Wireless Ahem

[Bezwick]

Hi everyone, having a really annoying problem with our wireless adapters hoping some of you could help give me some ideas on what to try next.

 

Over the summer we created a new Windows Server 2008 R2 domain, which has gone pretty well except for this annoying problem.

 

All the laptops on the new domain, and on every wireless access point connect for about 10 mins then drop off.

 

To make things even more bizzare this only happens when plugged into our network.

 

If we disconnect the LAN cable the laptop remains connected to WAP, but 10 mins after plugging the LAN cable back in the wireless drops. But during those 10 mins works fine and without any problems.

 

The network topology has not changed in 3 years, the only difference to the laptops is that we changed their logon domain. All clients are running XP SP3 and the desktop machines work without a hitch

 

Any ideas on what is happening and thought on what i can do next would be greatly received.

 

Cheers

[tommccann]

we had a similar issue with some wireless cards in new toshibas, i think there were eithe broadcom or intel. but anyway a driver update and they were fixed, are you running the latest driver for the cards??

[MatthewL]

Try unticking the power save setting from within the wireless network controller in network connections. The one called do not prevent this from going in to standby or something similar. It is under the power management tab.

[Bezwick]

Thanks to both of you, Already has latest nic drivers on test machine as its a completely clean install. And i disabled the ability to turn of the wireless nic. No joy on either still same problem.

Was wondering if anyone knows if Server 2008 R2 has any extra security settings, setup for wireless networks?

Can it detect them, will it treat then differently to wired ones and can they be changed with GPO's?

 

Cheers

[teejay]

This may seem a daft question, but why would you want the LAN cable and the wireless network connected at the same time? If both are connecting to the main network, you have a loop, which will probably be blocked by spanning tree protocol on your switches if enabled or it could possibly be the O/S detecting this loop and disabling the wireless as it will be a lower priority network.

[plexer]

Never seen a loop caused by this effect they are 2 different network devices each with their own ip address and mac address. Different to looping a network port.

 

Ben

[Bezwick]

Spanning tree is enabled on our switches, but we need the LAN cable connected so the WAP can talk to the switches. In other words i was talking about the LAN cable that connects it to the switch. We have HP Procurve 10ag WAP mostly so they dont contain switches.

Its very weird

[teejay]

Sorry, misread the post, it's the cable to the WAP you're talking about, read it as the LAN cable and wireless both active on the laptop, doh.

Does anything appear in the event log on the WAP?

[Bezwick]

This is the event log on one of the Procurve 10ag's, i have turned off all encryption and checheck there are no other wap's in range also tried several different channels. But still no joy.

 

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 12 Minutes 31 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 12 Minutes 30 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 12 Minutes 30 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 12 Minutes 30 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 12 Minutes 30 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 11 Minutes 26 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 11 Minutes 25 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 11 Minutes 25 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 11 Minutes 25 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

[AP Uptime:2 Hours 11 Minutes 25 Seconds]---[WLAN Event] DEAUTHENTICATION: deassociated from Station 00:26:c6:5b:ef:82

 

Really am stuck.

[Bezwick]

Bump - anyone else got any ideas i could try, been back two weekes now and the Teachers are getting pretty annoyed.

 

Cheers

[SYNACK]

Right, first off they should not be connected to both at the same time, this multihomes each machine and will generally result in the machine pushing all traffic via the slower but higher priority wireless link. It also poses a security risk if the wireless portion is compromised then there is a direct route into the network via each laptop.

 

This multihomeing on the sam network could be causing some of the issues especially if you have any IDS software on it that may get worried about traffic popping up simultaniously on two seporate network interfas.

 

Almost all the hp laptops have an option in the bios for "LAN/WLAN switching" which will disable the wireless automagicly when a network cable is attached. I'm sure a bunch of the other vendors have this feature now too and as you have stated that it does not disconnect when it is not attached to both at the same time this option should solve your problem and save the teachers from the complicated effort of pushing a button each time to turn off the wireless.

http://www.symantec.com/connect/sites/default/files/u10330/2695.jpg