13-04-2010, 20:10 | #1 |
Appreciates the very fine things in life
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Simplicity
Posts: 457
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help and network advice for a small business, please
Right here's the background, where I work we have 4 desktop machines downstairs. 2 desktop machines upstairs and a laptop. All machines run xp. We also have a NAS drive connected to the network for back up purposes.
They are all connected via a router. A couple of weeks ago production1 had an overnight BSOD (I tried to get the minidump today but couldn't) and wouldn't boot - recovery console was used and chkdsk. It was up and running again. Then last week another BSOD occurred in the day time apparently. xp had tried to be reinstalled from disk, but was getting stuck because of driver missing and them not being able to use the usb mouse or keyboard.. The reason for that I noticed today was because they were plugged into the front usb ports. I put them in the back and continued the re install and all was fine. The system restarted and booted into windows fine, but it was so slow and everything just hung.... so couldn't really use production1 hence not being able to get the minidump.. Any ideas on what I can do to get it back up and running? Production1 is effectively the server and holds all the artwork files, I found out today that because production1 is down we are working directly off the NAS.. I'm not happy about this because as far as I am aware if anything is deleted from the NAS that's it it's gone, no recycle bin to retrieve it! Also this NAS is supposed to be being backed up every night to and external usb drive... but every night it fails! Am I right to be unhappy about this or is that just how it is? Know I don't really know much about networking but I have in mind what I think would be good. So we have the following computers: Design1 - clarity server Design2 - connected to clarity Production1 - (former artwork server) connected to plotter Production2 - connected to edge Shiraz Accounts - connected to clarity Laptop - connected to clarity All computers used to connect to Production1 for artwork now they connect to the NAS. I would like to have a central dedicated server for clarity and artwork - is the NAS ok for this or are my concerns valid? I would like Design2 to be able to run the plotter (has the software to do this but the machine needs to be connected over the network somehow) I would also like Production2 to be able to run the plotter. (as above) I would like Production1 to be able to run the edge. (as above) All 4 machines downstairs, design and production, use a specific software GSP which requires a usb hardware security dongle. We only have 3 such dongles so one needs to switched between the two production machines so as a side note is there any way we can use one of these dongles on server/network to save having to physically switch between the two production machines... Alternatively the two design machines are side by side, is there some sort of USB splitter so the dongle could be shared between the two design machines? If you have got this far, and are willing to help, then let me know what you need to know in order to move further as I'm sure all of the above is very very vague! |
13-04-2010, 20:39 | #2 |
Screaming Orgasm
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Newbury
Posts: 15,194
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Production1 sounds like a hardware issue. Hard disk, RAM, something like that. Probably futile to go for the minidump now as it's probably gone with the OS install.
Running off a NAS is fine - no worse than running off Production1 anyway. Neither will give you a recycle bin. Admittedly lost file recovery is possible on the XP box, but that's not something you should factor in really anyway in a business situation. Yes, you should be concerned about the backup failure. I'd call that priority number 1. If the NAS box fails for whatever reason, you've lost the lot, so fix the backup first. Network sharing of the USB dongles would violate the terms of the software license. In fact, switching them between machines may do the same. In any event, any hardware key worth bothering with will be designed to resist attempts at simultaneous use. That's the whole point of them. PS - I didn't read all of your post - too many issues to remember. I'm happy to help with them but recommend fixing the current issues before you start changing anything else. |
13-04-2010, 21:16 | #3 | ||||
Appreciates the very fine things in life
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Thanks for you reply Mark, much appreciated.
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Hard disk is fine according to Chkdsk, might swap the ram out see if that's causing a problem. Everything is still there.. I got as far as getting the mini dump copied to the desktop Quote:
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13-04-2010, 21:32 | #4 | |||||
Screaming Orgasm
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Location: Newbury
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13-04-2010, 21:46 | #5 |
Bananaman
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh
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I'll just chime in robocopy > xcopy in this instance, rsync probably better than both
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13-04-2010, 21:50 | #6 |
Screaming Orgasm
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Newbury
Posts: 15,194
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I won't disagree, but robocopy doesn't come as standard with XP. xcopy does.
Of course, both robocopy and rsync are downloadable, though I've yet to try to get rsync working on Windows (use it almost religiously on Linux). |
13-04-2010, 21:51 | #7 | ||||
Appreciates the very fine things in life
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Thanks again Mark
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Also wondering if, now that all the data is being used from the NAS drive It would be worth doing a format fresh install of XP? Having Production1 up and running again is pretty critical as it runs the plotter.... Quote:
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13-04-2010, 22:00 | #8 | |||||
Screaming Orgasm
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13-04-2010, 22:32 | #9 |
Appreciates the very fine things in life
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Thanks for your input as well Alex, will give xcopy a go first as it's there already.
Mark I'll see what production1 is like on Thursday as xp does start up and I get the desktop.. but it was hanging like mad.. not sure if that was because it was doing stuff behind the scenes having done the reinstall or due to something else. If I can get around in XP what would you suggest to check if the hard drive is the problem? |