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Question

Having trouble connecting PC's to server

by Aug 25, 2011 8:25AM PDT

Hi I am new to this forum.

Discussion is locked

21 Posts
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Answer
Since PING does not work.
by Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 8:27AM PDT

Fix that first.

Remember that this is why you hired that IT staff.
Bob

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errr what?
by chowmouse Aug 25, 2011 9:00AM PDT

Trying to make sense of your post.
Do you have any USEFUL information, or not really?

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Yes. Two points.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 9:04AM PDT

1. Work the ping issue.

2. It's a business. If your IT staff is lacking, call in some consultant.

Hope this clears it up.
Bob

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Answer
That ping by IP.
by Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 9:12AM PDT

Be sure your IT staffer checks the HOSTS file. The LAN cables are rarely the issue when you can ping other machines.
Bob

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No hosts file?
by chowmouse Aug 25, 2011 9:30AM PDT

Thanks bob

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Some have trouble finding that file.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 9:40AM PDT

Did you at least find the HOSTS.SAM file?

In a stock setup it's over at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972034

Having no HOSTS file is odd. I'd use Microsoft's stock content at least to remove that oddity.

Also, I can't guess how you are PINGING. By IP is best since we can't guess the name resolution system your IT setup.

-> And do the other TRACEROUTE to that to see if any odd things show up. For XP, here's how -> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314868/
Bob

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Hosts file reset, traceroute results:
by chowmouse Aug 25, 2011 9:55AM PDT

Hi Bob, thanks for your help

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That's a good clue.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 10:36AM PDT

I'd compare the working and non-working machines results from the following command.

IPCONFIG /ALL

It looks like a netmask or gateway is off. Or if there is VPN involved an issue with the VPN client.
Bob

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Done- no avail
by chowmouse Aug 25, 2011 11:16AM PDT

Hi Bob

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Still wonder why it thinks the next hop is
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 11:33AM PDT

Loopback1.ken10.Sydney.telstra.net [165.228.2.1]

Maybe the route at 172.17.144.40 is broke?
Bob

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Broke?
by chowmouse Aug 25, 2011 12:00PM PDT

Hi Bob

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That's determined by what's at the first hop.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 1:30PM PDT

I don't know what the netmask, default gateway is. But you found the issue at least. You have to know what these IPs are.
Bob

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Finding the device
by chowmouse Aug 25, 2011 2:31PM PDT

Hi Bob

how would I go about finding the peice of hardware which the connection is stopping at? A few pointers would be good. Will be good to know what to do if this ever happens again, or in a differtent scenario.

Thanks Bob

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See below.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 2:34PM PDT

I see someone has given instructions on how to share the needed details. All I can see is that it leap off the path. It's your network and I can't guess why it went there given only these details.

What happened to your IT staff?
Bob

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Answer
PS. Got your email.
by Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 9:14AM PDT

I'd like to help. Keep telling more and maybe some clue will show up.

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Hosts file restored problem remains
by chowmouse Aug 25, 2011 9:35AM PDT

Hi

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Any VPN involved?
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 9:41AM PDT

Some VPN routers run out of connections.

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Any way to alter connections
by chowmouse Aug 25, 2011 9:55AM PDT

Hi, thanks for your reply.

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Answer
Just Thoughts...
by Forum moderator Aug 25, 2011 10:02AM PDT

I have had such issues when the subnet mask was incorrect on the server. Verified the subnet mask is correct on the server?.. Is the subnet mask supposed to be the same on all machines? Or are they different subnets? Checked that as well?

Since you mentioned "issues" on the server, you might need to uninstall/reinstall TCP/IP on the server.. Tried that yet?

Checked "Event Viewer" on the XP machines to see if there are any clues as to the problem.. Maybe TCP/IP or DHCP errors..

Have you tried uninstalling, then reinstalling the server's network adapter/card? Maybe an updated driver or new ethernet card is needed?

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Hi Grif
by chowmouse Aug 25, 2011 10:09AM PDT

Hi Grif

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Answer
OK....
by Aug 25, 2011 1:41PM PDT

To narrow the problem down try this, on a machine that can connect and one that cannot run the following at the command line:

ipconfig /all >> c:\mynet.txt

This will pipe the output of ipconfig to the text file at c:\mynet.txt It should look something like:

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