What might cause network clients to lose their connection with a Microsoft SBS 2003 server?

Question

We've got 10 clients, all new computers running XPPro. net config server /autodisconnect:-1 has been executed, supposedly allowing clients to remain connected to the mapped server for an unlimited amount of time.

Server is running standard MS services, including Active Directory. This machine is NOT currently running an instance of Exchange and is operating behind a Firewall. Network is 100% new cable runs, all ping tests confirm 100Mb/s segments, two 100M unmanaged switches, stations balanced fairly equally between the two, and two CAT5 runs between the switches.

Business environment is 18 hour days. Application specific, client/server, all Windows environment, network traffic is 90% internal, six-eight active logins max. Ample MS CAL's for all hardware.

The primary business application sits on the (1) mapped server. Client machines require reboot every morning to re-establish connection to the server.

We'd like not to reboot.

Answer 1

Make sure all servers, workstations, switches/hubs are running at half duplex mode. Sometimes full duplex can have collision problems and disconnects.



If you are running netbeui make sure you have no IPX/SPX running at all. They will conflict with netbios. Matter of fact it might be good to not run netbeui at all and set all workstations to "enable netbios over tcpip"



Run wins and dns on server, register all workstations with dns.



If your server has two network cards turn off any load balancing. Disable microsoft networking on secondary controller as this will interfere with browsing.



Make sure you do not have timeouts in the group policies on the server. Turn off SMB encryption requirements.

Answer 2

Do the machines go into a sleep mode during the night? If you could also report the error message you do get before you reboot. And if all else fails what about a NET USE batch script on the desktop.

Answer 3

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