortunately we still haven't isolated the problem. Here's my feedback to your replies:-

The Lad - the network card is a new replacement with latest drivers, and configured correctly with g'way, etc.

Seaspray0 - Tried that, but we just replaced the switch with a brand new one. Still the same.

Bobsa32 - Good idea with licenses, but again this has been checked and is OK.

Fatboy0341 - They are a mix of laptops and desktops but not using Broadcom cards.

 

[bobsa32]

OK,

1. What does your DNS setup look like?
2. In your DHCP setup, have you set server option, ie, is
your DNS servers set there?
3. has the issue returned since you sorted out the Time
issue?
Regards

 

[MiniOrganMorgan]

Have you configured the Power Management on the NICs?

I'd uncheck the box marked "Allow the computer to switch off this device to save power" in Device Manager.

 

[markdmac]

Also check the Autodisconnect settings and consider posting in the SBS forum. forum1584


I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[doubleh2]

Do you get a time out or destination host unreachable, when you try to ping? Also what do the lights on the network card and switch/router do?

 

[doubleh2]

One other symptom is a terribly long log on time. - That is a good indication of the dns being incorrectly configured. It cannot find the server to login with. You know convert the name to a number.