Windows 2003 Server loses connection to Public Network

Folks....Oops, I originally posted this as a Windows 2000 Server problem.
Brain was in neutral! It is a Windows 2003 Server issue.

We have a problem with a web server, it will randomly lose its connection to
the outside public network.

Details:
1. Windows 2003 Server fully patched
2. 3 NIC cards:
a. Internal 10.0.0.0 network
b. internal 172.16.0.0 VPN via SonicWall
c. Direct to Cisco Router and our outside ISP service
3. relatively new Dell hardware

When this happens only the connection to the outside fails, the other two
NIC continue to function normally. Stopping and restarting that NIC will
correct the issue (temporary)

We have changed NICs and rotated the three networks around all of the NICs
with no effect.

We have also looked at the "Power" options and no hardware is set to "Sleep"
when inactive.

The problem seems to be more prevalent on weekends and nights, ie periods of
low web activity.

Does anyone have any ideas????

Thanks....RDK

Hello RDK,

Do you have fixed ips from the vendor used on the router or do they switch
after 24 hours to a new one and the ISP doesn't update it's DNS server?

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
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> Folks....Oops, I originally posted this as a Windows 2000 Server
> problem. Brain was in neutral! It is a Windows 2003 Server issue.
>
> We have a problem with a web server, it will randomly lose its
> connection to the outside public network.
>
> Details:
> 1. Windows 2003 Server fully patched
> 2. 3 NIC cards:
> a. Internal 10.0.0.0 network
> b. internal 172.16.0.0 VPN via SonicWall
> c. Direct to Cisco Router and our outside ISP service
> 3. relatively new Dell hardware
> When this happens only the connection to the outside fails, the other
> two NIC continue to function normally. Stopping and restarting that
> NIC will correct the issue (temporary)
>
> We have changed NICs and rotated the three networks around all of the
> NICs with no effect.
>
> We have also looked at the "Power" options and no hardware is set to
> "Sleep" when inactive.
>
> The problem seems to be more prevalent on weekends and nights, ie
> periods of low web activity.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas????
>
> Thanks....RDK
>

"RDK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Folks....Oops, I originally posted this as a Windows 2000 Server problem.
> Brain was in neutral! It is a Windows 2003 Server issue.
>
> We have a problem with a web server, it will randomly lose its connection
> to
> the outside public network.
>
> Details:
> 1. Windows 2003 Server fully patched
> 2. 3 NIC cards:
> a. Internal 10.0.0.0 network
> b. internal 172.16.0.0 VPN via SonicWall
> c. Direct to Cisco Router and our outside ISP service
> 3. relatively new Dell hardware
>
> When this happens only the connection to the outside fails, the other two
> NIC continue to function normally. Stopping and restarting that NIC will
> correct the issue (temporary)
>
> We have changed NICs and rotated the three networks around all of the NICs
> with no effect.
>
> We have also looked at the "Power" options and no hardware is set to
> "Sleep" when inactive.
>
> The problem seems to be more prevalent on weekends and nights, ie periods
> of low web activity.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas????
>
> Thanks....RDK
>
>


IN addition to Meinolf's questions, does the ISP's line 'fall asleep' after
a certain time out of inactivity? If so, this is a known issue with Windows
interfaces, especially with DNS service listening on that interface.

It is suggested and recommended by many to only have one NIC on a server,
especially a domain controller (due to DNS registration and AD functions),
and use your router(s) and infrastructure to route traffic, since routers
are designed for just that. RRAS was put into Windows as an added feature
for functionality, but they are truly not routers. Pretty expensive to use
them as a router, if you ask me.

--
Ace

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Please reply back to the newsgroup or forum to benefit from collaboration
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Ace Fekay, MCT, MCSE, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSA Messaging
Microsoft Certified Trainer
(E-Mail Removed)
http://twitter.com/acefekay

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