Seemingly random disconnects of mapped drives
My client has a server 2008R2 server and about a dozen workstations. A couple of months ago they started getting messages saying that one or another mapped drives had been disconnected. Clicking on the drive in explorer does not reconnect it but rebooting will and it will generally stay connected the rest of the day. I have changed the network connection time out settings in the registry on both the server and the workstations. This has seemed to work on a couple of the workstations but the same changes have had no effect on others. The users get their mapped drives from a login script and I have reviewed this script and find nothing unusual. I added the /persistent tag to the mapping lines just in case but that also had no effect. I don't know of any changes made to the system just before this started happening other than possibly regular monthly updates. The issue seems to be somewhat random in that it doesn't always happen every day to the same PC or at the same time. I did have one PC however that seemed to do it about 9am every morning. A search of the logs did not reveal anything happening at that time.
ASKER
Well, the persistent drives switch was not in there initially. I added it later hoping it may help resolve this issue. The login script does use the lines to delete the mapped drives first as you have recommended. I have disabled the server login script and tried using the same commands in a start up script on a test PC. Didn't seem to make any difference at all. Went back to the login scripts on the server. Today I had someone suggest checking all the workstation NIC settings and turn off and Green or Energy Efficient settings as well as un-checking the "Allow this device to be turned off" setting. Sure enough most of these settings were active. We'll see what happens tomorrow. Thanks for the input.
Power savings on Network Cards normally cause complete disconnection, not just server mappings. And normally it affects wireless, not usually wired. That is why I did not mention it.
I keep my Wireless ThinkPad set to Maximum Performance on all settings. I can keep drives mapped forever.
Client machines are normally wired and (with no attention to setting) their folders never become unmapped.
Let us know what you find.
I keep my Wireless ThinkPad set to Maximum Performance on all settings. I can keep drives mapped forever.
Client machines are normally wired and (with no attention to setting) their folders never become unmapped.
Let us know what you find.
ASKER
Yep. Never paid much attention to these settings before but I'm kinda grasping at straws here for lack of any other cause.
If the issue is not related to the PC drive mapping setup (you say no), and you have check NIC power settings, and then there are multiple machines, then consider your network itself.
Check wiring in the route to the problem computers, check switches, try a problem computer on a different switch, and look at wall outlets/patch panels.
Check wiring in the route to the problem computers, check switches, try a problem computer on a different switch, and look at wall outlets/patch panels.
ASKER
Just replaced both switches with new Gigabit switches a couple of weeks ago. Have also reviewed DNS and DHCP settings to look for issues there. All look normal. All of the PC are slightly different having been purchased individually all at different times. Only thing they have in common is Windows 7 Professional. Server is Server 2008 R2 and has been up and running without issue for at least two years. Only other recent change was from AT&T to Comcast as Internet provider but these issues preceded that change. Internet connectivity does not seem affected. It should be noted that we have an XP machine in an adjoining suite that is used to remote into. It sits behind an FE switch and seems to have no trouble at all.
I have clients with Windows 7 Pro and Server 2008 and Server 2012 and connections stay up permanently.
Perhaps run Resource Monitor (Admin Tools), click on the Network tab and let it run. See if there is a network event when the connection drops.
When the connection drops, it is just for the server? or for Internet as well?
On one problem machine, try TCP/IP Reset and DNS Flush.
Open cmd.exe with Run as Administrator
Then netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
Also, ipconfig /flushdns followed by net stop dnscache followed by net start dnscache
Then restart the computer
See if this helps.
Perhaps run Resource Monitor (Admin Tools), click on the Network tab and let it run. See if there is a network event when the connection drops.
When the connection drops, it is just for the server? or for Internet as well?
On one problem machine, try TCP/IP Reset and DNS Flush.
Open cmd.exe with Run as Administrator
Then netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
Also, ipconfig /flushdns followed by net stop dnscache followed by net start dnscache
Then restart the computer
See if this helps.
ASKER
Ok. Will try those. Internet connectivity does not drop. Only mapped drives disconnect and show a red x. Will not reconnect by double-clicking. Have to reboot.
There may be something wrong in the server setup if folders drop, internet is OK and you cannot find issues with the local machine software.
ASKER
I've seen some things while searching online suggesting a possibly intermittent NIC but I can't find anything in Event Logs indicating that. It would explain the dropped mappings but if they were just very short interruptions I would think that the mappings would reconnect... but maybe not. The NIC settings have not made a difference as of today. I did the flush dns sequence on one PC today. We'll see if that does anything.
Please let us know.
It is not a Windows 7 issue in the sense of some operating system bug. Windows 7 Pro properly set up on a good network sharing folders on a properly set up Server 2008 (or 2003 or 2012) will keep the folders mapped forever. I have done this.
Any folder will show a Red X if unused, but simply clicking on it will bring it back. Windows 7 and Windows 8 and Windows Vista have all done this. It is not a problem - just the way it is.
So let us know about your troubleshooting.
It is not a Windows 7 issue in the sense of some operating system bug. Windows 7 Pro properly set up on a good network sharing folders on a properly set up Server 2008 (or 2003 or 2012) will keep the folders mapped forever. I have done this.
Any folder will show a Red X if unused, but simply clicking on it will bring it back. Windows 7 and Windows 8 and Windows Vista have all done this. It is not a problem - just the way it is.
So let us know about your troubleshooting.
ASKER
OK. Yes, this server worked just fine for over two years without any of these issues. I'm scouring Event logs to find anything that looks wrong and resolve it. I did find a small NetBIOS issue that I resolved with NBStat but I don't think it was related to this. It was something that came up a completely different times. Also found a NETLOGON error about another DC logging in on a different domain. I have to look at their old 2K3 server and see if this is the cause. It is only being used as a backup DC and for backup space now. Also not happening often enough or at the correct times. Also running updates and rebooting the server tonight. Have also disabled Carbonite to see if it is interfering as it seems to have a connection issue now. May uninstall it and see what happens.
ASKER
OK... the logs are showing this netlogon error:
This computer was not able to set up a secure session with a domain controller in domain NEWPACESOLANO due to the following:
There are currently no logon servers available to service the logon request.
This may lead to authentication problems. Make sure that this computer is connected to the network. If the problem persists, please contact your domain administrator.
There is no such thing as domain NEWPACESOLANO and I don't know where this would have come from. The is pace.local. I do have a BDC on a server2003 box but it is not on that domain either. Any idea where this would come from? I don't even know if this would be related to the other problem.
This computer was not able to set up a secure session with a domain controller in domain NEWPACESOLANO due to the following:
There are currently no logon servers available to service the logon request.
This may lead to authentication problems. Make sure that this computer is connected to the network. If the problem persists, please contact your domain administrator.
There is no such thing as domain NEWPACESOLANO and I don't know where this would have come from. The is pace.local. I do have a BDC on a server2003 box but it is not on that domain either. Any idea where this would come from? I don't even know if this would be related to the other problem.
New information.
For one problem computer, remove it from the domain and restart it (off domain).
Go to Control Panel, Credential Manager and remove any references to any domains.
Now restart again, and re-join it your domain. Test to see if this fixes the issue.
For one problem computer, remove it from the domain and restart it (off domain).
Go to Control Panel, Credential Manager and remove any references to any domains.
Now restart again, and re-join it your domain. Test to see if this fixes the issue.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
We keep getting new information here. The issue is (almost) for sure not a Windows or Server issue.
Is FoxPro not quite old? I think it is. And even so, fatal errors could be responsible for the disconnection.
Not logging off with Databases running is also an issue. Are you trying to back up the server over top of errors and logged in users?
I changed the login timeouts on both the server and the workstations and it seems the login issues have gone away as of yesterday. <--- This ties into what I wrote about.
The issue appears to be more database and user problems than any endemic Windows or Server problem.
Is FoxPro not quite old? I think it is. And even so, fatal errors could be responsible for the disconnection.
Not logging off with Databases running is also an issue. Are you trying to back up the server over top of errors and logged in users?
I changed the login timeouts on both the server and the workstations and it seems the login issues have gone away as of yesterday. <--- This ties into what I wrote about.
The issue appears to be more database and user problems than any endemic Windows or Server problem.
ASKER
I agree. The logout issue seems to be solved so I will consider this issue resolved.
This question has been classified as abandoned and is closed as part of the Cleanup Program. See the recommendation for more details.
Change the script to:
NET USE X: /Delete
NET USE X: \\server\folder
Do this for all drives. Remove the "persistent" tag.
Now on a problem workstation, delete all drives (NET USE T: /Delete)
Restart the workstation and test. If the problem is persistent drives, this should solve it.