Network Connectivity Problem



Hi All,

I am having a network connectivity problem with a number of Windows servers.

Platform: All servers are virtualised on VMWare ESX 2.5
OS: Windows 2000 Server, and Windows 2003

History
Several months ago I noticed that one of my applications starting displaying
runtime errors. I eventually figured out this was a network problem. The
network connection would drop for a minute, then return. I could not figure
out why the network connection was dropping, so I started a continuous ping
from the server to our proxy. Once I did this, no other network problems
occurred. When I stopped the continuous ping, a few minutes, hours later the
network connection would drop and come back again after a minute or so. I
left the continuous ping on, hoping to fox the problem at a later date.

Shortly afterwards, I noticed that other servers were acting in the same
way. They were only minor servers, so I temperaly solved the problem using
the above solution.

Currently
We are migrating to a Windows 2003 domain. One of our domain controllers
which is also our fileserver is displaying the above problems, only worse.
When the network connection drops, it does not return …

Troubleshooting Steps Carried Out
•When I changed the duplex setting from Auto to 100 Full, the network
connection immediately came back. Stopped continuous ping
•Connection then dropped an hour later.
•Restart server and started continuous ping
•Server stayed up for several hours, so stopped continuous ping
•Connection dropped shortly afterwards
•Switched physical network card and set to Auto
•Connection dropped
•Started continuous ping
•Connection stayed up
•Changed duplex to 100 full and stopped continuous ping
•Connection dropped just over an hour later

Conclusion
•Switch Problem –Ruled this out. I have checked the switch logs, and no
errors. Several other servers are working perfectly and are using the same
port on the switch.
•Faulty NIC – Ruled this out, as several other windows servers are using the
same physical NIC’s and I also changed NICs.
•VMWare Problem – Each VM is configured as it should. Most VMs are running
fine with no problems. These servers are the only ones. They are using the
same hardware as the others. That’s why I’m thinking it must be a windows
setting that’s causing this.
•NIC Settings- Ruled out. Same errors on Auto and 100/Full , which is what
the switch is set to

All ideas greatly appreciated.

.



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