Everything freezes if the file server goes offline

[ChrisH]

Ok this is annoying me now :x Setup:

2003 domain

2 DCs

1 File server

1 Exchange server

 

Profiles:

Default profile read from netlogon. No roaming or mandatory profiles.

 

Redirected start menus stored in netlogon. I did this to spread the load as so there was redundancy for the start menus.

 

Everything works fine until the fileserver goes offline. Now I assume this has something to do with it wanting to read some kind of profile information from the users home directory but as far as I can see all the profile information should be on the local machine as I would expect (correct me if im wrong).

 

The only thing that is in the users folder in a desktop.ini and no user.dat files or anything like that.

 

So is it the lack of the desktop.ini that is causign this behaviour? I wouldnt have thought so.

 

Scenario 1:

File server offline before users logon

 

Client behaviour:

Takes ages to log on and then freezes when you try to click on the start menu or anything like that.

 

Scenario 2:

File server goes offline while clients are logged on.

 

Client behaviour:

Freezes when clicking on start menu or most other things for that matter.

 

Ideas, suggestions, a prod in the right direction?

 

So in short when the file server goes offline everything grinds to a halt :banghead:

 

Save my server from it's bleak future if it doesnt start behaving.

 

http://www.cphsolutionsuk.plus.com/ManualAdjusterSmall.png

[john]

Sounds very much like some policy / redirect is running from the FS even though you are not pointing that way. Its not a DNS, WINS or DHCP machine is it, and its not taken over the Browser Master Role or anything stupid has it?

[DMcCoy]

Do you have backup dns *and* AD? backup AD server will not function without dns. You will probably find that most pauses are from AD and dns lookups , I find the whole of windows grinds to a halt if its part of a domain.

[ChrisH]

It is a member server and just serves files and nothing else bar a few internal websites. The two DCs both run DNS and WINS and DHCP is currently running off the exchange box. I think its like John says but just trying to track it down

[DMcCoy]

Oh, I see. Just noticed it was only the file server going offline. Explorer likes to check your mapped drives constantly for free space/status. Any reference to the network path (check the registry - there are many) could well end up wating for a timeout each time access is atempted.

[ChrisH]

Theres three mapped drives for normal users. If it is that it is taking a ridiculously long time timing out. I will experiment tommorow after school with an account with no mapped drives.

[Geoff]

Also consider using offline files.

[ChrisH]

Also consider using offline files.

 

Not keen on all that syncronising on desktops that are permanently attached.

[Geoff]

You can control when/how they syncronise. It'd only be an issue when they reconnect anyway.

[bossman]

Also when windows clients access a file on the file server, windows has an authentication method whereupon it asks for authentication for access to every single file the user accesses back and forth from the dc to the fileserver. This can be turned off as part of a gpo but it was so long ago when i did it must have bin at least 4 years ago i'm buggered if i can remember (getting old ya see nearly 50) but if i remember i will post it. In the mean time it may jog someone elses mind (perhaps someone a little less old)

[ChrisH]

So your all saying it is down to the mapped drives? Even when I try to access the start menu which is on one of two up and running DCs Im still getting this freezing.

[DMcCoy]

do you have recent documents on the start menu? My documents on the start menu?

[indie]

I would say it's the mapped drives, I had a similar problem a few months back with a Windows 2003 Server, a dodgy uninstall of APC PowerChute made it randomly freeze. Every client logged onto the domain that had mapped drives froze, the ones without, didnt.

[ChrisH]

do you have recent documents on the start menu? My documents on the start menu?

 

No and no

[ChrisH]

I have just been talking with Ric and he thinks it might be something to do with my "special" Office shortcuts pointing at the admin install point. Im going to try and fix this with DFS now I have another file server to mirror to. Does this sound like it could be the problem?

[NetworkGeezer]

Has anybody tried using DFS in an enviroment which which also has Macs?