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SQL Server on Multiple PCs-URGENT 1

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BobbaBuoy

Instructor
May 25, 2003
75
US
I have a windows-based application that I use to manage fitness events (road races, mountain bike races, etc.). I have the application set up on multiple computers for three reasons:
1) We often manage multiple events on the same day, and
2) I back-up race data during the event in case of catastrophic data loss/hard drive crash/etc.
3) I am trying to set up the possibility of letting race participants sit down and enter their registration data on a laptop to save our staff (generally me) from having to enter several hundred ourselves on the morning of the event.

That is the scenario. Here is the problem: the entire system works very well on our domain/network but when I take the system to a remote site and set up a work-group it is not reliable in the sense that it sometimes works but other times times out.

For instance, lets say a participant sits down at computer 1 and enters their data. The data is sent to sql server on computer 2 via a vb6 windows application. And a registration form is printed out on a computer connected to computer 2 and shared amongst all of the workgroup computers. In some cases it works but generally speaking it times out. Often times if I set the workgroup up at my location it will work but not at a remote location. Several of the computers have wireless capability which I use at home but not at the race site. I connect to the workgroup via cat 5, etc...

The thing that frustrates me is that it works at home but not on the road. Are there any sql server gurus that can point me in the right direction? I REALLY need to get this resolved.

Thanks in advance~


Bobba Buoy
Just trying to make sense of it all ...
 
Does it ALWAYS time out, or just intermittently?

Intermittent problems are always the most difficult to diagnose.

I would start with making sure the operating systems are completely patched and up to date.

You don't mention the Operating system for the laptop that is running SQL Server. If it's windows 98, then definetely upgrade the operating system. SQL Server runs off services, but windows 98 doesn't support services, so there's some flaky work-around that can cause intermittent problems.

Make sure that you are running at least Service Pack 3a (for the database engine).

There's a tool from microsoft that will tell you what version of MDAC that is installed.


Do these things and then test again. Since this appears to be an intermittent problem, I (and you) can't be confident that these things will fix the problem. Godd luck.

-George

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause. - Fortune cookie wisdom
 
I will do those things and I appreciate the insight but the thing that puzzles me is that it is fairly reliable at home but appears to be less so on the road. Could this be somehow related to the fact that some of the machines have wireless capability? I don't know. I am just trying to find some reason why setting up a workgroup on the road is less reliable than setting up the same configuration at home (near my wireless router?).

Bobba Buoy
Just trying to make sense of it all ...
 
Is it just SQL server that's unreliable, or is it the network as a whole (eg does the printer sharing work faultlessly, can you ping the machines, access file shares etc).

John
 
I am reasonably certain that it is a network/workgroup issue simply because it works better in one environment than another (it works perfectly well if I leave everything on the network-it is when I move it to a workgroup that things start to crumble and then, it seems, only when I am at a remote site).

Bobba Buoy
Just trying to make sense of it all ...
 
I'm just 'spit ballin' here, but could the problem you are experiencing be a result of other wireless networks at the off-site locations? Maybe your computers are constantly trying to establish netowrk connections with those other wireless networks. Try disabling the wireless cards and connect your workgroup through a hard wired hub.

-George

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause. - Fortune cookie wisdom
 
Well that is affirming because that is what I was thinking too. I thought I did that the last time but I will look more carefully this time.

Let me know if you think of anything else...

Bobba Buoy
Just trying to make sense of it all ...
 
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