Help! Server's internal NIC sees no packets!

[6tr6tr]

I have a server (windows 2000) that's connected through a NIC to DSL. There's another NIC in the server that's connected to a Dell PowerConnect 2016 Switch (which as I understand it is basically a Hub with buffering).

I have set up NAT/DHCP on the server.

For some reason, the internal NIC card has 0 packets received even though I have a laptop that is also connected to the PowerConnect switch and is configured to obtain IP automatically.

I don't think it's the switch as I also have a Lynksys 5-port hub (which I've used successfully in the past), and with that, there's also 0 packets received.

Also the laptop is obviously not finding the server as it keeps getting the default 169.x.x.x IP.

Does anyone know what might be wrong? What can I do to get the laptop to see the server?

Thanks!

 

[Jpoandl]

Can you configure a static IP address on the laptop on ping the server?

Joseph L. Poandl
MCSE 2003

If your company is in need of experts to examine technical problems/solutions, please check out

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(Sales@njcomputernetworks.com)

 

[6tr6tr]

I am unable to ping the server. I'm not sure how giving the laptop a static address would work. Can you explain a bit more? Thanks!

 

[Jpoandl]

Sure....It could be that your DHCP service is not working...or not reaching the client laptop.

Therefore, you can setup a static IP address to test to see if your switch and LAN cables are not the problem. If you can ping the server once the static IP address is configured, you will know that your cabling and switches/hub are all working. At that point, you can start troubleshooting the services and other problems..

Joseph L. Poandl
MCSE 2003

If your company is in need of experts to examine technical problems/solutions, please check out

http://www.NJCOMPUTERNETWORKS.com

(Sales@njcomputernetworks.com)

 

[6tr6tr]

YES! Thank you! It appears that DHCP is the problem because setting the laptop to 192.168.0.3 (static assigned) allows me to ping the server!

OK, I guess I need to figure out the DHCP problem. What's the best way to walk through that?

Thanks again!!

 

[netometer]

Hi!
1. I would suggest to start from the bottom layer - the hardware - t could be a bad cable, bad card, or bad port. When you check the enable the “Show icon in taskbar when connected” under properties of your internal NIC, does it show that the connection is up? Have you tried to replace the cable?
2. If it shows that the connection is up it still could be incompatibility between the card and the switch. I have this problem often when trying to connect one of the new Gigabit NICs to old switches. The icon shows that the connection is up but no packets are accepted. Try to set manually the speed of the NIC and start with the lowest possible – 10Half.
3. If you still can not get it to work you have to try to eliminate the switch. Connect directly the laptop to the server with a crossover cable.
4. Next step would be to replace the card and try with another one. Of course I would try to update the driver first but I am sure that you already have tried this.

Good Luck!

NetoMeter

http://www.netometer.net

 

[Jpoandl]

To troubleshoot DHCP, check to make sure that the DHCP service is started by looking at the servers SERVICES. Start --> RUN --> type SERVICES.MSC (Then look for DHCP service)

You can go into the DHCP administration console and see if DHCP is working too. You were probably already in this administration console to setup your DHCP scopes.

Also, you can check the Event Viewer of the server to check to see that there aren't any errors relating DHCP.

-later...

Joseph L. Poandl
MCSE 2003

If your company is in need of experts to examine technical problems/solutions, please check out

http://www.NJCOMPUTERNETWORKS.com

(Sales@njcomputernetworks.com)

 

[6tr6tr]

OK, I have DHCP up and started (with scope 192.168.0.1-192.168.0.254, excluding 192.168.0.1). I have the router set as 192.168.0.1, and there are no errors in Event Log (only a message saying DHCP is started and ready to accept) but for some reason, the laptop never finds the DHCP server!

I even set the "Bindings" (Under Server Properties) to only include the Internal NIC for "servicing clients," and unchecked the internet NIC.

Any idea what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks again for all the help you've given me so far.

 

[Jpoandl]

I would check to see if the SCOPE is ACtive. You should look in DHCP administrator and look at your scope to see if the scope is running. And that the DHCP server is AUTHORIZED in your domain. (I think it is authorized because you see that the service is started)

I would temporarily disable the Internet NIC. Just to make sure that this nic isn't causing any problems. Then try to see if DHCP is working.

I would also delete the scope and make a new one: Don't include your static IP addresses in the scope. Just use the next available range.

Joseph L. Poandl
MCSE 2003

If your company is in need of experts to examine technical problems/solutions, please check out

http://www.NJCOMPUTERNETWORKS.com

(Sales@njcomputernetworks.com)

 

[6tr6tr]

Thanks again, you've been a HUGE help!

I discovered my firewall was blocking the traffic, so I allowed it for all addresses in the 192.168.0.1-192.168.0.254 range and now it gets the address properly.

However, now I'm having a problem with NAT. Here's what happens:

I start up IE and type in "

http://www.msn.com"

and I see at the bottom it says, "connecting to site 207.68.172.234" but it never connects. So I know it's going out to the external DNS properly, but for some reason it can't go any further than that. Any ideas?