SBS 2003 Keeps Loosing Internet Connection!

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one other thing: If you are using ISA - when you have this issue, are *BOTH* the clients and the server unable to get to the internet?

ASKER

Justin,

Yes I'm using the Windows firewall not a 3rd party one.

Yes All clients and the server can not acces the internet. I know the T1 is fine as I have connected to it by passing the SBS server.

I'll install the SP's or at least begin the process and keep an eye out for your next reply.

Thanks! Mike

Mike:

Do install those SPs, and take screenshots (ALT + PRNT SCRN) of any error messages or pop ups you are not sure about for future reference.

Also- things to look out for/general advice:

- Verify all cable connections (actually replace all concerned ethernet cables: server -> router, server -> switch... with BRAND NEW ones of high quality)
- Check event viewer logs (System & Application) for any error messages or warning that (1) look like they directly apply (2) you are not sure about
- Update ALL network card drivers on the server to the newest supported levels offered from the OEMs (Dell, HP) support download site
- If they are PCI network cards, try them in different slotss
- Restart the Router (first) and then the switch and server just to rule that out

**IF you go down again, from a command line on the server, PING the following: (example: ping 192.168.1.1)

- default gateway (which should be the ROUTER ip address)
- something inside the network (PC, print server, etc)
- 127.0.0.1
- localhost
- IP address of each network card on the server
--then report back whether each of these pings were 'timed out' or if you receive a reply

Thanks! Justin

ASKER

Justin,

thank you for the advice! I'll be busy today and this evening doing all of this and I'll give you my results as soon as I find out!

Thanks,
Mike

doing all of this will either solve your problem, or rule out 99% of the things that can be causing it - and narrow down what the cause is.

Good luck - Justin

ASKER

Justin,

Does the link above work for SBS 2003 Premium Edition?

Looks like I might need to order the CD for SP1 on the Premium Edition.

can you confirm this for me? I do not want to in stall the wrong update!

Mike - yes it does work:

> "Important If you are running the Premium Edition of Windows SBS 2003, you can still download the Standard Edition of the service pack. However, you must also > > order the CD package to install the additional service packs necessary for the Premium Edition."

(quoted from this site: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B6F8A4C0-B707-4161-ADEB-44F1B756119F&displaylang=en)

I would go ahead and install, and order the CD as well.

SOLUTION

rindi

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I would NOT install Exchange SP2 until you get your system stabilized. It's not required to do so.

Also... installing SBS SP1 (http://sbsurl.com/sp1) to a misconfigured system will not fix it and can only make it worse. You need to make sure the configuration is right before installing SP1.

Please post an IPCONFIG /ALL to review.

Jeff
TechSoEasy

ASKER

Here is the IPCONFIG /ALL

I do have all the updates downloaded just waiting for the end of the day to do my work.

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : dtsserver01

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : DTS.local

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : DTS.local

PPP adapter RAS Server (Dial In) Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.19

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Ethernet adapter Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HP NC7781 Gigabit Server Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-7F-B2-E4-85

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 216.133.82.66

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.224

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 216.133.82.65

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.2

NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Ethernet adapter Server Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HP NC7781 Gigabit Server Adapter #2

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-7F-B2-E4-84

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.2

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.2

Primary WINS Server . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.2

Mike-

can you please give us a description of your network layout - what is connected to what?

- Router connected directly to server NIC #1
- Server NIC #2 connected to network switch

Is there anything between the WAN router and the server (another switch, hub, etc?)

Thanks,

justin

Thanks, can you also post one from a workstation?

Jeff
TechSoEasy

ASKER

Netopia T1 Router
to
Linksys Etherfast 4121 24-port 10/100 Switch
to
Nic #1

Nic#2
to
D-link DES-3250TG 10/100/1000 Switch

Also, What would the iLo ethernet port on the server be?
As i have a link from the Linksys switch to that as well.

Hope this helps!

ASKER

Here is a Client IPCONFIG /ALL

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : ITACER01

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : DTS.local

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : DTS.local

DTS.local

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : DTS.local

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-9F-35-56-FC

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.20

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.2

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.2

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.2

Primary WINS Server . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.2

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, June 06, 2006 9:31:15 AM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, June 14, 2006 9:31:15 AM

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-F1-06-37-62

So, are you actually losing your internet connection at the server? Or from the workstations? Do you know?

Jeff
TechSoEasy

ASKER

Here is what I know for sure!

When we loose the internet the clients & the server can not access it through IE explorer.

SOLUTION

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ASKER

Here is what I have connected to the Linksys switch.

Wireless Access Point
Wireless Router
Nic #1
Work Station

I know we Run Wireless Linksys Web Cameras so that is part of the config.
Wireless Router is so we can connect wireless if needed
Work Station does not need network access just internet

ASKER

Do I need to change the MTU setting through registry edits?
I have never done this before.

I really want to make sure my system is set up the best way possible!

Thanks!
Mike

Mike -

I think the key is to confirm the hardware & cable connections before you do anything.

Have you followed my suggestions way above re: cables, drivers, PCI cards, etc? Those are very good possibilities- please do this or confirm you did already.

I would also add to that mix the following possibilities:

(1) Upstream DNS issue - ie: the DNS servers that your SERVER looks to (usually the ISP's DNS servers)
- You should confirm that the DNS servers listed in the FORWARDERS tab of your server's DNS applet (Administrative Tools -> DNS) are valid (call your ISP and ask)
- You should PING each server and see what the response time is - put the one with the lowest response time FIRST in the list
- Use NSHOOKUP (http://www.netstrap.com/residns/nshookup.htm) to verify the DNS servers actually resolve names (yahoo.com, 'A RECORD')

(2) Linksys Switch Faulty - or some link type problem (auto negotiate issue, conflict, etc)
- Is there another switch you can put in place here temporarily- just to confirm that the linksys is NOT the issue?

Keep us updated!

Justin

rindi

What's this?

>> PPP adapter RAS Server (Dial In) Interface:

>> Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

>> Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface

>> Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00

>> DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

>> IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.19

>> Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255

>> Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

>> NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

It seems to be in the same lan segment as the LAN itself. This shouldn't be... try another segment like 192.168.1.xx. And what type of interface is this?

ASKER

I'm tired I'll read in the daytime i have been up all day up to now so I need to go sleep for a bit. I'm not sure what you are saying rindi. But I am tired.

Here's how to change the MTU: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826159

I would also agree with Justin that you should double-check all hardware connections/cables. The Netopia Router should have some kind of logging feature which may provide you with clues as to what's happening as well.

rindi: That is a NORMAL RRAS VPN interface and is configured correctly (it's automatically configured by the Remote Access Configuration Wizard).

Jeff
TechSoEasy

ASKER

Well,

Here is all that I did last night!

All drivers are updated.
All patch cords were checked.(Finally got my wiring cleaned up too!!!!)
Installed all required files for SP1 upgrade.
Made sure the proper services were starting up automatically like sharepoint.
Netopia Router Logs were clean according to ISP as it is managed by them.

So fasr so good! I'll wait a little while to let people get here and start logging in. As it seems to happen once people start showing up. So I suppose we will put it to the test in about 1 hour. I will come back later on this morning or afternoon with an update on what is going on.

BTW do I still need to change the MTU or would it be a good idea?

Thanks a bunch guys!
Mike

Couldn't hurt to check the MTU settings.

Jeff
TechSoEasy

MTU not a bad idea.

Mike - Keep in mind *IF* you do go down, to do the following:

(1) PING tests I outlined above
(2) Check event viewer logs and router logs

(maybe print the ping tests out in case you are down)

/Justin

Mike - one other thing:

- Please verify your upstream DNS servers as I asked above

thanks

ASKER

Thanks everyone! We have been up all morning so far! I have checked everything you guys have suggested. The only thing I need to do is reboot the server tonight for the MTU settings to take effect from the registry entries. I want to leave this open through the weekend just in case. If everything is steady I will award points on Monday and I'll probably up the points and split as earned for all of you.

Thanks again!
Mike