mapped drives have X but you can connect

[Patrick Frye]

I am running windows 2000 server sp3 on the file
server at my work. It is setup as a domain controller.

I have noticed that after updating the system and
periodically now and again the mapped drives on the
server show with the red x. Like they are not
available, but then when I double click on them and
the folders come right up, and then the red x goes
away. It is very confusing. This has bee happening to
many of the clients as well.

We are running a sensitive database system that can be
easily corrupted if lost connections appear, so I am
thinking that this might be a symptom of something
bigger.

Does anyone have any ideas on what could be going on
here?

thanks in advance.

-Patrick Frye
Frye Electronics

 

[Ravinder Thind [MSFT]]

Patrick,

The red-X symptom typically occurs because Windows 2000 Server drops idle
connections after a specified time-out period, which by default is 15
minutes (Autodisconnect), so that server resources are not wasted on unused
sessions. The connection can be re-established very quickly at a later time,
if required and hence the red-X goes away once you access the server. I
don't think that this should cause any issues in your environment.

Thanks
Ravinder

 

[Patrick Frye]

One problem I am having with this, or I think it is
related to this situation is this: I have a client who
turns their system off every day. Sometimes they will turn
on the computer and try to go to this dos based program
which runs a database here at Frye. The program is mapped
to a novell 3 server. When they try to launch the program
right away it will not open and give them not connected
errors. So then they go the the Explorer and see that the
mapped drive has the famous red X on it. Double click on
the mapped drive and then the drive comes up and the x
goes away. Now the user is able to run the database
program.
kinda weird.

-Patrick Frye
Frye Electronics

 

[Patrick Frye]

Thanks for the reply Ravinder.

What would happen if I turned up that setting to 2 hours,
or turned it off all togeather? Would it be bad for the
server? I want to do an experiment so then I can rule out
this setting as a possible problem we are having.


-Patrick
Frye Electronics