Connection-specific DNS suffix

[Peter]

When I run ipconfig /all, the entry for "connection-specific DNS suffix" is
blank on one of two networked XP machines. It happens that this particular
machine can no longer be accessed (or even pinged) by the other.
Is the blank suffix problem just a reporting error or does it indicate an
operational problem? (I know there is a hopfix available, for which
Microsoft may or may not decide to charge but I don't want to spend the day
on the phone if it is not really a useful exercise).
PJ

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Need waaayy more details to try to diagnose this. For example:

- How are these computers getting their IP addresses?
- Are the two addresses in the same range?
- Is this a new problem or did it just start? Did the network work at some
point?

 

[Peter]

Thanks Richard.

The computers get their IP addresses automatically through a router.
The addresses are assigned by the router and are in the same range.
The network worked well for a long time. I'm not aware of having made any
changes prior to the problem starting.
Computer A has full access to computers B but B cannot even ping A.
There are no firewalls active.
I ran nbtstat and netstat with most switches but am not savy enough to get a
clear message from the results.
I don't want to attach the whole set of results. Which, if any, would help
with the diagnosis?
PJ

Need waaayy more details to try to diagnose this. For example:

- How are these computers getting their IP addresses?
- Are the two addresses in the same range?
- Is this a new problem or did it just start? Did the network work at some
point?

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

When I run ipconfig /all, the entry for "connection-specific DNS suffix" is
blank on one of two networked XP machines. It happens that this particular
machine can no longer be accessed (or even pinged) by the other.
Is the blank suffix problem just a reporting error or does it indicate an
operational problem? (I know there is a hopfix available, for which
Microsoft may or may not decide to charge but I don't want to spend the day
on the phone if it is not really a useful exercise).
PJ

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Thank you - though the details make the problem more puzzling instead of
less.

You say you have no firewalls "active" on either PC - do you have anything
other than the Windows XP firewall on either PC? If so you may need to
fully uninstall the firewall for a true test.

The only other thing I can think of would be to check router firewall
settings and make sure you haven't accidentally blocked access from "B" to
"A" in its settings.

The fact that "A" can see and access "B" is an almost 100% certain sign that
you have your network fully functional and correctly configured. The usual
cause for not being able to access the other direction is a firewall
problem.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Thanks Richard.

The computers get their IP addresses automatically through a router.
The addresses are assigned by the router and are in the same range.
The network worked well for a long time. I'm not aware of having made any
changes prior to the problem starting.
Computer A has full access to computers B but B cannot even ping A.
There are no firewalls active.
I ran nbtstat and netstat with most switches but am not savy enough to get
a
clear message from the results.
I don't want to attach the whole set of results. Which, if any, would
help
with the diagnosis?
PJ

Need waaayy more details to try to diagnose this. For example:

- How are these computers getting their IP addresses?
- Are the two addresses in the same range?
- Is this a new problem or did it just start? Did the network work at some
point?

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

When I run ipconfig /all, the entry for "connection-specific DNS
suffix" is
blank on one of two networked XP machines. It happens that this particular
machine can no longer be accessed (or even pinged) by the other.
Is the blank suffix problem just a reporting error or does it indicate an
operational problem? (I know there is a hopfix available, for which
Microsoft may or may not decide to charge but I don't want to spend the day
on the phone if it is not really a useful exercise).
PJ

 

[Peter]

Thanks again Richard.

I completely removed the firewalls - it did not help.
I tried a different router and replaced the NIC's - it did not help.
It does seem bizzare. For example, the "desktop" can access the "laptop"
but if I run Net View on the "desktop" only the "desktop" is listed. The
"laptop" cannot access the "desktop" but if I run Net View on the "laptop"
both computers are listed.
Although the "desktop" can access the "laptop", it can't ping it by name
(--- could not find host).

Perhaps the operating system has an unresolvable problem. It might be time
to bite the bullet and make a clean install of the "desktop".

PJ

Thank you - though the details make the problem more puzzling instead of
less.

You say you have no firewalls "active" on either PC - do you have anything
other than the Windows XP firewall on either PC? If so you may need to
fully uninstall the firewall for a true test.

The only other thing I can think of would be to check router firewall
settings and make sure you haven't accidentally blocked access from "B" to
"A" in its settings.

The fact that "A" can see and access "B" is an almost 100% certain sign that
you have your network fully functional and correctly configured. The usual
cause for not being able to access the other direction is a firewall
problem.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Thanks Richard.

The computers get their IP addresses automatically through a router.
The addresses are assigned by the router and are in the same range.
The network worked well for a long time. I'm not aware of having made any
changes prior to the problem starting.
Computer A has full access to computers B but B cannot even ping A.
There are no firewalls active.
I ran nbtstat and netstat with most switches but am not savy enough to get
a
clear message from the results.
I don't want to attach the whole set of results. Which, if any, would
help
with the diagnosis?
PJ

Need waaayy more details to try to diagnose this. For example:

- How are these computers getting their IP addresses?
- Are the two addresses in the same range?
- Is this a new problem or did it just start? Did the network work at some
point?

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


When I run ipconfig /all, the entry for "connection-specific DNS
suffix"
is
blank on one of two networked XP machines. It happens that this
particular
machine can no longer be accessed (or even pinged) by the other.
Is the blank suffix problem just a reporting error or does it

indicate
an

operational problem? (I know there is a hopfix available, for which
Microsoft may or may not decide to charge but I don't want to spend the
day
on the phone if it is not really a useful exercise).
PJ

 

[Richard G. Harper]

I hate to say it but you've run me clean out of ideas. Hopefully someone
else has a thought, otherwise ...

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Thanks again Richard.

I completely removed the firewalls - it did not help.
I tried a different router and replaced the NIC's - it did not help.
It does seem bizzare. For example, the "desktop" can access the "laptop"
but if I run Net View on the "desktop" only the "desktop" is listed. The
"laptop" cannot access the "desktop" but if I run Net View on the "laptop"
both computers are listed.
Although the "desktop" can access the "laptop", it can't ping it by name
(--- could not find host).

Perhaps the operating system has an unresolvable problem. It might be
time
to bite the bullet and make a clean install of the "desktop".

PJ

Thank you - though the details make the problem more puzzling instead of
less.

You say you have no firewalls "active" on either PC - do you have
anything
other than the Windows XP firewall on either PC? If so you may need to
fully uninstall the firewall for a true test.

The only other thing I can think of would be to check router firewall
settings and make sure you haven't accidentally blocked access from "B"
to
"A" in its settings.

The fact that "A" can see and access "B" is an almost 100% certain sign that
you have your network fully functional and correctly configured. The usual
cause for not being able to access the other direction is a firewall
problem.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Thanks Richard.

The computers get their IP addresses automatically through a router.
The addresses are assigned by the router and are in the same range.
The network worked well for a long time. I'm not aware of having made any
changes prior to the problem starting.
Computer A has full access to computers B but B cannot even ping A.
There are no firewalls active.
I ran nbtstat and netstat with most switches but am not savy enough to get
a
clear message from the results.
I don't want to attach the whole set of results. Which, if any, would
help
with the diagnosis?
PJ

Need waaayy more details to try to diagnose this. For example:

- How are these computers getting their IP addresses?
- Are the two addresses in the same range?
- Is this a new problem or did it just start? Did the network work at
some
point?

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


When I run ipconfig /all, the entry for "connection-specific DNS
suffix"
is
blank on one of two networked XP machines. It happens that this
particular
machine can no longer be accessed (or even pinged) by the other.
Is the blank suffix problem just a reporting error or does it indicate
an
operational problem? (I know there is a hopfix available, for which
Microsoft may or may not decide to charge but I don't want to spend the
day
on the phone if it is not really a useful exercise).
PJ