Server connectivity problems after installing Server 2003

Question

I have a Dell PowerEdge 2600 with the following hardware specs: Dual 2.8Ghz Xeon 2GB RAM PERC 4/Di RAID Controller – RAID 1 for OS, RAID 5 for Exchange   This server was recently running Windows 2000 Server and Exchange 2003 without any problems and had outstanding performance.  I recently upgraded the OS to Server 2003.  Since this upgrade we have had periodic network connectivity issues.  Occasionally when I open an email attachment the server stops responding for a few seconds.  I started a continuous ping from my machine to the Exchange server and another server.  When I tried to open an attachment of any size, the exchange server would stop responding to two pings; the ping to another server never stopped.  This does not happen with all attachments, but occasionally.  Sometimes it will happen with a 5k attachment, but a few seconds later you can open a 5MB attachment just fine.  There is nothing in the event log that corresponds with this event.    The other strange thing that happens is when you try to connect to the server remotely through RDC occasionally half of the login screen will appear, and then just lock.  When this happens the server stops responding to ping for up to 10 seconds.   Here’s the other kicker, we have the same RDC connection problems to a couple of our Dell PowerEdge 2800 servers that are running Server 2003.  I have Intel servers running Server 2003 and have never had this problem.   I reapplied the MS05-019 patch since the symptoms (KB 898060) sounded similar, but this did not solve the problem.  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/898060/   Any ideas?

pcmeiners · Answer

Just a thought.. Pathping from one server to the other, visa versa, are than any lost packet along the way ? Cisco equipement ?

pcmeiners · Answer

'The other strange thing that happens is when you try to connect to the server remotely through RDC occasionally half of the login screen will appear, and then just lock.  When this happens the server stops responding to ping for up to 10 seconds.' two cents on this... if the MTU at the router is not set properly, packets are dropped , and symptoms like this appear. Pathping from the remote to the RDP endpoint, if the MTU is good you will have few if any lost packets. The MTU may need to be set at the office and at the remote endpoints, each broadband connection can have a different MTU size needed.

steveatw · Answer

One possibility is duplex settings mismatch, particularly for 100mb, at gigabit things usually sort themselves out properly. We have seen upgrades via windows update (never mind upgrading to 2003!) reset the manual settings for speed and duplex on Intel nics on 4400/2500 triggering off this problem. The server does not see errors but copying files can be 10 times slower and reliability suffers (typically lumpy). The switch sees load of errors usually on the port however so you can confirm by checking on the switch. You are getting collisions on the half duplex end which the full duplex end cant recognise (how could there be any?) so lost packets. IP will then back off due to poor link......   For negotiation with switches to work both the switch and the nic must be set to auto. If this negotiation fails and you end up with different duplex on the switch and nic then above goings on will occur, sometimes this negotiation can work most of the time but fail if you reboot the switch before the server etc etc.   We have found there are combinations of switches and nics for which you need to set both manually to 100 full.   If you do then 3 things to be careful of. Dont move the connection to a swith port set to auto, later by mistake. Recheck nic is still set to 100 full after any reinstall or update of driver by whatever means If you change the nic or motherboard make sure you recheck as sometimes settings held in on board nvram.     I guess the same need to check would apply to any of the nic advanced settings after an upgrade.   Hope this helps

anetadmn · Answer

I set the NIC to Auto-negotiate 1000Mbps, and ever since I have not had a single problem!   Thanks for the help!

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