Having some weird network problems - Please Help.

Hello,

I'm having a strange network issue and was wondering if someone can help
me out. I'm having it on 2 systems. I'll describe the problem first then
describe the system/network setups.


I'll boot the computer up and let it's do it's thing. AIM and YIM will
load and connect and I'll be able to talk to people. However, when I go to
view a web page (google, MS, etc) and I get an error can't find server. It's
a basic DNS look up error. On occation I also get a time out error.

What confuses me is that AIM and YIM can get connected nothing else. I
have tried PINGing and it has it's equivalent of the errors.

Slowly applications get access in part of whole. IE: Eudora will be able
to resolve one pop server but not the others then the others slowly come up.
This Happens with Thunderbird as well. This happens with MS applications and
non-MS applications.

System setups:

1st System:
XP Pro SP2 in a domain. While on my home network no problem. Static IP
addresses configured as an Alternate IP address.
While away at work. DHCP addresses. With a netgear. Not sure of the model
since I have no control over it. However, NAT is being used and the internal
IP's are RealWorld not assigned to the company.

I can get around the issues by makeing a VPN connection to home and have
everything routed that way.

2nd System:

XP (not sure if it's home or pro). Only DHCP. No work around possible.
Connecting via LinkSys routers. No idea of the IPs at this time.

--
Thank you,

TC

Please reply to the newsgroup so we can all learn from others.
The obvious fake address is not meant to offend.
Rather it is for protection. I have been using Usenet for appox. 15 year and
have had some undesirable outcomes.
Please post all replies to the News Group.
Thank you.

"TC" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'll boot the computer up and let it's do it's thing. AIM and YIM will
> load and connect and I'll be able to talk to people. However, when I go to
> view a web page (google, MS, etc) and I get an error can't find server.
It's
> a basic DNS look up error. On occation I also get a time out error.

While on a Domain,...**ALL** machines must use the AD/DNS as the DNS Server
in the network settings. This should be the only one,...nothing else.
Within the Config of the DNS Service the Forwarders List needs to be
configured to contain the ISP's DNS. If a Firewall is involved (usually
is,..it is probably the Netgear Device) then it must be configured to allow
the AD DNS to make DNS Queries to the ISP's DNS.

While at home.....Machine will not work equally on two networks without
reconfiguring during each switch. But if you can come close if make sure to
use DHCP while at both places so that the Nic settings get adjusted
automatically. You can't use Static on one network and DHCP on the other
unless you manually adjust it each time or you could use separate Nics for
each network so that the "other" is disabled when not in use.

NetSwitcher is a software product that may help in situations where a laptop
gets moved from network to network and needs to work on each.
www.netswitcher.com

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

"Phillip Windell" <@.> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> "TC" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I'll boot the computer up and let it's do it's thing. AIM and YIM
>> will
>> load and connect and I'll be able to talk to people. However, when I go
>> to
>> view a web page (google, MS, etc) and I get an error can't find server.
> It's
>> a basic DNS look up error. On occation I also get a time out error.
>
> While on a Domain,...**ALL** machines must use the AD/DNS as the DNS
> Server
> in the network settings. This should be the only one,...nothing else.

While on the home network. My laptop does use a single DNS machine which is
also the DC.
Bad for redundency but then again this is a home Domain that I am using to
teach my self AD.

> Within the Config of the DNS Service the Forwarders List needs to be
> configured to contain the ISP's DNS. If a Firewall is involved (usually
> is,..it is probably the Netgear Device) then it must be configured to
> allow
> the AD DNS to make DNS Queries to the ISP's DNS.

While at home. Again no problems. No need to open ports. Everything works
fine.

> While at home.....Machine will not work equally on two networks without
> reconfiguring during each switch. But if you can come close if make sure
> to
> use DHCP while at both places so that the Nic settings get adjusted
> automatically. You can't use Static on one network and DHCP on the other
> unless you manually adjust it each time or you could use separate Nics for
> each network so that the "other" is disabled when not in use.

DHCP on my home network is not an option! Because I share the network and to
hand out what is needed for me to play with AD may mess with others using
the network.

Doing static at work is not an option as i don't control the network.

What have i done to fix this?

I have DHCP enabled on my laptop but have setup an alternet address to use
when there is no DHCP.
This takes care of the 2 different network setups.

However, the information that you gave me does NOT help with my problem.

The problem again is.

Why when I am at work where there is NO domain.

Why do names not resolve?

Since this also happens with another computer of mine that doesn't ever play
in a domain network and but just changes from DHCP to DHCP network does this
problem happen?

TC

"TC" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > While at home.....Machine will not work equally on two networks without
> > reconfiguring during each switch. But if you can come close if make sure
> > to
> > use DHCP while at both places so that the Nic settings get adjusted
> > automatically. You can't use Static on one network and DHCP on the
other
> > unless you manually adjust it each time or you could use separate Nics
for
> > each network so that the "other" is disabled when not in use.
>
> DHCP on my home network is not an option! Because I share the network and
to
> hand out what is needed for me to play with AD may mess with others using
> the network.
>
> Doing static at work is not an option as i don't control the network.

Well, if everything is "not an option" then solving the problem may be "not
an option".

> However, the information that you gave me does NOT help with my problem.

Yes it does,..I can't help it if you consider the solution to be "not an
option".
You could also consider Netswitcher (www.netswitcher.com).

> Why when I am at work where there is NO domain.
>
> Why do names not resolve?

What names? FQDNs, Netbios Names?

> Since this also happens with another computer of mine that doesn't ever
play
> in a domain network and but just changes from DHCP to DHCP network does
this
> problem happen?

What? I have no idea what you are saying there,...it is written as a
question but I don't know if you are asking something or describing
something.


--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

"Phillip Windell" <@.> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "TC" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > While at home.....Machine will not work equally on two networks without
>> > reconfiguring during each switch. But if you can come close if make
>> > sure
>> > to
>> > use DHCP while at both places so that the Nic settings get adjusted
>> > automatically. You can't use Static on one network and DHCP on the
> other
>> > unless you manually adjust it each time or you could use separate Nics
> for
>> > each network so that the "other" is disabled when not in use.
>>
>> DHCP on my home network is not an option! Because I share the network and
> to
>> hand out what is needed for me to play with AD may mess with others using
>> the network.
>>
>> Doing static at work is not an option as i don't control the network.
>
> Well, if everything is "not an option" then solving the problem may be
> "not
> an option".
>
>> However, the information that you gave me does NOT help with my problem.
>
> Yes it does,..I can't help it if you consider the solution to be "not an
> option".
> You could also consider Netswitcher (www.netswitcher.com).
>
>> Why when I am at work where there is NO domain.
>>
>> Why do names not resolve?
>
> What names? FQDNs, Netbios Names?
>
>> Since this also happens with another computer of mine that doesn't ever
> play
>> in a domain network and but just changes from DHCP to DHCP network does
> this
>> problem happen?
>
> What? I have no idea what you are saying there,...it is written as a
> question but I don't know if you are asking something or describing
> something.

At home.

Here is the full setup.

Cable -> Router -> Equipment.

Equment = 4 computers and 1 WAP
4 Computers Are:
2 Laptops
2 Desktops

1 Desktop (Win 2003) is a DC, DNS, RRAS, File Server, IAS (an all in one
box) I have no choice over this.
1 laptop belongs to the domain (XP Pro).

the other laptop and desktop I have no control over and need to limit all
impact on they are runing XP Home.

Because of this. I have decided to turn DHCP off the router because it
creates problems in the domain. Since I can't tell it to point to my DNS
server.
So all computers are staticily assigned.

the 2 that are in the domain are assigned are set up to use my DNS Server.
since the desktop is the DC it is strictly static.
the laptop is DHCP with the Alternative settings set to all the correct
static. Is there a flaw with MS implimentaion of this? Hence the need for
Netswitcher.

the other 2 are pointed to the router.

I did have it set to DHCP with the DC doing DNS for everone and assigning
IPs and all that but if I did a remote reboot or something where it didn't
reboot. The owners of the other 2 would get massively POed and start messing
with wireing and making it impossible to correct problems till I was
physiclly about to get back home which at times might be up to 12-14 hours.

While at work (I'm an EMT so the station isn't all that high tech).

I am given access either via wireless or wired. I have my choice. If I do
wired I get no connectivity for some reason.

If I go wireless. I get a signal with exalant connection and all is "good".
This is work nothing can be changed.
The only reason I know it's Netgear is I was there when they put my MAC into
the router for access.
I can also tell you it's a router/WAP all in one.

Even when I have taken myself totally out of the domain.

I have problems.

The problem.

FQDN do not resolve ie google.com microsoft.com
applications don't, ping, nslookup, DOS commands don't.

however, AIM, and Yahoo IM do connect when I boot.

Others don't.

If I VPN into my home domain. I have no problems.

This is also the only network I have problems with.

I have gone to friends and connected with no problems.
I have used public wireless and wired access and had no problems.


Opening ports on my home router is not an option because of security
concerns.
Plus I already have VPN open so I just VPN.
If I need domain or home network access I VPN.

Right now all I care about doing is getting just network access and have
FQDN's resolve so I don't need to create a VPN in.

Things I have done to correct this issue:

I have done freash insalls of XP Pro.
I have borrowed several laptops.

Freash installs and borrowed machines have had identical and simliar
installs.
Some have been strictly DHCP assigned no matter which network.
Some are DHCP with an ALT IP address
some are have been static with the same information that DHCP hands out.
Some have been set up with spoofed addresses.

Happens with machines setup to be in and out of the domain. Most machines do
not have the problem.

But several have it. I have tried varius setting changes but nothing works.
I have had the porblem with my own laptop but on one install I did not. But
no changes have been made.

Since I am at a loss I am now asking for help now.

"TC" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Here is the full setup.
>
> Cable -> Router -> Equipment.
>
> Equment = 4 computers and 1 WAP
> 4 Computers Are:
> 2 Laptops
> 2 Desktops
>
> 1 Desktop (Win 2003) is a DC, DNS, RRAS, File Server, IAS (an all in one
> box) I have no choice over this.
> 1 laptop belongs to the domain (XP Pro).

Let me "chew on" this a bit an get back to it ths afternoon. There is much
more information this time (which is good) so it will take a little time to
go over it. If someone else gives a solution in the meantime, that is ok
too.

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

Ok. Let's see if I can sort this out.

1.The center of the problem is the Laptop that you want to run both at a
home and at work. It has two Nics,..wired and wireless.
2. Home uses a Domain-based network. Appears to be wired only, no wireless.
3. Work uses a workgroup model. Uses both wired and wireless.

Now, the two networks are an incompatible type. (domain vs workgroup) It is
just flat out not possible for a machine to function equally on both with
out some manual adjustment, or auto-adjustment via tools like Netswitcher,
or using a separate Nic for each network, when you move the machine between
networks.

At home: Requirements
1. The AD/DNS must be used as the **only** DNS on the domain members.
Non-domain members are not forced to do that but it is a good idea to stay
consistant.
2. The AD/DNS machine must use the ISP's DNS in the Forwarders List within
the DNS Service Config.
3. It doesn't matter if you use DHCP or Static, just as long as the right
network settings are given.

At work: Requirements
1. Machines must use the ISP's DNS or the NAT Device ("router") may be used
if it relays the requests to the ISP's DNS (many do that).
2. Like above, it doesn't matter if you use DHCP or Static, just as long as
the right network settings are given.

#A. If you use the same Nic on both networks:
You either will have to reconfigure the TCP/IP settings manually
everytime, or use a Tool like NetSwitcher (www.netswitcher.com). The DNS
design of the two networks is not compatible, so you must adjust for it in
one of those two ways.

#B. If you use two Nics, one for each network:
I would suggest that you always use the wired Nic at Home and always use
the wireless nic at work. Do not play "mix & match", pick one way and do it
the same way everytime. You *must* disable the nic you are not using at the
moment. The wired Nic is no problem since it will probably disable
automatically if it is not physically plugged into anything,...but if it
doesn't then disable it manually. The wireless Nic will probably always
need to be manually disabled.

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com