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Server PC collapses network...

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by cyberghost_1

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This is my problem, last week I lost Internet connection to my 6 PC network. 5 User PC's and 1 Server PC all running XP PRO. Here is the setup: 512Mbps Cable Modem-->4 port Netgear Router(RP614v2)-->8 port 3Net Switch-->all PC's including Server PC. Since I lost the Web connection I had to connect the Server PC via a 56k Modem with a backup ISP. I disconnected the Server PC from the Network. When I got the Cable ISP back up and running I connected the Server PC back to the network and disconnected it from the 56k connection. I set the config back to LAN and everything seemed fine for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes all PC's lost Internet connection and couldn't access the Server PC to print, access programs that run from the Server. The User PC's are the clients for 2 Programs that are installed on the Server. The Server PC can see and connect to the other PC's, but the other PC's can only see the Server. They can't print to it, connect to the Shared Folders, C:, ANYTHING !! I get an Access Denied unable to connect message when I try to print or connect to the Server PC. The client PC's can't acces the program database on the Server either. The weirdest thing is that when the Server PC get connected to the Switch, all other PC's LOSE IP's AND CONNECTIVITY TO THE WEB. As soon as I disconnect the cable from the switch and reboot the PC's the user PC's get back the Web connection and can connect amoungst themselves like normal. Then I reconnect the Server PC and the Network collapses completely. No Internet, or network. So I tried taking the Router out of the picture and used another Switch. All PC's and Server PC get Internet, BUT THE SERVER PC IS STILL INACCESSABLE...NO PRINTERS, NO CONNECTION TO THE DATABASES ON THE SERVER. Just like before except that with 2 switches I have internet only. I checked the Workgroup, LAN settings, ect....with no success.

15 replies

by cyberghost_1

WHY IS IT THAT AS SOON AS I CONNECT THE SERVER PC EVERYTHING GOES DOWN USING THE ROUTER. USING 2 SWITCHES OR ONE, I ONLY GET INTERNET AND STILL NO ACCES TO THE SERVER AT ALL FOR ANYTHING. ALL PC'S CAN SEE IT BUT NOT ACCESS IT OR PRINT.....NOTHING AT ALL...I have had a lot of problems with the router overheating, it sits on top of the Server PC, and loses connectivity and IP's every 2 or 3 days...could that have anything to do with it? I have tried everything and all the user PC's work fine except the Server...

by bfilmfan

Can you ping for the workstations to the "server" by both IP address and name?

If you cannot reach them by name, you have an issue with DNS and will most likely have to create a static entry in DNS or create a hosts file locally on each system.

If nothing else has changed in the network but the addition of a second switch, which would create a new network segment, this is definetely pointing at Name Resolution as the culprit.

Check that and let us know here in the forum if you can ping by both name and IP address.

by cg it

I'll assume that your XP Pro box has 2 nics in it. I'll also assume that you use a static IP addressing scheme. Check to make sure you haven't reversed your NICs e.g. the WAN NIC isn't connected to the switch and check the bindings on the NICs.

If you know the NICs are corretly connected [WAN to WAN, LAN to LAN, and default gateway and DNS settings are correct, another culprit could be ICS. Try rerunning ICS.

heat is the bane of electronics. your router should not get hot. It will get very warm but should not get hot.

by cg it

Sorry scratch my answer. That answer is for a different question on another thread.

by cyberghost_1

No I can?t ping the Server PC. Like I said if I connect it to the Network when the Router is included the WHOLE NETWORK COLLAPSES. Only if I use 2 switches instead of a Router and a switch, all pc?s get internet. But no one can print or access the Server programs.

by dryflies

First, move your router somewhere else.
Do your clients get their network settings from DHCP or are they static? if you do DHCP, what is the DHCP server. is it the server or the router? it could be that you turned off DHCP on the server or turned it on for the server and are having DHCP conflicts. Document the role of each component in the system. where you want to get your networks settings and DNS info and then make all of your configurations reflect that document. Be sure you record the current settings in case your documented topology does not work.

by cg it

For the problem of Access Denied when trying to access shared resource on the XP Pro box, if this is a "WorkGroup" sounds like the "Workgroup" membership got lost. Without that membership and all user accounts on all members within that specific "workgroup", access will be denied. You can allow "Access this computer from the Network" in the local machine security policy/user rights assignment".

For the XP Pro box "server" problem, the problem you describe is similar to a problem seen with small office setup running the ICS wizard and in addition, having a router to share the internet connection. What the ICS wizard does is setup that box as a router and all LAN traffic is routed through that box [multihomed box]. As soon as you connect it to the LAN all traffic is routed to it but not being a multihomed box [2 NICs] theres no way for traffic to get to the next router [your netgear]. Thats what this problem appears as.

If you can't Ping, theres no connectivity. verify connectivity [hardware swap out cables with known good ones, swap out NIC with a known good one, reinstall drivers] and your TCP/IP settings.

Another problem could be hardware profiles. You might have 1 profile that uses the NIC, one profile for the Dial up. The Dial up profile does not have the hardware drivers and NIC installed to use [we do this on roaming remote user laptops].

by cg it

our laptops are configured with two profiles. one users use while travelling and use dial up, one they use when at the office [LAN ethernet]. If they try to use the dial up while in the office, they get nothing out of the nic, even though WXP will assign a default ip address to the NIC when no DHCP server is available.

by cyberghost_1

How come when I only use switches, I get connectivity to the Internet and the Network. Except to the server pc? Can?t print or access the files/drives...nothing, but it CAN be seen from all PC?s. And Everyone has Internet. Everyone can print to other PC?s on the Network as well as the other user PC?s and any other PC that I connect to the Network have no problem. Only with the Server and it?s printers...NOTE: This is without using the ROUTER...With the ROUTER NO ONE can get Internet, and show some problems with connections amoung themselves....All IP?s get lost aswell.....DNS, DHCP everything goes to 0.0.0.0.0 or stays with the IP?s but no DNS Host and No Internet.....PLEASE HELP ME ASAP...THANKS AGAIN...

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