Dell server cannot reach workstations until

[Jim Behning]

you log on to the workstations. More details. Brand new R2 Standard on a
Dell 1900. Optiplex 320 and some higher end Optiplex. The 320s have
Broadcom 440x nics with up to date drivers dated 5/17/2006. ATI video
with 6/07/2006 drivers which appear to be up to date. Trend CSM SP1. I
uninstalled Trend Office Scan on one workstation and the same problem. I
reboot the workstation and try to RDP to it. No answer. I can ping it
and I get an answer. OK, it was 2 in the morning before I gave up but I
think I could ping the workstations before a log on but possibly the
ping would not work until someone logged in.

The Optiplex GX745 with the Broadcom Netextreme 57xxwith a 5/15/2006
9.52.0 driver is also acting up.

Dell gigabit network switch.

We set power settings to always on.

Server has the Broadcom Net Extreme for its internal nic and a Broadcom
BCM708C for the external.

I am also getting a blue screen when I reboot with Trend installed.
Windbg points to ATI2xxxxx. I cannot get to the exact error because I
cannot reach the workstation. If the site was not 700 miles away
troubleshooting might be a bit less frustrating. It is possible that I
am not getting the blue screen with Trend uninstalled. Once again
distance makes troubleshooting more difficult. It might have been easier
to fly up and do the setup but I did not want to spend the time away.

I just rebooted the workstation that I had removed the AV from last
night. I had rebooted that workstation and logged in to it last night
after my friend had logged in to it. That workstation now is not
answering a ping. No ping no rdp. I guess that is eliminating the
antivirus.

[Jim Behning]

Oops. SBS R2 Standard with 2 nics. Server doing DHCP.

[Les Connor [SBS MVP]]

I see two strikes:

> The Optiplex GX745 with the Broadcom Netextreme 57xx

> Server has the Broadcom Net Extreme for its internal nic

Unless there are updates to the code for these NICs (within the past 30
days), then I'd suggest they shipped with broken code and are still broken.

--
Les Connor [SBS MVP]

"Jim Behning" <jimbe...@doesthisstoppork.mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:Ravkh.4262$w91...@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...

[James B]

I just deployed a Dell SBS03r2 that also cannot connect to the PC's by name
using Offer Remote Assistance but can do it by IP. I can ping by name or IP
and can even browse the remote PC's by name, just not Offer Remote. Have not
had a chance to dig into this issue yet but can't think of anything Dell
could have done with the load that would screw with this.

Double and triple checking DNS and WINS settings will be my first task when
back on site.

"Jim Behning" <jimbe...@doesthisstoppork.mindspring.com> wrote in message

news:ojvkh.4161$yx6....@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...

[Jim Behning]

Les Connor [SBS MVP] wrote:
> I see two strikes:
>
>> The Optiplex GX745 with the Broadcom Netextreme 57xx
>
>> Server has the Broadcom Net Extreme for its internal nic
>
> Unless there are updates to the code for these NICs (within the past 30
> days), then I'd suggest they shipped with broken code and are still broken.
>
>
>

I know you had some beefs about some Dell nics. I just could not find
what the issue was. Send me an email if you have the time. Well actual
post to the newsgroup also. I only ask that because Thunderbird is
causing me some frustrations. I am not seeing all the posts. Reminds me
of an email conversation I have heard recently.

[Jim Behning]

So it is not just me. Both of my problem accounts are Dell servers with
Broadcom nics. Les and Nick or maybe Chad had warned about this issue. I
was not paying attention as I do not use Dell. Until now.

[Shane]

I am also having problems with the Dell 2900 server and the Broadcom II. I
noticed Dell released a new driver on 12-21-06 rated critical and have not
tried this one yet. I sure hope this fixes the issue or I will just change
out the nics before I release this server in a live environment. Everything
I have been reading says to change them out.

[Jim Behning]

I thought I tried that new driver and it would not install. I will try
it again tomorrow. Maybe a new day will bring new results. I really wish
I could buzz up to the server with a couple of Intel and 3Com nics.

[Jim Behning]

Quick restate of the problem. Dell Optiplex 320 and 745 workstation were
unreachable by remote desktop until you first log in with the keyboard. After
that first keyboard login the workstations were visible until a reboot.
Workstations appeared to be up to date with their Broadcom nic drivers.

We started by trying to get the server's NextextremeII on board nic updated.
So I wasted time talking to Dell support. I could not update the on the
motherboard drivers. Support wanted me to remove the pci nics and then update
the nic driver. Minor challenge is that my SBS is bound to one of the pci
nics. I was not keen to yank the nics out to risk screwing up the install.
Jeff M. suggested a solution. Steve F. stated the obvious which was disable
the on board nic and bind the external connection to the other pci nic.
Server was somehow delivered with two pci nics when all I needed and wanted
were two nics total. Marina was having the same conversation with me as Steve
F. We disabled the motherboard nic in the OS. We then disabled it in the
bios. No difference but the server got to the internet just fine so nothing
broken.

Dave N. said turn on NLA service. I vaguely remember his warning a few
months ago but since I do not do Dells I did not pay attention. He was
correct. I turned on NLA service, rebooted the workstations and they showed
up as expected. This was true for the workstations that did not blue screen
on reboot. That is another adventure.