Network access problem returns...

[CESIL]

Hi all, so with reference to http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows-server-2000-2003/112040-ping-problem.html it has happened again!

 

Same laptop so that would suggest it is something wrong with the hardware except that the problem was the same with onboard nic and usb dock.

 

Yesterday the laptop lost communication with the server again.

 

Last time the fix that worked was to add the ip address in use to the exceptions list and then the laptop got a new one and all was well...until yesterday.

 

This time I tried giving the laptop a fixed ip address from a block of reserved ones and it works again...so now I will have to wait and see if it decides to lose the server again in this configuration.

 

Could this be caused by a problem with the switch it is connected to? [edit I actually took the laptop away and connected to a different socket and the problem remained]

 

Where else can I look?

Edited May 9, 2013 by CESIL

[CESIL]

...nobody got any ideas at all?

 

...or do I just smell *sniff*

[mac_shinobi]

Just curious if you edit the host file on that laptop with that server name and server ip address - does that help at all ?

 

Also update the network card driver and also reset the tcp/ip stack and winsocks using the relevant NETSH Commands

Edited May 9, 2013 by mac_shinobi

[CESIL]

I updated winsock, but not tcp/ip...but those are only in windows and the problem remained running ubuntu from usb...

[mac_shinobi]

Update bios, then go into the bios to check the sata mode ie AHCI OR IDE COMPATABLE, take cmos battery and all power sources out ( mains, lithium ion battery etc ) for half an hour or long enough for all power to discharge, put cmos battery back in, program date / time and restore or load factory defaults, save and exit and reboot and go back into the bios and put the sata mode back to what it was prior to doing the above and try in both windows and linux again and see if that helps

 

Has the laptop got a pcmcia or express slot so you can get an ethernet / network card and try that to confirm if it is hardware

 

Also is there a system updater to update drivers / bios etc ?

[mac_shinobi]

Whats it like on the wireless connection under windows or linux

[CESIL]

Well, the problem is there using internal nic and the usb dock which has it's own nic and these have different ip addresses and both are unable to ping the server until I force a change of the the ip address of either nic. After changes to the nic ip addresses both can be used to ping the server again.

 

What on the server end could cause it to start refusing pings from specific ip addresses? Is there a virus or similar that could trigger this behaviour? And if it is something like that then why is there nothing in the logs on the server or laptop to indicate a problem...

 

[edit] The internal and external nics use different chipsets [/edit]

Edited May 9, 2013 by CESIL

[mac_shinobi]

Nothing on the logs that refer to ICMP traffic being logged or anything relating to the firewall blocking icmp traffic ?

[CESIL]

I shall have look at ICMP tomorrow...

[mac_shinobi]

Is it just the one laptop or do you get similar thing happen from other laptops ??

[CESIL]

Just the one...so I keep coming back to a problem with the hardware...but it seems to be nic and OS and switch port independent...so... Edited May 9, 2013 by CESIL

[mac_shinobi]

Putting it into the same switch the server is on. Does that make any difference or help ?

 

Any vlan's , different subnets or anything configured anywhere that would effect icmp traffic ??

Edited May 9, 2013 by mac_shinobi

[CESIL]

We don't have anything as exotic as vlans or subnets

 

All the laptops are the same make and model and all built at the same time.

 

Fairly basic netgear gigabit switches.

 

I am beginning to suspect witchcraft from what I know of the teacher involved

[mac_shinobi]

Backup data and re image ?

[CESIL]

That will be the next option if it happens again...although the teacher involved will kick up a stink...still...at least upsetting her will make my day

[mac_shinobi]

Hahaha. And fix the problem... Hopefully