Topic: sme server and win 7 pc's connection problem

[anneb]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum, sme server and linux so please bear with me.
I'm running a test sme server on my home network prior to setting up a network for our local family history society.
I have a strange problem in that I can access the server from all 4 pc's here 3 with win 7 and one win win 2003 server.

All works well but every so often the pc's lose contact with the server " network path not found" or "server-2 not found" is the other.

This can happen halfway through a file transfer and 10 seconds later it is ok again. I can click on "server-2" with windows explorer and its there, 30 seconds later it isn't and then it is again.

I have tried various pc's to run sme on and all have the same problems. If I install windows software on the same machines they work perfectly.

While it is an annoyance to me it will be a major problem if it happens in a production scenario.

As I said I'm new to sme server and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction

Regards Ken

[Jáder]

I'd like to suggest you to verify the RHEL4 HCL (hardware compatibility list) if you're running SME7 (or RHEL5 HCL if running SME8).

If your test server is not a brand machine , try to replace NIC (network interface card) for a Intel or 3Com or even for a cheap RTL8139.

I have problems with one no-brand name machine using a PcChips onboard NIC.
The problem was similar... disconnect from server when doing big network tasks.
I could see a folder with small amount of files, or copy small files... but if I try to see a directory with a big ammount or copy a big file... lost connection.

If you can fix it with above tips, please tell us about your HW. Good luck.

[anneb]

I had a gigabit switch rtl8169 installed I have a spare RTL8139 nic and just installed it.

I didn't have the problem when I was transferring large files, I transferred 12.gb without any problems yet 5 minutes later I tried to access the server manager and got the "unable to find server-2" next time I try it connects ok

I'm hoping that using the rtl8139 will do the trick. I'll report back and let you know the outcome

[anneb]

Sorry to say it has made no difference. It works one minute and not the next.

I have changed nic's from gigabit down to 100mb and even an old 10mb spare rtl8139
The problem remains the same. Everything works fine then a couple of minutes later it doesn't.

I have installed SME on different pc's with different motherboards, cpu's and nic's and the problem appears on all of them.
pc's are connected by a Netgear gigabit switch and they all communicate perfectly apart from this intermittant fault on the SME server

[idp_qbn]

Hello anneb,

This may be a networking settings problem rather than an SME problem.

I had something similar with a Win7 PC which was solved when I thoroughly checked the IP settings on the PC. It had once been used with a fixed IP on a 192.168.1.x network. I had changed everything to reflect the new network - almost. When changing the IPv4 settings, there is an "Advanced" tab. Opening that revealed it was still set to go to 192.168.1.1 for DNS (instead of 192.168.0.1 - the new network).

As it was, connection would work for a while, then be lost, then be easily re-established. Since fixing that error, connection has been rock-solid.

By the way, if you need fixed IP addresses allocated by SME through DHCP, you do this in the "Server-Manager/hostnames and addresses" panel. You need to know the MAC address of the PC, then you can add  the MAC address and the IP you want it to have. After that, you can set the PCs to get an IP address from DHCP.

Another possibility is the Ethernet cable from you Netgear box to the Server - try another cable (or another port on the Netgear) if the problem persists.

Good luck with your problem
Ian

[p-jones]

One commonality in all this that you dont seem to have substituted is the Gigabit Switch !
Have you got a basic, el cheapo 100MHz switch you can try ?

[anneb]

The netgear switch could be the problem, I have had it running all morning on a Belkin 100mb switch and up to now it has remain online.
If that is the cause then it sorts out the problem when I come to set up the SME server for the family history society (stay away from Netgear switches) but it still leaves me with the problem at home.

I need the gigabit switches to transfer media files between pc's and Television and I don't really want buy new switches.
New problems to keep me awake at night

[anneb]

I think I can say that the Netgear gigabit switch is the problem, I have had the server running all day transferring large ammounts of data back and forward without any problems.

Thanks for your help and suggestions I should imagine I'll have lots more queries

[Stefano]

IIRC w7 has some "automagical" features about nic optimization/ configuration.. no need to say that most of the time they are evil

try to search google, the problem is with w7, not SME

HTH

[anneb]

After 24 hours I'm starting to have problems again. One attempt from a win 2008 server (which worked perfectly up to now) gives me an error message "the remote device refused to accept the connection"

I'm rapidly moving out of my comfort zone

In the time it took to write this email I can now connect to the SME server again

I have changed the switches to cheapo 100mb switches and network cards. Everything ran perfectly for hours but the same problems have re appeared

[anneb]

>>IIRC w7 has some "automagical" features about nic optimization/ configuration.. no need to say that most of the time they are evil

try to search google, the problem is with w7, not SME<<

I have googled but cannot find anything to suggest a solution to the random problem I have. It is only SME server I have problems with, my network "sees" a win 2008 server every time and transfers files without problems.

With SME a lot of the time it works without problems then the rest of the network will throw up errors "network path not found" "remote device would not allow connection".

I have installed SME on different computers and used different nic's. I have changed the network switches from Netgear to Tenda  switches but none of the changes has made any difference at all.

If the problem was with the Win 7 and server 2008 settings I would have thought the problem would have been constant but I can go hours when everything works ok then hours when the SME server is in and out of the network.

I cannot find the answer and much as I'd love to set SME up as a production server I can't take that chance.

Many thanks for the replies but I think i'm going to have to retire beaten

[Stefano]

search for "windows 7 nic autotuning"

HTH

[idp_qbn]

Hi Anneb
Have you seen this happen when you connect a WinXP box, or a Linux box?
Try to add one of those to your network and see if the problem exists for that one at the same time as the Win7 boxes. That would prove or eliminate Win7 as a culprit.

I still think you have a network config issue rather than an OS one, though Stefano's advice re"autotuning" is definitely worth looking into.

Is there any chance you have a box configured with the same IP as the SME, especially one that for some reason connects then disconnects - I can't think of anything like that but stranger beasts have walked the face of the earth....

Good luck
Ian

[anneb]

I'm assuming you mean disable Win 7 autotuning, if so it makes no difference I still get the random "server not found" messages
As for XP I have a laptop with XP installed,, I had forgotten about it but after I got all the virus definations updated and dusted the cobwebs off I must admit that connecting to the SME server has been ok. It hasn't been running long though so I may be being a little optomistic.
I does seem to connect to the server faster than the Win 7 and 2008 server.

I have checked ip addresses and no duplicates

[anneb]

I'm getting similar error messages using XP although if I keep trying it will eventually connect to the server