745N and Peer-To_peer Network

Question

I set the server up and everything was humming along - printers were printing and file shares were available. As systems were restarted and eventually the 745N was restarted - the machines started to act funny. Printers are available sometimes and disappear others. "My Network Places" was automatically popualting with all of the shared folders and now it is not. Viewing the workgroup is not an option after the server has been on for about an hour.

I realized this had something to do with Windows networking. So I tried to install active directory. But when I tried to install the DNS server, a file was missing and inserting the disks nor searching them found the "dnsmgmt.x" something file.

The system has four dell workstations with XP home and the server is running the facory installed Win storage server 2003.

Can I get windows workgroup networking to be reliable?
Should I/Can I install the DNS server and domain controller services on the server?
Is there a support number that I can call to get help?

It is really disappointing that the 15 minute set-up time is turning into weeks...

Thanks for your help,
Bill

Dev Mgr · Answer

When you say you're trying to set up/install AD, are you trying this on the PV745N? The reason I ask is that the license agreement that you ok'd when you opted to use the PV745N states that the system can only be used for a NAS box, and cannot be used for other server-type roles (e.g. AD, SQL, Exchange (except exchange storage I think)), etc). If you weren't trying to set up AD on the PV745N, but instead on a different server, you may want to post about the AD problems in the Poweredge area (assuming it's a Poweredge server), in their Windows 2000 or 2003 area.

CGS schenken · Answer

Dev Mgr,

I was trying to install AD on the 745N. Mostly because it was available as an option on the server roles page. Perhaps if there was some sort of documentation explaining that there would be server roles available that should not be installed, I would not have tried to.

So it sounds like using the 745N to set up a network domain is not an option.

So the question remains... what is the 745N doing to my windows workgroup network that makes it so that the workgroup is only visible from the 745N and printers are sporadically not available?

As a seperate note, this process has been miserable. All I wanted was to get a file and print server and now I am drowning in network problems. To add insult to injury, I am being chided by Dell Staff for not obeying the license agreement while desperating trying to get my $4000 server to work with three othe Dells. This is not fun.

Your Customer,
CGS

CGS schenken · Answer

Also, I should mention that my apple laptop can see the workgroup fine as well. It is just the Dell Dimension workstations running XP home that cannot see the server. Cheers

PowerVault

745N and Peer-To_peer Network

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