Win XP workstation locking up when connected to Win 2000 Pro at times

[wncads]

We have an accounting software package that is on a Win2K Pro machine on a peer to peer network. The workstations are all Windows XP Pro. We have a linksys VPN router w/firewall and cable internet access with fixed IP.

One of our tunnels for VPN from a off-site facility can log in to the software just as if they are on the LAN and work just fine in the software, save, create, edit, etc.

Our problem is that two workstations physically on the LAN in the same building will work through 1 to 4 times then lock up only with that accounting package. Windows does not lock up nor does anything else.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what may be up??? we have checked IP settings (address, subnet, gateway, etc) , security on users etc., changed switches, turned off any and all network card power management, internet works flawless on both workstations any ideas greatly appreciated...

one last piece of info, software vendor claims if you can get in with any workstation then their software is functional and not a problem on the software side of the accounting package. They claim its network or workstation problems. We also reformatted one system and installed fresh xp pro, and changed computer name to take that out of the equation as well.

Keith Buchanan
AplusNetworking.com
keith@aplusnetworking.com

 

[alliknowisnetworking]

the first thing i would do is check your hardware specs on those pc's. mem,cpu etc.

also i would try moving a known good pc to the spot where the bad one is. also your on a peer to peer so you probably got broadcast traffic all over the place. get a network analyzer and see whats running through your network.

you gotta understand too that yes workstations can share apps or whatever, but thats not too ideal as you might wanna get w2k3 server or something. also if you have 4-5 pcs tugging at the same app then your bound to get slow moving apps, or maybe freeze ups. try using the software during off peak hours, and see what happens.

hope this helps. Let us know

A+,Network+,MCP