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Old 09-30-2005, 08:42 AM   #1
Benda
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Unhappy Windows 2000 hijacking my Linux network


Hello

I work in a workshop repairing base units for a customer who uses Windows 2000. As the units and software are always the same, we use Acronis True Image to reload the operating system and this works very well.

Originally we were using Windows 2000 server as a dhcp and file server, but primarily to cut costs we decided that it would be better to use Linux, so we now have a server running the Centos distribution, which works a treat. Acronis downloads the images a lot faster than it did when we used 2000 server.

The problem comes when we have finished imaging and load the base units into Windows. What usually happens is that Windows boots up, gets its lease and then asserts it's own workgroup on the network, causing the server to completely disappear. Acronis will eventually find the server if you type in the name, but we do a high volume of units and this is a pain because it slows us down. If we unplug the units before they boot to Windows we never, ever have any trouble so I am convinced it's a connectivity issue between Windows 2000 and Linux.

I've waded through forums and howtos and not come up with anything. I tried setting the server's workgroup to be the same as what the clients are set to (we can't change the setup because of the contract) and the server will still disappear from the network. I have found that clients using Windows 98 do not cause the same issue, so it's something within NT/2000 that's causing it. If anybody has had a similar experience or even better, knows a way I can configure the server to get round the problem I would be delighted to know your thoughts.

Thanks from a hopeful novice!
Ben
 
Old 09-30-2005, 11:50 AM   #2
issinho
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clarification

Does your Linux server disappear from the network when you try and view it from Windows? Or does it loose IP connectivity?

Second: What version of Win2K? Is it a workstation or Server?

for the former: Ensure your Samba server is running if you wish to connect the two and that it is properly set up.

and the latter: If it is a server edition, you may need to disable the DHCP Server on the Win2K box that you are setting up.
 
Old 09-30-2005, 12:06 PM   #3
Benda
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Thanks for the reply.

The server disappears from the network when I try to view it from Windows, Acronis and sometimes even the server itself. It is Windows 2000 workstation, we no longer have server edition. Samba is running and to the best of my knowledge is set up correctly, I'm only sharing one directory which is set to "allow access to everyone", would it make any difference if I changed this?

Ben
 
Old 09-30-2005, 02:01 PM   #4
KimVette
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1. As others mentioned, make sure you do not have the DHCP server running on Windows (unlikely with workstation)
2. Disable Windows' ability to assert itself as browse master in the event of a browse master election
3. Make sure the workstation's NetBIOS name does not conflict with any other workstations
4. Make sure its MAC address is unique (it is unlikely you would ever have a conflict but on occasion manufacturers screw up and produce entire runs with identical MAC addresses and they occasionally make it to market) and make doubly sure no appliances (routers, printers, wireless access points, etc.) have MAC spoofing enabled
5. Make sure that the Windows box's IP address is dynamic (assigned by DHCP or bootp), or else not conflicting with other workstations. If it is intended to be static, make sure its address is outside of the DHCP server's scope
 
Old 10-08-2005, 08:56 AM   #5
Benda
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Two Servers

Just thought I'd update to say how I got on with sorting out the problem.

I decided that it would be good to have a failsafe for if the server ever goes down, so I made another Linux server with a different static ip, running as a DHCP server but with a different IP range to the original server, for obvious reasons!

This setup works a treat... what is interesting is that with either of the two servers running alone on a network, Windows will *always* hijack the network. When both servers are connected we never ever have a problem. I do wonder if this is to do with browse master elections, as presumably if there are two machines with higher os levels on the network at all times there will never be any need for an election but with there being just one server online things get messed up. Even saying this, I don't completely see how this can be the case as the servers are set to os levels 34 and 33, so how windows can take over is beyond me.

If there's anyone smarter than me who can see an obvious hole in my thinking, please let me know! I feel as though I have learned a lot in a very small time, but I still haven't found the real answer, just a solution that works!
 
  


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