Mark Preston
asked on
Windows Home Server 'not connected'
I have a Windows home server that has just started throwing errors.
A couple of days ago it put up a 'health' warning that a PC on my network had a backup failure. I tried a 'backup now' and that failed too (couldn't access a file on the server) I tried a power down and that made no difference. I removed some old backups - that made no difference. I then tried on another PC and that couldn't connect at all to the console at all - although you could still see the file structure in explorer. Any attempt to run a backup either resulted in 'couldn't access a file on the server' or 'backup process not running'. I restarted the backup process, but it came back a while later with backup process not running.
Tonight I come to it to have a look and take notes on the errors and it won't let me in to the console from any PC and I can't see the mapped drives on any PC either.
A couple of days ago it put up a 'health' warning that a PC on my network had a backup failure. I tried a 'backup now' and that failed too (couldn't access a file on the server) I tried a power down and that made no difference. I removed some old backups - that made no difference. I then tried on another PC and that couldn't connect at all to the console at all - although you could still see the file structure in explorer. Any attempt to run a backup either resulted in 'couldn't access a file on the server' or 'backup process not running'. I restarted the backup process, but it came back a while later with backup process not running.
Tonight I come to it to have a look and take notes on the errors and it won't let me in to the console from any PC and I can't see the mapped drives on any PC either.
R. Andrew Koffron
did you restart the home server, completely power down and start her back up after 30 seconds or so
ASKER
Yes I did, but things are going from bad to worse as I type. Just to be on the safe side I powered it down (Hp EX 475 - I should have said that earlier), pulled the plug, waited 30 seconds and powered it back up. Now it doesn't even put the four HDD lights on.
I'm feeling nervous!
I'm feeling nervous!
backup now :o
ASKER
15 minutes later is still sitting there with none of the HDD lights on and none of the PCs can connect.
what's the drive configuration?
ASKER
4 x 500G with file duplication turned on.
your data is probably fine at least.
ASKER
I have 4 complete backups of differing ages. Two from last night and two from a while ago - so I'm not overly worried about that. I just want to get the thing back up and running. Now that it's not even booting up properly I presume that it's looking likely that it's the software on the server?
Still nervous!!
Still nervous!!
if you've got 4 backups....
it's sounding more and more like a hardware failure. still have warranty on it?
it's sounding more and more like a hardware failure. still have warranty on it?
ASKER
No.. out of warranty - worked great for a couple of years without problems - now this.......... don't want to go pi**ing about doing stuff that might make it worse.
I think the server software is fried and I need to re-install WHS (but I'm not an expert!!) on the server but will do nothing without confirmation,
Your assistance is much appreciated!!
I think the server software is fried and I need to re-install WHS (but I'm not an expert!!) on the server but will do nothing without confirmation,
Your assistance is much appreciated!!
Sounds more like Hardware than software. to me. but really if your at the format and re-install point. and have good backups. it's a big ugly paperweight now. what do you have to loose? roll up your sleeves and grab the CDs and manual. it can't be that hard to do it's a "home" server :)
ASKER
Got the recovery disc, got the manual, Initial attempts 'cannot find server' - am experimenting with router and firewall settings as per the manual, have set rules opening TCP port 8192 and UDP port 8192 on both the router and the firewall of the PC that I'm attempting to recover from - so far nothing. Will have another go tomorrow.........
I love 'solutions'.... - back up all of your data on a redundant array - back up all your PCs on your network to the server - back up your server to an external raid array (that's the next thing to fix as that's blown too) and then it all falls over (which it will, that's eventually what will happen as nothing is 100%) but recovery is supposed to be easy and not fraught with doubt. GRRRRRGH. What do you have to do to make sure that your 'digital life' is safe?
I love 'solutions'.... - back up all of your data on a redundant array - back up all your PCs on your network to the server - back up your server to an external raid array (that's the next thing to fix as that's blown too) and then it all falls over (which it will, that's eventually what will happen as nothing is 100%) but recovery is supposed to be easy and not fraught with doubt. GRRRRRGH. What do you have to do to make sure that your 'digital life' is safe?
ASKER
Followed the instructions for server recovery and whatever I do it returns 'cannot find server'.
I have added two rules to the firewall as per the screen grab.
Could my router be blocking these ports? I thought that within my network the router wouldn't block anything.
The server is seeing the network as the connection LEDs on the back are alight and so its the 'network' light on the front.
firewall.jpg
I have added two rules to the firewall as per the screen grab.
Could my router be blocking these ports? I thought that within my network the router wouldn't block anything.
The server is seeing the network as the connection LEDs on the back are alight and so its the 'network' light on the front.
firewall.jpg
It really sounds to me like your hardware has gone bad.
Is the box giving you the blinky "ready to install" signal? I'll go look up the specifics again and post them in a couple.
your router could be blocking the ports but that's unlikely, as routers aren't designed to block internal traffic really.
I'd suggest putting it on a small switch, and using a p.c. without any firewall software at all. before giving up.
If your anywhere near charleston, sc, you can run it over to my place and we'll see :)
Is the box giving you the blinky "ready to install" signal? I'll go look up the specifics again and post them in a couple.
your router could be blocking the ports but that's unlikely, as routers aren't designed to block internal traffic really.
I'd suggest putting it on a small switch, and using a p.c. without any firewall software at all. before giving up.
If your anywhere near charleston, sc, you can run it over to my place and we'll see :)
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01213383&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=3548164
I'm assuming you already have this. but just incase it's got better info. or another step.
I'm assuming you already have this. but just incase it's got better info. or another step.
ASKER
That's the instructions that I have been following - and it doesn't work.
I unplugged the interner from my router and turned the firewall off on the PC that I'm using to try and access the Server. Same result - 'server not found'
I then thought about 'pinging' various devices - got on to my router table - and now this is wher it gets a bit less than 100% as although I have fixed IP for all devices (see attached)
Downloaded something called OpManage which is a network managemant tool
server.jpg
I unplugged the interner from my router and turned the firewall off on the PC that I'm using to try and access the Server. Same result - 'server not found'
I then thought about 'pinging' various devices - got on to my router table - and now this is wher it gets a bit less than 100% as although I have fixed IP for all devices (see attached)
Downloaded something called OpManage which is a network managemant tool
server.jpg
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ASKER
Ahh something happened in the middle of that and it got posted before I was finished...
The router tabel isn't 100%, things seem to be still conected but sometimes on a different IP address, for instance my phone is according to the list on x.x.x.9 where it's actually on x.x.x.18. Don't know why that is.
Soooooo. I downloaded something called OpManager which is a network discovery program - it finds all the expected stuff on my network - but nothing that I can identify as the server - hence adding credance to your suggestion that it's hardware - but what if the address has got corrupt and is outside the range?
I'm just finding it a bit difficult to swallow that I have (?) to buy a new server... if I DO have to then is it just a case of sliding the drives (all 4) out of the one that I have into the new one and all should spring back to life? Too many questions.....
The router tabel isn't 100%, things seem to be still conected but sometimes on a different IP address, for instance my phone is according to the list on x.x.x.9 where it's actually on x.x.x.18. Don't know why that is.
Soooooo. I downloaded something called OpManager which is a network discovery program - it finds all the expected stuff on my network - but nothing that I can identify as the server - hence adding credance to your suggestion that it's hardware - but what if the address has got corrupt and is outside the range?
I'm just finding it a bit difficult to swallow that I have (?) to buy a new server... if I DO have to then is it just a case of sliding the drives (all 4) out of the one that I have into the new one and all should spring back to life? Too many questions.....
ASKER
I thought that you'd say that............ it's just the sort of peace-meal way that it failed that made me doubt hardware - failure to backup, backup process failed etc. but still able to access mapped drives. Then a hard re-boot and total failure - sort of sniffed of software corruption...........Junk is junk I guess whatever the cause.
ASKER
I got this off
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=267
"After reading the thread here about Samsung Spinpoint discs (http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/ ... .php?t=148), I thought that this problem may actually relate to reboots... and it did for me.
As in the referenced post, I shut the server down, removed power, took out the system drive and pushed it back in, and hey presto, working again.
This is a major gap in the HP support materials.
Hope this works for others
I've got four blue HDD lights and it seems to be up. I'm going to post this, reboot, install the connector again - go for a very large drink and look at things again am tomorrow. Jees re-seat the HDD? how fragile our world has become.............
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=267
"After reading the thread here about Samsung Spinpoint discs (http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/ ... .php?t=148), I thought that this problem may actually relate to reboots... and it did for me.
As in the referenced post, I shut the server down, removed power, took out the system drive and pushed it back in, and hey presto, working again.
This is a major gap in the HP support materials.
Hope this works for others
I've got four blue HDD lights and it seems to be up. I'm going to post this, reboot, install the connector again - go for a very large drink and look at things again am tomorrow. Jees re-seat the HDD? how fragile our world has become.............
ASKER
I get ping response from 192.168.1.202 but no connect.
Too late - alarm clock calling...................
Too late - alarm clock calling...................
ASKER
I can now sporadically get to the server - on some PCs get through the connector and/or get to the console/file structure - but not reliably - so I think that this phase is complete. The Server is alive and the file system looks OK. I'll search the knowlege base and maybe post another question depending on what I find.
Thanks
Mark
Thanks
Mark
ASKER
Well not complete and not 100% but it was great to have somebody 'with me' going through the fault finding making me feel a lot more comfortable that I wasn't walking in circles in the desert. Good solid advice throughout.
Thanks
Mark
Thanks
Mark