Mapped network drive - connection drops

[computer storm]

Hi Pad,

the only reason I am saying to disable it on the server for now is to rule out access protection is not the one that is causing the problem, as this has been a documented problem with McAfee.

If everything works fine after disableing for a short period of time then you can make changes to the access protection rules on the server to get it working correctly.

It is a good one to try first off before going to the expense of buying new managed switches and NIC cards.

Then if that does not work you can then get the NIC cards and switches.

 

[Pab]

Hi Pad,

the only reason I am saying to disable it on the server for now is to rule out access protection is not the one that is causing the problem, as this has been a documented problem with McAfee.

If everything works fine after disableing for a short period of time then you can make changes to the access protection rules on the server to get it working correctly.

It is a good one to try first off before going to the expense of buying new managed switches and NIC cards.

Then if that does not work you can then get the NIC cards and switches.

Thanks Darren. I'll give that a try.

Quick question though... is this not a little risky?

 

[computer storm]

It is a bit risky but its just a quick test, the other thing you can try is this as well.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297684/EN-US/

This is changing the autodisconnect in windows for network.

 

[Pab]

It is a bit risky but its just a quick test, the other thing you can try is this as well.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297684/EN-US/

This is changing the autodisconnect in windows for network.

i'd previous run that fix on the clients but not on the server. That's now done.

I'm a little worried about leaving it unprotected. It could be hours and hours before we get another drop.

 

[computer storm]

The only part that you should disable on the server is Access Protection, you will be covered by the On-Access scanner, the On access scanner should not be disabled. The access protection will just monitor internal network traffic and block and code that trys to run incorrectly.

 

[Pab]

The only part that you should disable on the server is Access Protection, you will be covered by the On-Access scanner, the On access scanner should not be disabled. The access protection will just monitor internal network traffic and block and code that trys to run incorrectly.

Ah ha. Gotcha.

I just checked. Both Access Protection and Buffer Overflow Protection on the server are already disabled. I don't think we've adjusted these settings.

 

[computer storm]

Ah ha. Gotcha.

I just checked. Both Access Protection and Buffer Overflow Protection on the server are already disabled. I don't think we've adjusted these settings.

ok if you could send me the eventviewer logs from the server and the eventviewer logs from a work station this would be good, i can have a look at them and see if anything is going wrong.

if you zip them and send them to me at [email protected] then i will get back to you Pad.

 

[Pab]

ok if you could send me the eventviewer logs from the server and the eventviewer logs from a work station this would be good, i can have a look at them and see if anything is going wrong.

if you zip them and send them to me at [email protected] then i will get back to you Pad.

Very kind of you darren. Which logs did you want? System?

 

[computer storm]

Very kind of you darren. Which logs did you want? System?

System and application if possible please Pab

 

[Cobby]

Is this a computer browser service related issue? I haven't used SBS2003 so I don't know if it's the same kind of thing, but I once saw a problem similar to the one described in the OP. A small office network had been running fine for a couple of years but when the new guy switched his laptop on the network shares would become inaccessible. It was awkward to diagnose because the update requests are 12 minutes apart. Something to check before splashing out on potentially unnecessary hardware.

e: as that guy above says, check the event logs there's usually a notification about competing to become master browser or something.

 

[KM-Tiger]

I haven't read everything in this thread but most of the time when I have seen this sort of problem it's been a duplex mismatch (i.e. the server things it's full duplex and the network switch things it's half duplex or vis-versa).

.... switching to half duplex when they should be full ...

But you are forgiven for missing it!

 

[shugied]

Is this a computer browser service related issue? I haven't used SBS2003 so I don't know if it's the same kind of thing, but I once saw a problem similar to the one described in the OP. A small office network had been running fine for a couple of years but when the new guy switched his laptop on the network shares would become inaccessible. It was awkward to diagnose because the update requests are 12 minutes apart. Something to check before splashing out on potentially unnecessary hardware.

e: as that guy above says, check the event logs there's usually a notification about competing to become master browser or something.

Had that problem with a Mac someone plonked onto an otherwise functional network, damned thing kept wanting to be the master browser. But it didn't cause intermittent problems, it did the deed as soon as it connected.

 

[computer storm]

Very kind of you darren. Which logs did you want? System?

Hi Pab,

The text file you sent has not got the info i require, could you go to the event viewer and right click on the application log and select save log file as, then call it something. This should then save it as an evt file that contains more info.

Do this for the server and the desktop please. Forgot to add do this for the system events as well on both server and desktop.

 

[graemepirie]

Tell you what I do when I get things like this....

Call Darren (computerstorm), give him access to log on & leave him to it!

 

[Jim2k]

I think Graeme is right, theres only so much diagnosis you can do without being on the machine. Spend a little money and get things running spot on.

 

[Pab]

Many thanks to Darren... he's been having a good look through logs and identified a possible cause (memory) so we're looking to rectify that.

We also purchased a new NIC to see if this was the problem, however installing it doesn't seem to be going smoothly... quite possibly because I'm a pleb.

The server has 4 expansion shots. PCI 1, which is larger white slot, and PCI2-4, which are small black slots... I assume PCIe slots.

The card is a PCIe card, so I popped it in slot 2 and powered up. Nothing in device manager. I put it in slot 3, nothing again. What's happening here? Is it looking to number 1, finding nothing and then giving up?

Here's the part where my plebness could be revealed... the PCIe slot has one smaller slot and one larger slot. The smaller slot fills is filled fully by the NIC, but the right slot is only half filled (I hope I explained that properly). Basically, the module doesn't fully fill the hole. Is this normal with PCIe cards? Is this just spare space for cards that need the extra pins?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[computer storm]

Many thanks to Darren... he's been having a good look through logs and identified a possible cause (memory) so we're looking to rectify that.

We also purchased a new NIC to see if this was the problem, however installing it doesn't seem to be going smoothly... quite possibly because I'm a pleb.

The server has 4 expansion shots. PCI 1, which is larger white slot, and PCI2-4, which are small black slots... I assume PCIe slots.

The card is a PCIe card, so I popped it in slot 2 and powered up. Nothing in device manager. I put it in slot 3, nothing again. What's happening here? Is it looking to number 1, finding nothing and then giving up?

Here's the part where my plebness could be revealed... the PCIe slot has one smaller slot and one larger slot. The smaller slot fills is filled fully by the NIC, but the right slot is only half filled (I hope I explained that properly). Basically, the module doesn't fully fill the hole. Is this normal with PCIe cards? Is this just spare space for cards that need the extra pins?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi Pab,

What is the make and model of the server?

 

[Pab]

Hp ML110 G5

 

[computer storm]

Hp ML110 G5

Hi Pab,

Your ML110 G5 needs the PCI express x8 card, what card did you buy for the server. But slot 1 is a PCI 32bit slot at 3.3V

 

[Pab]

Hi Pab,

Your ML110 G5 needs the PCI express x8 card, what card did you buy for the server. But slot 1 is a PCI 32bit slot at 3.3V

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networking/nc112t/index.html

This is what I bought.

 

[computer storm]

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networking/nc112t/index.html

This is what I bought.

Yep that should work, I will give you a call

 

[leemason]

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networking/nc112t/index.html

This is what I bought.

That should work in any of the PCIe slots as it's only a x1 card. Does the server show the card at boot time? If you go into the BIOS setup (or boot from the smartstart CD that came with the server you should be able to see the card there).

If the drivers aren't installed the card may show up as uncategorised in device manager under Windows (so you won't see if as a network card until you actually install the drivers).

 

[Pab]

So, new NIC installed and working, RAM upgraded from 1 to 4GB.

The problem just happened again. :|

Any ideas on my next line of investigation, or shall I just throw the whole lot in the bin and start again?!

 

[shugied]

So, new NIC installed and working, RAM upgraded from 1 to 4GB.

The problem just happened again. :|

Any ideas on my next line of investigation, or shall I just throw the whole lot in the bin and start again?!

That's very frustrating. Does this problem occur with Windows explorer file operations (copying, moving etc) or only when you are opening files with one, or more, applications?

And does it occur to the same extent on all the workstations?

 

[computer storm]

Hi Paul,

What are the client machine OS, that you are using?

 

[Pab]

That's very frustrating. Does this problem occur with Windows explorer file operations (copying, moving etc) or only when you are opening files with one, or more, applications?

And does it occur to the same extent on all the workstations?

It happens both when moving files etc in windows explorer, but also when working in an application (such as indesign or word)... the problem with applications seems to come when we try and save the file which is located on the server.

Darren, there are windows 7 and XP machines. I've not tested to see if it happens on macs at the same time.

 

[computer storm]

Hi Paul,

On your Windows 7 machine at the command prompt, make sure you are using elivated privilages, run the following command and let me know what it shows.

netsh int ip show offload

 

[Pab]

Hi Paul,

On your Windows 7 machine at the command prompt, make sure you are using elivated privilages, run the following command and let me know what it shows.

netsh int ip show offload

Interface 12: Wireless Network Connection

Interface 1: Loopback Pseudo-Interface 1

Interface 11: Local Area Connection

ipv4 transmit checksum supported.
udp transmit checksum supported.
tcp transmit checksum supported.
tcp giant send offload supported.
ipv4 receive checksum supported.
udp receive checksum supported.
tcp receive checksum supported.

 

[computer storm]

Interface 12: Wireless Network Connection

Interface 1: Loopback Pseudo-Interface 1

Interface 11: Local Area Connection

ipv4 transmit checksum supported.
udp transmit checksum supported.
tcp transmit checksum supported.
tcp giant send offload supported.
ipv4 receive checksum supported.
udp receive checksum supported.
tcp receive checksum supported.

Ok at the command prompt again now run the following command:

netsh int ip set global taskoffload=disabled (This should disable all the offloads)
Disable and Enable the NIC
Check if all Offloads are disabled from an elevated command prompt.
netsh int ip show offload
If you've done this correctly the results shouldn't show any offloads

Once this is done can you test it for me and let me know if you still have the same problem as we can try another command if this doesnt resolve the problem.