LAN / Home server problem

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10 Jun 2010
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Norwich
Hi All,

First post in this section, which probably shows my experience level here :) Not too much, but I am a keen learner.

Over the last couple of years I have been expanding my home network with additional devices and its now become rather complex I guess.. nevertheless, its all been working well with DLNA streaming from the server to all my media devices, and being able to connect to and manage the server via terminal server from all PCs... Only the server has a static IP.

Last week I learned that the cabling in my building was all CAT6, and my LAN was CAT5.. so I changed all the patch cables and the 2 switches to CAT6/Gigabit in the aim of improving the streaming and internet performance.

Initially nothing behind the switches worked, but I jiggled the cables and repatched and it all came up. yay!

Since then however I am getting the following intermittent problems:

1) DLNA stops working on the Living room and office TV.. but the Bedroom one is ok. Strange as the office one is not behind a switch but the bedroom one is..
2) server becomes unreachable completely from all PCs
3) server is reachable, but unable to access via MSTSC
4) some devices behind the switches (HTPC etc) lose internet access via the router, but maintain LAN connection.

all cables and switches are new, the design worked previously with CAT5 and 100/10 switches..and I havent fundamentally changed anything (may have swapped a few cables on the ISPs router and Patch panel), but since its been working nothing changed. It just suddenly plays up, and later corrects itself.

So I dont think its a physical issue, but possible an IP conflict or something, depending on which devices are on at the time?

What do you think guys?

TIA

andy

p.s. the patch panel was pre-installed and connects to every room in the house.. I use a co-located switch to feed the Linksys network back to the other rooms.

Maybe this helps:

 
Ok, so I turned everything off except the server, main desktop and router... and after rebooting the router I could terminal into the server..
Now I have added a static IP for every device, in the routers DHCP reservation section, and ensured that all device IPs are within the specified range (the router wasn't earlier)

Lets see if this helps.
 
If you still have problems, there are two things to do:

Power down every device including switches, then switch them on one at a time and ensure it is all working fine before switching on the next device.

You could/should also test the integrity of all the cables, especially as you say the patch panel and cabling is inherited. Something like a Fluke CableIQ tester would tell you if there are issues.
 
Hi. thanks for the reply, all seems to be stable now since I setup the DHCP reservations, so I am hoping that fixed it!

cheers
 
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