Network lost randomly

pieroxy
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 3:25 pm
Contact:

Network lost randomly

Post by pieroxy »

Hi there. Since I bought my BP6 I'm having a bunch of network problems. (I had a BH6 before)

Every now and then (very randomly, like it can go up to 4 days or down to 2 hours) my Win2k loose the network. The ARP tables are either empty or sometimes only my gateway IP shows up (192.168.1.1) with a MAC address of 00-00-00-00-00-00... And of course no network is accessible.

I didn't have any problem with my old ABIT BH6. I also reinstalled a new Win2k in the process of changing my motherboard.

The only solution is to reboot. I've tried to set my gateway mac address (with ARP -s) with no success so far. The mac address shows up in the ARP -a command but no ping goes through

does anyone has any idea ?

My config is the following:
BP6, 2x533MHz Celeron, RU w/o HTP BIOS
Win2k, ACPI SMP
Realtek RTL8139(A)-based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Adaptec 1200A IDE RAID Controller
hyperspace
Board Admin
Posts: 1395
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2002 7:39 am
Location: Lincoln, NE USA
Contact:

Post by hyperspace »

What PCI slot are you using for the NIC?
Quantum WormHole

Image
lost in hypertime...
pieroxy
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 3:25 pm
Contact:

Post by pieroxy »

Well, I tried 3 different PCI slots so far, with a little success. I always try to avoid PCI slot 3... Maybe I should try it! :cry:
hyperspace
Board Admin
Posts: 1395
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2002 7:39 am
Location: Lincoln, NE USA
Contact:

Post by hyperspace »

It may work. In both of my BP6 systems, there is a 3Com NIC in PCI slot 3. If the NIC card and the driver for the NIC are designed to share IRQ's, then it should work. The driver for the HPT366 controller (which shares the IRQ for PCI slot 3) is designed to share the IRQ.
Quantum WormHole

Image
lost in hypertime...
pieroxy
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 3:25 pm
Contact:

Post by pieroxy »

The thing is I didn't install the HPT366 drivers because I have no devices attached to it :oops: . Maybe I should do it then ...
hyperspace
Board Admin
Posts: 1395
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2002 7:39 am
Location: Lincoln, NE USA
Contact:

Post by hyperspace »

Sounds like a plan...
Quantum WormHole

Image
lost in hypertime...
boostland
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2003 12:12 pm
Location: Newcastle Australia

Post by boostland »

I just replaced a Bp6 server that was having random network failures, very similar to what you were describing.
It was running Nt 4 Small Business Server, it would run for days, weeks some times months at a time with no problems. then randomly the network would lose contact with the server.
I replaced the network card, updated the drivers and tested all the cables and the thing would still do it.
One of the raid drives failed and I took the server apart for cleaning, I then noticed a large sticky buildup above the 2nd cpu H/s on the Caps.
It turned out the caps were leaking and as a result the voltages are not stable.
I'm gunna give the bp6 to my brother he can replace the caps and use it for a 3dsmax render box or something.
kuun
Post-O-Matic
Posts: 1566
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2002 5:26 pm
Location: Tennessee
Contact:

Post by kuun »

yes

look for blown or leaking caps

i can give you things to look for when you have think you may have blown caps

voltage swings way too far (no more than + or - .05 VDC, lockups randomly, the chipset gets REALLY hot, a CPU will get REALLY hot, cards fail, programs will error out randomly following a lockup

solutions

send to Abit and have them fix it

buy the $15 woth of caps and replace al lthe caps yourself

hope this helps

Kuun
!!! WARNING !!!
The following forums: www.bp6.com
are infected with the following VIRUS(s): Kuun.infected.all.posts.Win2K.user

The following IRC servers has been exploited: irc.bp6.com
with the Following Exploit: Kuun.lurks.using.mIRC.v5.82.exploit
pieroxy
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 3:25 pm
Contact:

Post by pieroxy »

kuun wrote:buy the $15 woth of caps and replace al lthe caps yourself
How do I know what kind of caps I need? How do I replace them? Is it dangerous? etc... :?

Thanks :P
kuun
Post-O-Matic
Posts: 1566
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2002 5:26 pm
Location: Tennessee
Contact:

Post by kuun »

umm

well there are 2 basic caps in the BP^

the 1500MFD 6.3V radial electrolytic
and 1000MFD 6.3V readial electrolytic

both have a rating of 85C and you wanan try to get the smallest ones you can

if you know how to solder and desolder you're good to go, if not, i wouldn't attempt it.

but if you want you can get the caps at www.digikey.com
!!! WARNING !!!
The following forums: www.bp6.com
are infected with the following VIRUS(s): Kuun.infected.all.posts.Win2K.user

The following IRC servers has been exploited: irc.bp6.com
with the Following Exploit: Kuun.lurks.using.mIRC.v5.82.exploit
pieroxy
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 3:25 pm
Contact:

Post by pieroxy »

So I did install my Win2k Drivers for the HPT366. My NIC is *not* on slot3, but the problem seems to have disappeared... :!: :!:

I say "seems" because it is kind of random, but it didn't happen since Apr 18... :P

How could that be possibly related? I'm just confused.

boostland, did you have the drivers installed on your server where you had problems?
kuun
Post-O-Matic
Posts: 1566
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2002 5:26 pm
Location: Tennessee
Contact:

Post by kuun »

hmm

i've never had success in installing hpt366 drivers for my 2K machine and getting the machine to actually work...

Kuun
!!! WARNING !!!
The following forums: www.bp6.com
are infected with the following VIRUS(s): Kuun.infected.all.posts.Win2K.user

The following IRC servers has been exploited: irc.bp6.com
with the Following Exploit: Kuun.lurks.using.mIRC.v5.82.exploit
pieroxy
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 3:25 pm
Contact:

HPT366 Drivers

Post by pieroxy »

Well, I didn't have any problems. The thing is I don't have any device connected to the HPT, but the drivers are installed.

This thing sucks. If we could just surgically remove it it would just be great !!! :cry:
the_flames
Posts: 106
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2002 11:50 am
Location: Yorkshire UK
Contact:

Post by the_flames »

i find teh same problem with my NIC ... all caps fine , hpt installed and works fine ... I just put it down to PC pixies in my system :) as it doesnt affect my pc performance
kuun
Post-O-Matic
Posts: 1566
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2002 5:26 pm
Location: Tennessee
Contact:

Post by kuun »

heh

i don't loose the network, but thena gain i don't have the HPT66 installed

*shrug*
!!! WARNING !!!
The following forums: www.bp6.com
are infected with the following VIRUS(s): Kuun.infected.all.posts.Win2K.user

The following IRC servers has been exploited: irc.bp6.com
with the Following Exploit: Kuun.lurks.using.mIRC.v5.82.exploit
pieroxy
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 3:25 pm
Contact:

AAAaaaaargh

Post by pieroxy »

After more than a month of uptime, I lost the network again yesterday! I almost thought the problem was fixed!

Well, all my caps are fine (at least they look fine), my HPT drivers are installed, no PCI card is on slot 3, and I run out of alternatives. Maybe the solution is to throw away the BP6 after all...

Well, I'll try again with another NIC, just in case and then (If it doesn't work) I'll roll back my server to a mono Celeron 333 on a good old BH6. That's slow, ok, but at least it works :cry:

Any suggestion is more than welcome. I'd really like to keep my dual 533! :P
kuun
Post-O-Matic
Posts: 1566
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2002 5:26 pm
Location: Tennessee
Contact:

Post by kuun »

i see a common link between those that have the network problem, and those who do not

the culprit = HPT66

uninstall it, make the computer think it's something it's not, and then disable it and leave it alone
!!! WARNING !!!
The following forums: www.bp6.com
are infected with the following VIRUS(s): Kuun.infected.all.posts.Win2K.user

The following IRC servers has been exploited: irc.bp6.com
with the Following Exploit: Kuun.lurks.using.mIRC.v5.82.exploit
hyperspace
Board Admin
Posts: 1395
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2002 7:39 am
Location: Lincoln, NE USA
Contact:

Post by hyperspace »

Weird. Both of my BP6's have a 3Com NIC in PCI slot 3. I transfer data from one BP6 hard drive to the other BP6 hard drive without any problems. Both hard drives are on the HPT366 controllers.

Like I said, weird. Ding!

What driver are you using for your NIC? Win2K, latest driver from manfacturer or ?
Quantum WormHole

Image
lost in hypertime...
Derek
Site Admin
Posts: 2489
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 3:55 pm
Location: Canada
Contact:

Post by Derek »

hyperspace wrote:Both hard drives are on the HPT366 controllers.
You're setting a bad example! :tongue:
kuun
Post-O-Matic
Posts: 1566
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2002 5:26 pm
Location: Tennessee
Contact:

Post by kuun »

that or he's insane :P
!!! WARNING !!!
The following forums: www.bp6.com
are infected with the following VIRUS(s): Kuun.infected.all.posts.Win2K.user

The following IRC servers has been exploited: irc.bp6.com
with the Following Exploit: Kuun.lurks.using.mIRC.v5.82.exploit
Derek
Site Admin
Posts: 2489
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 3:55 pm
Location: Canada
Contact:

Post by Derek »

kuun wrote:that or he's insane :P
hyper, nah! He's just plain crazy! :lol:

Sometimes the HPT works, other times it doesn't.
kuun
Post-O-Matic
Posts: 1566
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2002 5:26 pm
Location: Tennessee
Contact:

Post by kuun »

i guess he's a lucky one eh?
!!! WARNING !!!
The following forums: www.bp6.com
are infected with the following VIRUS(s): Kuun.infected.all.posts.Win2K.user

The following IRC servers has been exploited: irc.bp6.com
with the Following Exploit: Kuun.lurks.using.mIRC.v5.82.exploit
hyperspace
Board Admin
Posts: 1395
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2002 7:39 am
Location: Lincoln, NE USA
Contact:

Post by hyperspace »

No, not lucky. Just SCSI!
Quantum WormHole

Image
lost in hypertime...
kuun
Post-O-Matic
Posts: 1566
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2002 5:26 pm
Location: Tennessee
Contact:

Post by kuun »

mmmmmmmm scsi... *drool*
!!! WARNING !!!
The following forums: www.bp6.com
are infected with the following VIRUS(s): Kuun.infected.all.posts.Win2K.user

The following IRC servers has been exploited: irc.bp6.com
with the Following Exploit: Kuun.lurks.using.mIRC.v5.82.exploit
pieroxy
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 3:25 pm
Contact:

Post by pieroxy »

kuun wrote:i see a common link between those that have the network problem, and those who do not

the culprit = HPT66

uninstall it, make the computer think it's something it's not, and then disable it and leave it alone
I tried both. With no HPT366 drivers installed, I loose the network from every day to every week. With the HPT366 drivers installed, I loose the network every month or so (so far).

So the HPT366 drivers are beneficial in my case. And it seems to prove that the HPT is the problem. Now I could try and move my NIC to slot 3... (or to any other slot, once again).

I also loose the network after I reboot my router (not right after, just a couple of hours later - and not every time of course, but still pretty consistently), which didn't happen with my old Mobo. So it could be a totally different problem and the HPT driver is just a coincidence.
Post Reply