Intermittently Disconnected From Network - Can Not Browse Network

[Guest]

I am running a Windows 2003 Enterprise server as a domain controller on a
network that also serves as an Exchange server, DNS server, DHCP server, file
server, etc. I have been running this network with 6 XP Pro machines and 1
Linux server connected to it successfully for 2 years without any problems
until today.

On an intermittent basis (using 1 XP machine as an example) I will loose
network browsing capabilities (ability to see file server shares). However,
although I am disconnected from seeing file shares, I can still surf the
Internet, connect to Exchange via Outlook, ping the server by name or IP
address and remote (terminal services) into the server. I can then force the
ability to browse the network again by either releasing/renewing my IP
address or going through the Offline Files Status dialog box (I use the
offline files functionality). But then I will loose connection minutes later
(in some cases longer). When I am able to hold on to a network browsing
connection for longer periods, I notice that when I start certain
applications I am disconnected from being able to browse the network. One is
running Real Player and listening to an Internet radio station. Another is
starting up Microsoft Money and attempting to open a Money file that is on
the server (located on a file share). Is this a bandwidth issue?? Does a
Windows network require minimum bandwidth for network browsing to operate
properly??

When I go to My Network Places and drill down to the domain to view the
server I get the following message when trying to view file shares beneath it:

[Domain name] is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this
network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you
have access permissions.

The network path was not found.

This seems odd since I have domain administrator rights and should be able
to get to anything.

1 Windows 2003 Enterprise Server
1 Red Hat Linux Server
6 XP Professional PCs
1 Cable modem
1 Linksys Wireless Router
1 Linksys Switch
1 NetGear Switch
1 Print server

Help!!!!

 

[Guest]

What if any, firewall is involved?

 

[Guest]

I run Kerio's personal firewall (and have been for a year) on the XP
workstation and have temporarily disabled that. I have also permanently
disabled Windows firewall on the workstation and the server. Doing these
things has been to no avail.

Interesting that when I start Real Player (as noted in my first post) to
listen to an Internet radio station, I lose network browsing capability but
then moments later network browsing comes back on line automatically. In
instances where it does not, because I use the offline files capability, I
merely click on the offline files notification in the system tray -- and a
few more steps therein -- and I am reconnected.

Could this be a network latency (but I have not changed anything in my
physical layout) or DNS issue??

What if any, firewall is involved?
--
MCP (2K) Net+, A+
Server-Networking MVP

I am running a Windows 2003 Enterprise server as a domain controller on a
network that also serves as an Exchange server, DNS server, DHCP server, file
server, etc. I have been running this network with 6 XP Pro machines and 1
Linux server connected to it successfully for 2 years without any problems
until today.

On an intermittent basis (using 1 XP machine as an example) I will loose
network browsing capabilities (ability to see file server shares). However,
although I am disconnected from seeing file shares, I can still surf the
Internet, connect to Exchange via Outlook, ping the server by name or IP
address and remote (terminal services) into the server. I can then force the
ability to browse the network again by either releasing/renewing my IP
address or going through the Offline Files Status dialog box (I use the
offline files functionality). But then I will loose connection minutes later
(in some cases longer). When I am able to hold on to a network browsing
connection for longer periods, I notice that when I start certain
applications I am disconnected from being able to browse the network. One is
running Real Player and listening to an Internet radio station. Another is
starting up Microsoft Money and attempting to open a Money file that is on
the server (located on a file share). Is this a bandwidth issue?? Does a
Windows network require minimum bandwidth for network browsing to operate
properly??

When I go to My Network Places and drill down to the domain to view the
server I get the following message when trying to view file shares beneath it:

[Domain name] is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this
network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you
have access permissions.

The network path was not found.

This seems odd since I have domain administrator rights and should be able
to get to anything.

1 Windows 2003 Enterprise Server
1 Red Hat Linux Server
6 XP Professional PCs
1 Cable modem
1 Linksys Wireless Router
1 Linksys Switch
1 NetGear Switch
1 Print server

Help!!!!