xp pro file sharing issue on microsoft network - behavior differs with computers

[Antoine]

Hello,

I'm having a verry annoying problem with my current setup.

- we have a small office network on a single LAN segment, with around
15 computers.
- all computers run XP pro
- 2 computers are HP boxes, others are Samsung. all came with XP
preinstalled by the vendors.
- all PCs are part of the same network / workgroup, with no domain.
- all PCs have 2 NICs, but only using one (the other is disabled),
excepted one PC connected to the internet (for itself only, it's not
sharing its connection)

we need to have one PC act as some kind of file server: other
computers read and write files on its disk every few seconds.

problem is:
- when HP acts as file server: no problem
- when Samsung acts as file server: even though I can see and get
files from explorer (my network places, etc... or even through
shortcuts...), when I use an application to reach the files (MS Excel
or Java application), the first access is OK, but the second freezes
the application for around 20 seconds.
- at the same time, on the other computer (the file server), the file
might appear as empty (size = 0Kb), and trying to access it (it's a
text file) brings up a frozen notepad... after around 20 seconds,
result can vary: either the file is still here, intact, or sometimes
it has also simply disappeared: even though it show as present in the
explorer, trying to delete it brings up a "file seems not to be
present", and it's then removed from the view.

- at first I thought that was a NIC related issue, but we changed NICs
several times, and are still experiencing the same problem.

so I'm wondering if there is any configuration that should be tweaked
in order to have the samsung communicate cleanly with other PCs.
I'm thinking especially as issues such as:
- services that would prevent a second connection from the same PC
(authentication ?)
- services that would not be started on the samsung PC ?

interesting enough: the problem comes definitly from the samsung setup
because:
- HP have no problem communicating together
- samsung & HP -> problem
- samsung & samsung -> problem

I would really appreciate some help from MS specialists...

thanks

Antoine

 

[Malke]

Hello,

I'm having a verry annoying problem with my current setup.

- we have a small office network on a single LAN segment, with around
15 computers.
- all computers run XP pro
- 2 computers are HP boxes, others are Samsung. all came with XP
preinstalled by the vendors.
- all PCs are part of the same network / workgroup, with no domain.
- all PCs have 2 NICs, but only using one (the other is disabled),
excepted one PC connected to the internet (for itself only, it's not
sharing its connection)

I've snipped the rest of your post because the answer to your networking
problems is in this sentence:

- we have a small office network on a single LAN segment, with around
15 computers.

You have run into the 10 concurrent connections problem. XP Pro allows
10 concurrent connections - and this does not mean 10 *computer*
connections. One computer might have more than one connection to
another machine at any given time. You need to purchase a server. This
means it will have a server operating system such as Window Server 2003
or Small Business Server 2003. You don't have to set up Active
Directory, but I would suggest doing that. It makes server
administration far easier. If you don't have an IT Dept. and no one in
your organization has experience with this, hire an outside
professional to set this up for you so it will be done correctly. As
your network is set up now, it will never work right.

Malke

 

[Antoine]

You have run into the 10 concurrent connections problem.

do you think there's a way I can check that ?
is there any system value or anything that count the number of connections ?
what if I simply plug less than 10 computers together ?

thanks for your help !

 

[Malke]

do you think there's a way I can check that ?
is there any system value or anything that count the number of
connections ? what if I simply plug less than 10 computers together ?

thanks for your help !

Antoine, as I told you in my first post, the 10 concurrent connections
limitation does not mean 10 computers. I don't know what you mean by
"any way you can check that". If you want to set up a network such as
you describe using Microsoft operating systems, the bottom line is you
are going to have to buy a server operating system. For optimum network
performance, you should buy a real server machine to put that operating
system on. Dell has very decent servers for as little as $400usd (not
including an os).

Setting up the network properly is a cost of doing business. If you
still don't want to spend the money on what you need - and there is
*no* getting around what you need in this case - then make a server
from one of the Linux distros. I like SuSE, but it is not free. You can
buy the Pro Edition (instead of Server, which you don't need) and use
that as a server os for $80usd.

In any case, if you don't know what you're doing (you didn't answer me
as to whether you have an IT Dept.), spend the money and hire someone
to do it right. If you set up a network incorrectly without proper
security, backup procedures, etc., then your business is at risk.

HTH,

Malke

 

[Antoine]

Antoine, as I told you in my first post, the 10 concurrent connections
limitation does not mean 10 computers. I don't know what you mean by
"any way you can check that". If you want to set up a network such as
you describe using Microsoft operating systems, the bottom line is you
are going to have to buy a server operating system. For optimum network
performance, you should buy a real server machine to put that operating
system on. Dell has very decent servers for as little as $400usd (not
including an os).

Setting up the network properly is a cost of doing business. If you
still don't want to spend the money on what you need - and there is
*no* getting around what you need in this case - then make a server
from one of the Linux distros. I like SuSE, but it is not free. You can
buy the Pro Edition (instead of Server, which you don't need) and use
that as a server os for $80usd.

In any case, if you don't know what you're doing (you didn't answer me
as to whether you have an IT Dept.), spend the money and hire someone
to do it right. If you set up a network incorrectly without proper
security, backup procedures, etc., then your business is at risk.

HTH,

Malke

Thanks Malke,
ok, one thing at a time...

1. yes, I have a IT department, but they are pretty useless (for this
matter at least), so in a sense I feel more confident researching and
solving this kind of probem myself...

2. yes, I'm considering having someone solve the problem, but I'd like
to understand what is the problem first... this network setup is very
simple, so well...

3. ok, I followed your information, I tested the network with all
computers disconnected except 2: 1 HP, and 1 samsung. I monitored the
number of connections, and it never exceeded 2 on any machine...

so. I had exactly the same problem. I therefore don't think it's a "10
connections" problem.
I however witnessed something strange: I'm looking at the "computer
management / shared folders / open files" item (in control panel)

- on the samsung PC: when accessing the file for the first time, the
file is marked as accessed, one line for Read, one line for Write.
this state does not disappear for around 20 seconds, and if I try to
retrieve it again in the meantime, it locks the PC accessing it.

- on the HP, nothing of that happens: the file doesn't even appear as
accessed (I believe it goes fast enough for me not to notice it with
my repeated F5)

I am looking at all configuration options & differences between the
PCs, but couldn't find the correct setting yet...

any idea ?