Networking help!!!

[Davis Silver Sti]

I'm at a loss on this one....

We have a business cable connection here at work. Cable comes in and goes to a secure hub.

From that hub there are cat5 lines that feed 12 computers to the office area.

From that same router there are 10 lines that go about 80 yards to a powered switch. From that switch, Cat5 lines go approx. 80 yards to certain FACTORY computers.

Problem...

The factory computers keep dropping connection. (on for awhile...then off for 15 mins) I replaced the powered hub thinking that had to be it....its not.
Still same problem.
The factory computers all drop connectionn at the exact same time.

Bad line feeding to powered hub? I can't figure it out.
Please help or post suggestions...and keep it simple.

Mucho Thanko!

Davis

[RobbieNelson]

From that router there are lines that feed 12 computers to the office area.

From that router there are 10 lines that go about 80 yards to a powered hub. From that hub, lines go approx. 80 yards to certain FACTORY computers.


Can you draw a picture. I'm having a little trouble understanding the layout. Be as detailed as possible.

Have you tried snooping on the packets?

[RobbieNelson]

Are you sure its a hub and not a switch?

[Davis Silver Sti]

Are you sure its a hub and not a switch?

Opps...yes, its a switch..!

A pic of some sort is coming up...

[Davis Silver Sti]

Basically in order to provide connection to the longer factory computers (i was told..) that I need a powered switch in between to keep the signal strength good.

Its worked fine this way for 5 years..but now those factory computers are dropping their connection every so often.

[C_Note]

A simple tracert might lead you to the problem

[Davis Silver Sti]

A simple tracert might lead you to the problem

Best way to do that? ping something right...I can find my cliff notes :)

tracer ip address?

edit: just did it...
answer

tracer route to 192.xxxxx over a maximum of 30 hops

1..............(space)....1 ms.......2ms.............1 ms.........192..xxxx(router)

trace complete

[RobbieNelson]

From that same router there are 10 lines that go about 80 yards to a powered hub. From that hub, Cat5 lines go approx. 80 yards to certain FACTORY computers.

You say you have 10 lines that go from the router to the switch. What? DRAW A PICTURE!

[RobbieNelson]

Anything like this???

[Davis Silver Sti]

Anything like this???

yep!

And to add to confusion....

we have a AS400 server that hold our Mfg. software. All the computers in the factory and office access this server.

When internet connection drops in the factory....they can still access the AS400 server and send and recieve data......go figure...

[swallace]

There is little that can be wrong. It seems that there are not many parts here.

Switch/hub
I have used both switches and hubs and I have not had any problem out of either. If you have a hub try one. I would not run out and buy one, but it is worth a shot.

Cables
Check the ends on the cables. Sometimes it is tricky here because of our harsh enviroment. It will all look fine and the palstic end has turned to dust inside the plug.

Router
Just confirm the settings in the router, but I doubt this is where the problem is located.


One question, have you installed anything new that might be pushing the network traffic up? Are you having tons of collisions?

[swallace]

The only thing that is lost is the internet connection?

[RobbieNelson]

Can the factory computers ping an IP address on the internet? Can they resolve any domain names? Do an "ipconfig" and see if they are loosing any configuration information.... namely DNS and Gateway.

[swallace]

try this:

ipconfig -all

[Davis Silver Sti]

The only thing that is lost is the internet connection?

Yep!

[Davis Silver Sti]

try this:

ipconfig -all

Done.
no probs...just showing my configs..

I've told the people in the factory, to let me know right away when a disconnect happens.

BTW...thank you very much guys for helping me trying to figure this out.

[Davis Silver Sti]

I've done the following tests:

ping address

tracert ip

ipconfig /all

netstat

all showing stuff normal..I think. Looked normal compared to when everything was working right.

I just changed the IP address of one of the factory computers as its connection was disconnecting more often.

[swallace]

Do they have static addresses? If they are setup with to have the assigments to the server


ipconfig /renew

[Davis Silver Sti]

Do they have static addresses? If they are setup with to have the assigments to the server


ipconfig /renew

Unfort. I only have a server for the AS400 running the Mfg. software...we do not have a central server for the desktops. (yea, I know...really lame..)

I configure the computers thru network connections..then give the ip addresses. etc..

[RobbieNelson]

I've done the following tests:

ping address

tracert ip

ipconfig /all

netstat

all showing stuff normal..I think. Looked normal compared to when everything was working right.

I just changed the IP address of one of the factory computers as its connection was disconnecting more often.

If you can ping an IP address on the web while the computers are "screwing up" then you still have a Internet "connection". Maybe the PC's just cant resolve domain names. If you can ping an IP, try pinging a domain... ping http://www.google.com. If you can do one and not the other, then you have a DNS problem.

[RobbieNelson]

I configure the computers thru network connections..then give the ip addresses. etc..

Does everthing on your network use the same subnet mask?

[Davis Silver Sti]

I configure the computers thru network connections..then give the ip addresses. etc..

Does everthing on your network use the same subnet mask?

Yes.

[RobbieNelson]

If you can ping an IP address on the web while the computers are "screwing up" then you still have a Internet "connection". Maybe the PC's just cant resolve domain names. If you can ping an IP, try pinging a domain... ping http://www.google.com. If you can do one and not the other, then you have a DNS problem.

What did you find out about the above?


Tell the factory workers to stop looking at forums at work!!! :lol:

[Davis Silver Sti]

If you can ping an IP address on the web while the computers are "screwing up" then you still have a Internet "connection". Maybe the PC's just cant resolve domain names. If you can ping an IP, try pinging a domain... ping http://www.google.com. If you can do one and not the other, then you have a DNS problem.

What did you find out about the above?


Tell the factory workers to stop looking at forums at work!!! :lol:

I'll do the "ping" as soon as a connection goes down..

Factory guys....gotta keep them away from that clubSi forum!!!

[ramrod]

maybe the lines are to long causing signal loss?

[Feedman]

I was gonna chime in...but it seems you guys have all the basics covered..... 8)

[swallace]

Any updates?

[Davis Silver Sti]

No work today due to flod conditions. (althou, I'm here)

Its really hard to diagnosis this one. I need a co-worker to be using a factory computer (my office computer is 100 yds away), then notify me when its dropped.

Its not a super serious condition as the factory side computers can still gain access to the AS400 server..I'll wait till Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks again for the help!
Davis

[Davis Silver Sti]

Followup. I was using one of the factory computers when I lost internet connection.

I was able to successfully ping my router and google. no probs.

BUT it still won't bring up a webpage. The other factory computers were in the same situation. This lasted for 15 mins...then they worked fine.

Its like the factory computers are being blocked (port 80?) for accessing the net...but I have no such firewall that would prevent that. I disonnected the WinXp SP2 built in firewall...no difference...just shooting in the dark here..


HELP!