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gopher_49

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Can't access shares on SBS2003

Yesterday we where deleting a series of files out of a persons private shared folder.  These where documents and systems backups of their own laptop...  They where using up all of the storage on the server's D driver.  When deleting these files the connection to the server dropped.  From then on we could not access the server but the server itself seemed fine.  Then the other computer they could not access the server.  Thought it was a NIC issue.  Replaced the NIC.  Rebooted the server and then users could connect again just fine.. Then...  We copied a bunch of files to the server and once again we can't access the server.  It's like whenever we send a lot of traffic to the server it drops.. I'm beginning to think it's the switch....  Currently we cannot access the server shares but we can ping it...  

Do you think we need to replace the switch?  It's not managable so I can't log into it and see stats.
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How many computers on this lan? Are all connected to same switch? You claim you can ping the server then I would say your switch is ok.
try ping serverip -t from computer let it run awhile see if you have any time outs
do the same on the server  ping computerip -t

can you browse the network?
If so do you see the server from the computer?
If can you open the server and see any shares that way?
Virus or security software on the server?
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gopher_49

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No security on the server.  Now, if I reboot the server it comes back up and everything works.  But.. Every time I send a ton of traffic and/or transactions like copying hundreds of files it happens again.  Now, the symptoms used to occur when the second switch was introduced.  I removed it and later this evening I'll try another copy job and see if it drops again.  

See,

The laptop that was deleting the files and copying the files was plugged into a LinkSys switch.  The LinkSys switch was had another desktop plugged into it.  It was also plugged into the D-Link switch.  I now removed the LinkSys and only have the laptop plugged directly into the D-Link.  After doing this I rebooted the server and it's shares where visible.  After hours I plan to try the copy job since the LinkSys is removed and see if the same symptoms occur.

Keep in mind that once the other computers cannot see the server I'm still able to remote into the server via LogMeIn.  So, the server is able to talk through the D-Link to the firewall and then to the route just fine.  Also, even when the laptop and workstation can't see the server I'm able to access them from the server to their admin shares.  Really odd.  

No security software at all on the server.
what are you using to copy the files with?

We use teracopy works great.

check it out http://download.cnet.com/TeraCopy/3000-2248_4-10671835.html

try the ping command above lets see what happens
I'm just using explorer.. Regardless of what application used to copy files the issue is that heavy traffic makes the server shares not show up...  Everything else about the network seems fine.
Ok lets look at this

How many computers and servers are on this lan?
How many switches you have?
Are the switches managed?
What is the speed of the lan?  10mb 100mb 1000mb
What type of cabling do you use? cat ?
Are the cable runs "Home Runs" or do you have wall jacks
Do you have any hubs on the lan?
3 computers and 1 server
2 switches (removed one and plan to try to break it again this evening)
no managed switches
100mbps LAN
CAT 5e
home runs to switch
no hubs
why 2 switches?

For that many computers/servers one switch is all you need.

What type of router do you have?

on the server do net share are they all there? post results

on computers do a net view


then on computer do a net view \\server  post results
I just noticed something.. The server can't access it's own shares by it's own IP address or DNS record...  If I browse to the local drive it works but when referencing UNC it doesn't...  When on the server and browse to \\servername\ or \\IPADDRESS and try to click on a  share it just hangs.  What does that tell us?
On the server type net share post results

from a computer type net share \\servername post results
Server is rebooting.. It seems this is most likely due to a corrupt install of KB968389.  I uninstalled and rebooting now...  When you google 'SBS2003 KB968389' you'll see many results about this.. I just now realized today that even the server can't see it's own shares..  That prompted me to search different symptoms and came back with the issue with KB968389.
Great after it restarts do the commands above and post results lets check them out
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This fixed the issue.