Ubuntu on a network?

By Danny D
in Smart Home, Network & Security

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Well part of the problem if you only have 10 users is from your previous post machines had multiple IPs on the same network - so its possible they are making multiple connections.

You really need to clean up the wiring so that you each machine only has 1 IP (one wire) or wireless -- NOT BOTH and not multiple wired connections to the switch.

Remember you mentioned you have like 10 machines with 30 wires ;) I would suggest you CLEAN that up first no matter what you end up doing -- this may help your 10 limit issue.

Also you can disconnect users that are connected to the server without rebooting it.

Look here -- under sessions should show you all connections to that machine, and also open files, etc. Don't disconnect anyone that has open files -- but if you see a session and no open files by that user, you could disconnect the session to free up connections without having to reboot the server.

post-14624-1257177685.jpg

Proficient

Danny D

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Budman,

Its not possible for me to do that because all the wires run through the damn ceiling. I disconnect one wire that goes into one computer and another one stops working. Its so damn confusing how its set up. Anyways were can i find that computer management thing with the sessions. Edit: found it. Now this is much better. Ok now when someone has a problem connecting I will check this and see how many pc's are connected. If there are less than 10 then something else is the problem.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Dude I don't care how hard you think it is, it needs to be FIXED!!! Your making harder than it really is -- does not matter where the wires go.. You have access to the end points (unless there is some other switch up in the ceiling ??).

So disconnect the wires on the computer sides.. So that they only have 1 wire connected to them.. Do this for all your computers -- once this is done then go to the switch and disconnect all the wires that don't have lights on.. Since they are not connected to anything!!

Now on each machine - disconnect the wire, go look on the switch which light went off?? Label this wire at both the computer and the switch.. When your all done -- pull out all the other wires ;)

Or if you want to leave them for expansion.. Once you have all the other wires labeled.. Disconnect a computers wire from both the switch and the computer.. Then use one of the other wires, then one at a time connected the unlabeled wires until a light comes on.. Now label this WIRE on both ends.

This should not take more than a couple of hours tops to do really!

But the FIRST step is to get the machines connected only once to the switch!! it would be faster if you got a wire tester to track down both ends of the cables.. But you can use what you have current to trace the ends of the wires.

It would also be easier with a managed switch, so you could look at mac addresses on each port, etc. But again -- you can do it with what you have in a few hours.

It NEEDS to be DONE!!!! having multiple wires that you have no idea where they go is just going to give you headaches the first time some machine is not working and trying to figure out if its the port on the switch, the interface on the machine, etc.. etc..

Do this clean up FIRST!!!!! It NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!

Grand Master

+John Teacake MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Why did I have visions of a token ring or bus network set up there when he said that once he "disconnect one wire that goes into one computer and another one stops working" *Shudders* lol Do you know about patching? I really dont understand whats going on in your enviroment at all now. Each computer will be patched into a wall socket perhaps right? That will then lead to a patch in your computer room wherever that might be and then from there to a physical port on a switch. Are you getting confused and thinking that each section of wiring is another cable :s

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Its impossible for him to be unplugging a wire on a computer and have some other computer stop working :) Does not matter if there are patch panels or not.. There is NO way its token ring -- he posted what switch he is using ;)

But sure its quite possible for him to be unplugging the wrong cable on switch, etc. Or the one on the server (does it have multiple IPS) From your previous posts I would guess yes that a computer is using to access it with. Also from your previous posts you had 2 switches.. Did you atleast get it done to 1 switch??? Or do you still have 2??

Where I would start is disconnecting every wire on the switch that does not have a light!! That is when all PCS are on and working.. Now unplug one wire from a PC... If its stops working -- give it a second, or even reboot it -- maybe it was using that interface to access the server -- can take a couple of seconds to recover, etc.. once that machine is working on one wire. Remove the network card it was using from the machine if it was an addon card!! Always unplug the addon on card wire if there is one vs the built in one on the motherboard..

Once you have the computer working with 1 wire -- go to the switch and unplug the cable that does not have a light!! Repeat this process.. Leaving the server for last.. Once you do it on the server pc, you might have to reboot the server and pcs to make sure they now connect to the server on its ONE IP address..

Gawd I would almost be willing to come to your location to clean up this mess for free -- just so these threads would stop ;)

Proficient

Danny D

Posted
  • Author
Posted

This is the current situation:

On the linksys sr2024 there are 16 wires connected, 14 have lights on. On the d-link dss-16+ there is 10 wires connected with 6 lights on. The most lights that should be on is 12-13 max with the 2 copiers we have that are connected to the network. So now I will start to unplug and see which goes were.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

You can get rid of that one switch all together -- we went over this quite some time ago.. One is just a 10/100 while the other is a 10/100/1000 keep the gig one and get rid of the 10/100.

If I recall correctly you have enough ports for all your PCs (if they only have 1 wire connected) and a few extra for other network stuff like printers and or copiers, and the connection to your router with still room for growth... That sr2024 has 24 ports.. So 10 PC, plus router plus server is only 12 -- so you have 12 ports open for more pcs or other devices.. You do not need that other switch at all!!

Mentor

Mannlich

Posted
Posted
Budman,

The question is, why is there 2 switches? There is plenty of space on the big one. There must be some kind of purpose that the other guy put 2.

I believe this is why Budman is suggesting over and over that you need to clean up the wiring jobs. It sounds completely botched up. At this point, I wouldn't bother wasting any more time by trying to guess why the previous guy did what he did.

Grand Master

Sophism

Posted
Posted

We dont why your server has 2 NICs. Who knows why the Admin before you did that, or the weird ass cabling job.

Edit: I was under the impression you had already sorted all this out. You *Really* need to resolve any cabling issues BEFORE you start messing with clark connect or upgrading/migrating other systems.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted (edited)

There is NO reason why you would need 2 switches or multiple interfaces on any machine.. Other than the guy before you being an IDIOT is the only reason I can think of.

I would not worry why he did what he did, I would worry about getting it Cleaned up! If in the future you want to start teaming interfaces for failover or more bandwidth you can address that once you get the basics down, etc.

You have a XP box as your "server" with unmanaged switches for gosh sake, teaming interfaces for bandwidth or failover is so far down the road in improvements to your network its not even funny.

Lets get the basics down first.. Then you can move on to fancier setups later.. Once you have your network wiring cleaned up.. I would suggest you get your file server on server hardware (raid hard drives, dual power supplies, etc) with a server OS with the use of a domain vs peer-to-peer workgroup. Get your PCs off a HOME OS (XP home).. Then work on your backup issue -- $24K a year seems quite high for the size of your company.. Again for gosh sake your on a XP box for a server ;)

You could backup your 2TB of data for a LOT less!!

Then you could move to thinking about bringing other services like email up to speed? Not sure what your company uses now? What are they paying for it? Its clearly not housed on site.

Then you could think about using content filtering and or bandwidth management, etc. for your internet connection. Then you could worry about maybe moving to a managed switch..

These things are down the road -- for now lets get your network wired correctly so you understand what is plugged into what and how it works ;)

In a nutshell this is how your network should look.

post-14624-1257190538_thumb.jpg

Lets get it looking like this with each machine only having 1 connection to your network, and the one switch.. With you knowing which cable goes where, etc.. And then we can move forward.

All computers could be plugged into your 1 switch or the router switch ports.. Depends on where they are located, etc. The only reason I can think of why you would need more than 1 switch would depend on layout of your machines.. But from what I recall your switches are right next to each other.. So you only need 1.. And I would not suggest you connect anything to your router either -- unless location of PCs mandates it.. So should prob look more like this.

post-14624-1257190957_thumb.jpg

Here I added some printers/plotters -- so now it should look pretty freaking close to your network ;)

post-14624-1257191389_thumb.jpg

Edited by BudMan
Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Well there you go -- you can pull your dlink out of the picture now ;) Your router is connected to the linksys one right?

I thought from one of your screen posts of ipconfig a wireless device?

Yup here

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...23588&st=30

Post #44

From your server you post shows a "Wireless-G PCI Adapter" And then you have it bridged???

Ethernet adapter Network Bridge:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : MAC Bridge Miniport

Your server should not be doing any bridging between wireless and wired or any bridging for that matter!!! It should have 1 wired connected into your switch -- just like all your other machines.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Visio -- its a bit pricey.. But it does a nice job of network layouts ;) There are some free alternatives..

http://www.weresc.com/cade.php is one off the top of my head, there are a few others, if your looking to draw out your network. If you want could dig up some more for you.

But since I have access to visio through work, I just use that.

edit: yes danny you should connect the router to the linksys, since everything else is connected to the linksys and then remove the dlink all together.

edit2: BTW if you wanting to see some really nice layouts, just out http://www.ratemynetworkdiagram.com

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.