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Network Neighborhood strange delay ???

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MrKovacic

IS-IT--Management
Nov 5, 2002
213
US
I have a network of 6 computers in my office, and they are all running Win98. The network is supported by a D-Link Hub and is 100BaseT. 2 and somtimes 3 or 4 computers in the office have a bad delay for showing the network neighborhood. On some of the computers, the network neighborhood will come right up as soon as I double click it on the desktop. Other times, the other computers will give me the explorer window, but give me the flashlight, like it is looking for folders. It won't come up with any icons at all, not even the litte globe Icon that says "Entire Network."

After anywhere from 1 to 10 min.s later, it will come up with all computers listed on the network. I could check the network on 2 diff computers at the same time and one will give it to me right away, while the other will not come up.

Sometimes the network neighborhhod will just freeze.

Any ideas?

Thanx!!!


Thank you!!!

Mike Kovacic

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(o) (O)
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What protocols are you running? You might install NetBEUI on all the machines, and make it the default protocol (located in the NetBEUI properties). You might also create an lmhosts file, but try running NetBEUI first.

I'm gonna register a new domain. MCSEsGoBackToDrivingForklifts.com

"Matt the purple star pimp"
 
This also could be a cableing issue. Have you tried swapping the patch cables from one machine that works to another.

maybe you have a couple of str8 through cables and the hub has to recognize it.

Net BUEI could also be an issue but I would assume that you have TCPIP set as your default protocol on all PC's. Are you specifying your IP addresses? If you are not I would reccomend it.

What drives/files are you sharing out? are there multiple users accessing one machine at the same time. If you are sharing out multiple drives try to Map those network drives, check "reconnect at logon"
 
I've seen flaky hubs cause the same kind of symptoms. Try a different one if you can. Is it a hub or a switch? A switch would be better.

If you're going through Hell...keep going... (Winston Churchill)
RocKeRFelLerZ
 
it sounds to me like the 'slow' computers may have got mapped drive letters to now 'non-existant' other computers.
On one of the 'slow' computers - double-click My Computer - it may take a while to finally come up, now check if there are any drives sitting there with red crosses on them - they (will also be network drives - ie: 'sitting on a cable').
If there are, then as I said - these drives were present previously (they could not be created otherwise) but they don't exist now - the computer is 'looking' for them each time and taking a while to 'timeout'.
Right click the 'bad drive' and click disconnect - hopefully the drive will disappear & all will be back to normal again.
Repeat process on other 'slow' computers.

Only a suggestion. [bigsmile]
 
I have tested all cables, and all test OK. Also, I am running NetBEUI as my standard protocol. Also, I don't have any drived mapped. On all computers, the C drives are shared, and 2 of the computers have printers. The network does not get that much traffic, so I am unsure what could be so slow....

Thank you!!!

Mike Kovacic

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(o) (O)
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I agree with Rockerfellerz idea on the flaky hub. Could be that the hub is having collision errors. I would try reseting the hub and testing this theory by accessing the network neighborhood on two or more machines. If the reset does not resolve the delays try testing with a switch. I would suggest Hawking or Linksys.
 
The hub does sound flaky,


the only other thing I could think of is "how are you naming these pc's - Do you have the same DNS name on multiple boxes? Probably not, I'm just shooting in the dark.


If nothing works I would also try to set TCPIP as your default protocall, then give each pc its own IP address. (10.15.25.01, 10.15.25.02....ETC) unless you already have.


Happy Hunting
 
I was originally using a Compaq I-Paq switch for my network, and had the same problems. I then got a cable modem and went to a D-Link Hub. With the new hub, the netword does pop up faster in general, but still not right away. The Hub is brand new, and I have rebooted a few time to see if that would help. It was still the same. I think it is some configuration in Windows that is not complete. it does work, it just takes upto 3 to 5 mins for it to work.... any ideas?

Thank you!!!

Mike Kovacic

""" """
(o) (O)
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Just create an lmhosts file (no extension). Put it in the Windows directory. The file should contain two columns, one for ip addresses, the other for host names. Put the #pre statement at the end of each line.

192.168.0.1 computer1 #pre
192.168.0.2 computer2 #pre
192.168.0.3 computer3 #pre
192.168.0.4 computer4 #pre

I'm gonna register a new domain. MCSEsGoBackToDrivingForklifts.com

"Matt the purple star pimp"
 
If memory serves, it loads the entries into the name cache.

I'm gonna register a new domain. MCSEsGoBackToDrivingForklifts.com

"Matt the purple star pimp"
 
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