Internet not working

[Joe]

Hi,

i have had this problem on a server for quite some time. i am not exactly
sure when it started because its just a webserver that works in conjunction
with a SQL database server that houses our Agency Managment System. here is
the problem... When launching IE 6 i just get a blank white page until after
about 2 mins it gives the page cant be displayed message. now here is the
fun part. i am able to ping the server, it is doing its job with the other
server and the program that it runs is running fine for 180 users. i am able
to browse our local intranet. I am able to ping websites (ie. google.com,
microsoft.com, etc...) I am not able to get to those sites by IP address i
get the same Page cant be displayed. there is no firewall on this server, no
Norton or AVG or anything. DNS is set up correct on the server its pointing
to the right gateway. I've tried uninstalling TCP/IP and reinstalling it and
that didnt change anything. i find it very hard to belive that it is spyware
or a virus because nobody ever uses the server. it is part of a domain and i
forgot to mention its server 2003. i am fresh out of ideas and would hate to
have to reformat the machine because as i said it is a piece of our Agency
Management System, so if that server goes down the program goes down with it.
any help would be appreciated!!
Thanks
Joe

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Hi,

i have had this problem on a server for quite some time. i am not exactly
sure when it started because its just a webserver that works in conjunction
with a SQL database server that houses our Agency Managment System. here is
the problem...

When launching IE 6 i just get a blank white page until after
about 2 mins it gives the page cant be displayed message.

Don't just consider the window page display area when considering your symptoms.
E.g. does the Title bar change in any relevant way? the Address bar? Status bar?

now here is the fun part. i am able to ping the server, it is doing its job with the other
server and the program that it runs is running fine for 180 users.

All that is telling you as far as IE is concerned is that you have a way of resolving
the host name that you are using into an IP address. It says nothing about whether
there is an HTTP server at that address and it says nothing about your connectivity
to any other servers that that host might want to redirect you to.

i am able
to browse our local intranet. I am able to ping websites (ie. google.com,
microsoft.com, etc...) I am not able to get to those sites by IP address i
get the same Page cant be displayed. there is no firewall on this server, no
Norton or AVG or anything.

I hope that there is at least the Windows firewall in place?
A firewall would be between your browser and the server
but more closely associated with the client computer.
If you want to browse using your server computer
you are using it as a client.

Also, frequently servers are in mode called "hardened"
which might prevent them from being used as clients:

<paste>
<title>How to convert your Windows Server 2003... to a Workstation!</title>
http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/ie.htm

(MSN search for
"internet explorer enhanced security configuration"
)

DNS is set up correct on the server its pointing to the right gateway.

DNS uses a different TCP port than HTTP.
You haven't proved that you can connect _out_ to an HTTP server.

Do you have the Diagnose Connection Problems... command
in your IE Tools menu? What happens if you try that?

Alternatively, test outbound HTTP connectivity by using telnet
from a cmd window. E.g. enter there:

telnet www.microsoft.com 80

What do you see?

I've tried uninstalling TCP/IP and reinstalling it and
that didnt change anything.

You probably don't need to do that because your DNS is obviously working.

i find it very hard to belive that it is spyware
or a virus because nobody ever uses the server.

More significant is the maintenance level of your OS and whether
you have a firewall in place which prevents unsolicited inbound requests
that are designed to misuse the server ports you have open and then exploit
any known but unpatched problems (or any new unknown problems.)
When you have servers "listening" you don't need anybody "using" the
computer locally. The bad guys are constantly probing from the network
looking for weakness. If they find it your server may be taken over
and cease being your box...


A slightly dated but easy to read confirmation of these ideas...

http://www.videomaker.com/article/12608/

(Live Search for
spyware malware "your box" tutorial
)

it is part of a domain and i
forgot to mention its server 2003. i am fresh out of ideas and would hate to
have to reformat the machine because as i said it is a piece of our Agency
Management System, so if that server goes down the program goes down with it.
any help would be appreciated!!
Thanks
Joe

Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
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