DHCP issue

[dleggett]

I have about four users who are in the same hallway/unit that are having problems with DHCP not working. We are using Novell 6.5; have changed out computers, installed a new switch that was due to be upgraded, turned off power mangement on the NIC card, tried switching out the patch cables, switching out patch cables from patch panel to the switch. I have exhausted all ideas that I know without updating the drivers, but if it were that, I would think that we would have that problem in other places with the same model. When I sign it a static IP address, the computers have no problem at all getting on the Internet. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[goombawaho]

Why not expire the leases on all the DHCP addresses and see if the problem goes somewhere else.

Are you sure that two servers aren't running DHCP on your network and fighting for control??

 

[dleggett]

The DHCP has an expiration of 7 days on it. I have released and renewed the IP address. There are no other DHCP servers running. Thanks for the reply.

 

[marvhuffaker]

Need to make sure that DHCP on the server is actually trying to service the requests. Maybe the workstations dhcp requests are not reaching the server.

unload DHCPSRVR and then load with this command to get a diagnostics screen:

load dhcpsrvr -d3

You should then be able to watch this screen when the systems are booted to determine if any communication is happening at all.

You could also download wireshark and do a packet trace on the workstations. This tells you a lot, but is an advanced troubleshooting strategy.

Marvin Huffaker, MCNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting, Inc.
A Novell Platinum Partner

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[terry712]

do other pc's on that switch get dhcp's
you arent blocking any request - or using vlans on the switch or anything like that


pc dont suffer from the apipa curse - see this in evt with a 169 - unless you have the ipautoconfiguration enabled

the switches on dhcp are nice as well though

 

[dleggett]

Thanks marv, I will give that a go tomorrow and see what happens. Terry, other workstations on the same switch are getting the DHCP.

 

[goombawaho]

Is your pool of DHCP addresses too small and you are now out of numbers???

 

[goombawaho]

Marv be layin' down the law and slayin' all perpetrators of the falsehoods.

 

[goombawaho]

^^^ Oops - sorry. Above post was for another thread. Disregard my misdirected humor please.

 

[marvhuffaker]

Yeah I know which thread you're talking about too.

Marvin Huffaker, MCNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting, Inc.
A Novell Platinum Partner

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[goombawaho]

I hope this guy comes back with the log results.

 

[dleggett]

I am sorry for not getting back. I have failed to mention in my first posts that it is DHCP works sometimes. Here is really where the problem kicks me, they may go three weeks and not have a problem or may go one day and have network issues. Other problems that may be related are users are putting their screensaver on when they go to lunch as policy states, when they return from lunch, try to log in, it may take up to 5 minutes for them to log in? Any suggestions on this. I am sorry for saying DHCP is not working, I meant to say that sometimes its working. Been one of those weeks. Sorry guys

 

[marvhuffaker]

It sounds to me like its not DHCP at all. Do this at your workstation.

IPCONFIG /RELEASE
IPCONFIG /RENEW

Do you get a new address and are you able to surf the web, etc? If so, DHCP is not the problem. DHCP on Netware rarely works intermittently. It either works or it doesn't.

Probably need to look at other areas to troubleshoot.

Marvin Huffaker, MCNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting, Inc.
A Novell Platinum Partner

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[LawnBoy]

We have seen problems with Dell PCs that reset the IP address when they come out of sleep mode. Our fix was to turn sleep mode off.


--
The stagehand's axiom: "Never lift what you can drag, never drag what you can roll, never roll what you can leave.

 

[dleggett]

Marv, when I do that, it goes back and picks up the same IP address. But, when the problem does occur, I have done the ipconfig /release and renewed it and was able to get back to work fine. LawnBoy, I will check that out as soon as I get out of a webinar. Thanks for the replies.

 

[marvhuffaker]

So the problem is not the server, its the workstation. Need to identify why the workstations are having issues, but I do not believe it has anything to do with the server. Lawnboy's suggestion sounds reasonable.

Marvin Huffaker, MCNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting, Inc.
A Novell Platinum Partner

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[dleggett]

I will give this a look on Monday. I didn't have time Friday to check this out.