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Win2000 loses connectivity to Novell 5 server

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michbar

michbar

MIS
Sep 28, 2004
95
US
Windows 2000 Pro, Novell Client 4.9, Windows 2000 domain, Netware 5 file server. On two machines have recently started losing connectivity to the Novell Server. In order to have connectivity again, you must re-login. Have checked and tested all wiring, checked the switch (no spanning tree enabled), changed ports and tested NICs. Removed and reinstalled NIC driver, TCP/IP, and both Microsoft and Novell clients. I have several apps that must save and retrieve data from mapped drives and when connectivity is lost the app freezes and the PC often has to be rebooted. As this happens at least 10 times a day the users and myself have become quite frustrated. Any ideas?

A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history - with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila.-Mitch Ratcliffe

The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents.-Nathaniel Borenstein
 
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I've recently been struggling with the same thing at one of my clients.. Here are some of the things that we've done to minimize the problem. Haven't quite nailed it down though, but these have helped.

- Check server LAN settings / ensure same as Switch port OR both to AUTO negotiate. The recommendation varies depending on the Switch you have, so check with the vendor. Check lan Stats on server and make sure you have no CRC or other NIC errors. CRC, bad frame alignement, etc often mean that there is a port mismatch from server to switch.

- Turn off all power saving features on workstations, standby, hibernate, etc. Don't let it power anything down.

- Additionally, go into your NIC settings (NIC Properties, Power management Tab) -- Don't allow it to shut own the device to save power.

- Get the Client patched. the 4.9 client had lots of bugs.

- If you're using IPX, verify that the server and workstations are set to the same frame type and network segment (assuming they are on the same local segment)

- Try eliminating one protocol (go either pure IP or pure IPX) and see if it makes a difference.

- Make sure your cabling is solid. replace any cables that might be flakey.

- Update the NIC drivers from the vendor.

Maybe there are some others, but that's a start.

Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting
 
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Ensuring that Client File Caching is disabled is also a good idea:

SET CLIENT FILE CACHING ENABLED = OFF

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"It's true, its damn true!"
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Make sure SLP is working correctly.

Make sure watchdog timeout is set to a reasonable time.
 
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Almost forgot - verify licensing is ok on that server
 
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and if there are multiple nics in pc - there is a post sp2 patch
 
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I don't know if this will help or not, but I found this to be a Windows NT/2000/XPPRO problem. I fixed it by creating a batch file called connect.bat (you can name it anything) and copied the file to the startup menu of the clients having the problem. It seems to work, as clients no longer lose connections. Here is the command in the .bat file:

net config server /autodisconnect:-1

Apparently, the -1 tells Windows to never perform autodisconnect.

Iolair MacWalter
 
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Seems to be a NIC problem. I disabled the onboard NIC on one machine and replaced it with a 3Com PCI card and problem is not longer occuring. Unfortunately the other PC with the problem is a small form factor PC and normal PCI cards do not fit. The PC is under warranty and Dell will not send out a PCI NIC just another motherboard. The refurbished motherboard Dell sent seems to have even worse problems than the original motherboard because I cannot even ping the gateway. From the moment I plugged in the PC with the refurbished motherboard, the switch began reporting errors of Link Lost on that PCs particular port. Moving it to another port moved the errors. Of course the Dell support person claims that if the link light is lit it must be working. I could not make him understand that software doesn't have anything to do with the switch reporting a link lost error every 30 seconds or so. After two fresh installs of the OS they now want me to do a BIOS upgrade before they send yet another motherboard. Someone on another board suspects this is a problem with the integrated NICs in Dell systems with a specific chip set.

iolair, I had already run across that particular fix and applied it, but no difference in performance.

A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history - with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila.-Mitch Ratcliffe

The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents.-Nathaniel Borenstein
 
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That's interesting.. the Systems I am having problems with are also Dell.

Are the NICS the Intel 1000 MT (I think that's what they were)?



Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting
 
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Yes, they are. If you are interested, you can check out my post on the Novell Discussion Board.



A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history - with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila.-Mitch Ratcliffe

The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents.-Nathaniel Borenstein
 
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Thanks for that link.

One thing that you may find interesting is that my client that is having this problem - for the longest time they were using the Windows client Service for NetWare and did not have the disconnect problems. When they switched to the Novell Client, that's when the problems started -- so naturally they blame Novell and the client. Based on what I have seen, and also from reading your post on the Novell forums, it seems that there is a problem with the embedded NIC on certain DELL systems. And the problem has probably been there all along, it just comes to the surface when the Novell Client is installed.

The last time I was at my clients site, after banging head against wall several times, I recommended that they try installing a PCI nic and see if that helps.. Have not heard back. I will find out and let you know.



Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting
 
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Hmmm. Same scenario, W2K pro on Dell machines with the Intel Pro 1000 MT nic. Connecting to NW 6.5, though. My intermittent connection problems seem to have disappeared since I scoped SLP.

I'll be interested in any news you guys report on this problem.
 
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Just an update: Someone on another message board stated that he had some success with changing the NIC and Port speeds to 10MB/HD instead of Auto or 100MB. I dropped the speed to 10MB/FD and the pc as not dropped connections to the mapped drives for about two weeks. Another PC, this time an IBM but with the same integrated NIC started having the same problems. Dropping the speed seems to be working for this PC as well.

A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history - with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila.-Mitch Ratcliffe

The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents.-Nathaniel Borenstein
 
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michbar, can I clarify something with you... Does replacing the system board fix the problem for you? Or does the problem still exist in new boards?


Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting
 
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The system board on the small form factor Dell was replaced with the same make and model and still had the same problems as the other board.

A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history - with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila.-Mitch Ratcliffe

The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents.-Nathaniel Borenstein
 
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