Network file sharing falls asleep, then wakes up

[JesseKnows]

I have a Windows XP machine serving files via gigabit Ethernet. Every once in a while (hours) the network file access(es) freezes. The client is still working, and the Internet is still available through the same Ethernet connection, so I know the problem is not in the client. Multiple applications on the client stop responding: I could be playing a movie that would stop, or loading a JPG that would be stuck partway through the picture, or the Usenet program would freeze, its files being on the server.

I couldn't find anything in the server event log.

When this happens, I sometimes see multiple files on multiple server volumes all freeze at the same time.

How to tell whether it's a network/file sharing issue vs. a file access issue? All files on the server are on NTFS.

Is there a known Windows XP issue that goes to sleep occasionally?

 

[aug1516]

You may want to check the Hard Drive sleep time set on the server. It may be spinning down the hard drives after an hour or so.

 

[JesseKnows]

Thanks aug1516. The problem occurs during periods of activity, and the server disks should not go to sleep in the middle of activity (e.g., stepping through a JPG directory pic by pic). I will, however, check whether they are allowed to go to sleep, and if so I will try disabling that.

 

[spidey07]

check the cabling and make sure it is a store bought cable.

try swapping out the cable with one that is known to work good.

 

[eLiu]

I have teh reverse of this. The internet stops working, but filesharing proceeds A-ok. (This is over a firewire link btwn a desktop/laptop). Gah, lol...and my internet stops in about 10 minutes...wont' start again unless I pull out the cable/put it back in (again, fileshare continues flawlessly).

-Eric

 

[JesseKnows]

spidey07 - I have cabling in the wall so trying another would be difficult
Anyway, I see this from clients on either of two Ethernet cards in the server, so the hardware there is totally redundant. Moreover, while the filesharing app is frozed, I can access the server using remote desktop. So the network infrastructure seems OK, it's the file sharing that seems problematic.