Windows XP Pro Networking

[Bob]

Okay, I'm having an issue and I want to pose the senerio
to you.

I have a location with 10 Windows XP workstations in a
single workgroup. The system is a POS setup. My
understanding it there's a 10 station limit in XP and if
that's the case I haven't exceeded its capabilities.

The network communicates via TCP/IP. The program for the
POS doesn't require drive mappings, just a sharing of the
root of C: the system is isolated, not on a WAN, not
connected to The Internet. The POS system has what it
calls a SERVER and a BACKUP. Not in the truest since of
the terms. The server duplicates it's POS data to the
backup every 5 minutes. The other workstations access the
data from the server (again, the server in the case of the
POS system is simply a workstation that holds the primary
data of the POS system.)

The network is connected together by 2 hubs and one
switch. Granted that's not the ideal configuration but
that's the way it was done due to wiring difficulties.

Random systems randomly drop off the network for no
discernable reason. In order to circumvent this problem we
ended up mapping 2 network drives on each system. One to
the "Server" and one to the "Backup" and then adjusted the
shortcuts to recognize the systems at those locations.

It's cut down on the drops but not completely eliminated
the issues. Does anyone have any input on the possible
causes to the headaches here and possible solutions?

Regards,

Bob Carver

 

[BobC]

Okay, I'm having an issue and I want to pose the senerio
to you.

I have a location with 10 Windows XP workstations in a
single workgroup. The system is a POS setup. My
understanding it there's a 10 station limit in XP and if
that's the case I haven't exceeded its capabilities.

The network communicates via TCP/IP. The program for the
POS doesn't require drive mappings, just a sharing of the
root of C: the system is isolated, not on a WAN, not
connected to The Internet. The POS system has what it
calls a SERVER and a BACKUP. Not in the truest since of
the terms. The server duplicates it's POS data to the
backup every 5 minutes. The other workstations access the
data from the server (again, the server in the case of the
POS system is simply a workstation that holds the primary
data of the POS system.)

The network is connected together by 2 hubs and one
switch. Granted that's not the ideal configuration but
that's the way it was done due to wiring difficulties.

Random systems randomly drop off the network for no
discernable reason. In order to circumvent this problem we
ended up mapping 2 network drives on each system. One to
the "Server" and one to the "Backup" and then adjusted the
shortcuts to recognize the systems at those locations.

It's cut down on the drops but not completely eliminated
the issues. Does anyone have any input on the possible
causes to the headaches here and possible solutions?

Regards,

Bob Carver

Concurrent sessions is the limit not 10 connected computers.

 

[Guest]

Concurrent sessions is the limit not 10 connected
computers.

.

Then doesn't what you're saying directly contridict this
statement from Microsoft's site?

"With Windows XP Professional, you can share the existing
files, printers, and Internet connection with everyone on
your network. Windows XP Professional gives you peer-to-
peer networking at no extra cost. Its can link up to 10
computers with access to shared resources on your network."

That's from:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/smallbusiness/sharei
nfo.asp

 

[BobC]

Then doesn't what you're saying directly contridict this
statement from Microsoft's site?

"With Windows XP Professional, you can share the existing
files, printers, and Internet connection with everyone on
your network. Windows XP Professional gives you peer-to-
peer networking at no extra cost. Its can link up to 10
computers with access to shared resources on your network."

That's from:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/smallbusiness/sharei
nfo.asp

Try this:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328459&Product=winxp
and try "net sessions" from the command prompt.

 

[Bob Carver]

I'll run Net Sessions to see what it says. There are no
shared printers on this workgroup. I'm also not getting
any connection limit errors or messages.

 

[Guest]

Checked it out, it stiil boils down to only 10 sessions
with Net Sessions.