Windows XP Pro - share - need advice

[yan]

Hello Everyone,

One of my client just setup a new computer with Windows XP Pro. The only use
of that computer is to host all documents and to share them with 3 users
(one laptop and 2 desktop), and no one is working on that station.

Once or twice a day, the users are loosing the connection with the share
drive, and it is becoming very frustrating, as I can't find the reason. All
3 computers are losing the connection at the same time.

Any idea what causes this, and how to fix it?

Thank you in advance for your time, and advice.

Annick Fransen
(e-mail address removed)

 

[mmac]

sounds like the hub or switch that connects them all. Assuming they are
connected through a DSL hub/router do they lose internet access as well?
What do you have to do to reconnect them?
The connection will also timeout after a while of inactivity but I'm not
sure you would notice the delay in reconnection unless the nic card in the
fileserver goes to sleep.

 

[yan]

There are connected through a switch, and the users are still able to send
and receive email, and to access the Internet.
When it happens, we shut down the Server (computer that shares its files),
and then relog each station, and most of the time it is working. At the
beginning it was once a day; now it seems that it happens more often.
I think it is related with some kind of time off, or the fact that the user
are not 100 % using the share.
How can I see if the nic card goes to sleep ;-) ... and he wakes up on time
;-)

Thanks

Annick

 

[mmac]

You have to reboot the machine eh?
when the share fails, can you ping the machine?
Look at the properties of the nic, there should be some setting that says to
shut it off to save power. Look for screensaver settings that put the
harddrive to sleep, make sure they are all turned off so that the power is
always on. If the drive or NIC (network card) powers down it may not wake up
before the share times out.
are there any errors in the event logs?

 

[yan]

yes need to reboot... in some way, has it seems only work if we shut down
the computer... not reset or restart
I have no idea if we can ping the computer... I will go there this weekend,
and see how to do it, and give the instructions to one of the user.

I already reviewed the setup at the level of the screen saver, and be sure
that the computer doesn't go to hibernate, or turn off.
Where do I go to look for the NIC set up (sorry, I don't have it in mind
right now).
If I remember I looked in the event logs, but there was nothing clear...
except, that something was resetting... but I will look at it, and print the
log.

Thanks

Annick

 

[Bob Eyster]

There is a setting you set to allow X number of users to log on and I
believe there is one for a time limit. not sure where it's located.


Bob Eyster

 

[NobodyMan]

Hello Everyone,

One of my client just setup a new computer with Windows XP Pro. The only use
of that computer is to host all documents and to share them with 3 users
(one laptop and 2 desktop), and no one is working on that station.

Once or twice a day, the users are loosing the connection with the share
drive, and it is becoming very frustrating, as I can't find the reason.

There is an easy fix the users are loosing the connection - have the
users tighten it back up.

 

[mmac]

the default is 10 connections to a machine at a time for workstation so that
should be OK, tyhere are only three machines here.

 

[NobodyMan]

Not necessarily. 1 user connecting to a computer does not necessarily
equate to 1 CONNECTION. It is fairly common for 1 user to open more
than one connection, depending on what is going on.

 

[yan]

hum! ... sorry, but I am not sure want you mean?

Thanks

Annick

 

[mmac]

I thought that too and danced with it for a couple weeks on a client
machine, it seems that the OS figures out that the session is from the same
machine and either closes another one or it just allows the session to
happen, most likely because the ten session limi is an artifically induced
(programmed) restriction with no basis in technology. It is merely to make
you use a server version for larger groups where one wouldn't otherwise be
necessary.

 

[yan]

I changed the NIC setup to be sure it doesn't turn off.
I also found under Local Policy/Security options/Microsoft network server
that the idle time is setup for 15 min, and that "disconnect clients when
logon hours expires was enabled. I disable the 2nd setup but didn't change
the idle time as I don't know exactly how much time to give them.
I also disconnected the drive mapping on one of the computer... no idea if
it will make a difference, but I red in a previous message, that it could
affect the connection... I can't find that message anynmore, or the link to
the Microsoft's website.

Thank you to all of you gave me some instructions.

Have a great day!

Annick Fransen
(e-mail address removed)

 

[mmac]

let us know if that worked, the logon hours it refers to are set by a domain
controller which you don't use. But fixing the sleeping NIC might help.