Troubleshooting Techniques

We have a proxy server in our office on Windows NT server, which is a PDC. I want to configure a proxy array in my office for which I have to install another proxy server. I would like to know which machine i.e. the operating system should be selected. Also which PDC and BDC should be installed? Kindly give the details.

Windows NT is ideal for installing a proxy server.

A PDC (Primary Domain Controller) is a system which has all the security information stored in it. You must and should have only one PDC at a time in a domain.

A BDC (Backup Domain Controller) is a system, which acts as a backup for a PDC. All the information from the PDC is regularly updated into a BDC. So that whenever there is a PDC crash, one of the BDC can be upgraded to PDC.

Since you already have a PDC and proxy server installed on it, you should install proxy server on the BDC.

On connecting our computers to the network, usually one or two computers display 'illegal operations' error or they just hang. Also, the proxy server is not functioning properly resulting in fluctuating Internet speed. Kindly help solve the problem.

Let's address your first query.

You may get the error message ‘illegal operation’ due to various reasons like faulty memory, bad motherboard or IRQ Conflicts. These error messages also flash when the evaluation version for any software that you use expires. In that case, you need to uninstall that particular software and then download the latest version.

You may also get an illegal operation error when you do not clear your cache, History Folder and Temporary Internet Files or due to corrupted disk cache. To clear the cache, go to Options - Network Preferences - Cache and click on the button Clear disk cache now. Clearing the disk cache directory manually (deleting all contents) might also be necessary. An illegal operation error can also occur when two programs try to use the same resources on your computer at the same time; a regularly occurring illegal operation error is a good indication that your software was incorrectly installed, and may need to be reinstalled. A sporadic error is harder to track down. This kind of problem is usually caused by a hardware problem, but not always. Faulty memory, bad motherboard, and IRQ conflicts are almost always at fault.

When you encounter this error, click on Details and provide us the exact error message you are getting so that we can get back to you with an appropriate solution.

Some of the reasons why these illegal operations can frequently occur and their resolution are given step-by-step on the following URLS:

http://www.edmark.com/ts/pctech/tspcw90320.html

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q185/5/12.asp

Also, please try the following link for information about resolving these error messages:

http://www.silcon.com/howto/faqcachehow.htm

With regards to your second query on the proxy server problems:

Assuming that you are using the Microsoft's Proxy Server, we are providing links that will help you to troubleshoot the proxy server:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/winnt/train13.asp

http://help.netscape.com/browse/proxy3x.html

I want to setup a two-way trust between Windows NT domain and Windows 2000 Advance Server domain. The Windows 2000 domain trusts the NT domain but when I try the reverse (to setup the trust for NT domain trusting Windows 2000 domain), I get a message "domain can not be found'' or "you do not have logon access to domain."

I am using Administrator account with the same password on both domains and am working in mix mode on the Active directory. I have 2 network cards, which are using Compaq teaming, so there is only one IP address assigned. I also have a network card for a private cluster communication using a different subnet IP address. Can you suggest any ideas as to why the two-way trust is not working?

To ensure the two configurations communicate with each other properly, you need to set up a two-way trust relationship between the Windows NT and the Windows 2000 servers.

For this, you need to log into the Windows NT Primary Domain Controller (PDC) as the domain administrator and open the User Manager for Domains. Select the Trust Relationships option on the Policies menu and create a two-way trust to the Windows 2000 PDC. First select the Trusting Windows domain, and then add the Trusted Windows 2000 domain. Finally, log on to the Windows 2000 DC as the domain administrator and open the Active Directory Domains and Trusts tool located under Administrative Tools. You create two-way trust relationships to the Windows NT PDC for all domains in the enterprise by adding the Trusting Windows NT domain first, then adding the Trusted Windows NT domain. You can now set up trust relationships between the Windows 2000 server and Windows NT.

Please visit the following link for more information regarding two-way trust relationships:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/en/server/help/default.asp?

Url=/windows2000/en/server/help/sag_AD_UnTrusts.htm

I bought a networking kit and got my 2 computers networked. I can't figure out how to use the printer sharing. My wife's printer doesn't work and I don't know how to work on her computer and print it on my printer. Also, can I print something that's on her files from my computer and printer, or copy something from her computer to mine? If so, how do I do all this?

To use the Printer sharing and files on other system you should install and configure the following in both the systems that you wish to connect:

computers

To add these components, use the appropriate method:

File and Printer Sharing

Protocol (NetBEUI and TCP/IP protocols)

Restart your computer when you are prompted to do so.

NOTE: You may have to insert the Windows CD to install certain components.

Then to print documents from the other system to the printer in your system, install the appropriate printer drivers. To do so please follow the steps given below:

Go to Start - Settings - Printers to open the Printers window.

To share files in the other system you have to create the shares with appropriate permissions. For this double click My Computer, right click on the drive you wish to share your information on. Once the Properties window for the drive is open click the Sharing tab and choose the option for Shared As. Ensure a name is entered in Share Name. Click the apply button and reboot the computer to ensure the changes have taken affect.

I want to setup a 5 - 10 machine peer- to-peer network. All machines have either Windows 98 SE or Windows 2000 Professional installed. I have a 16 - port hub, and a cable connection from Spectranet that I would use for all computers on the network to access the Internet.

In a peer-to-peer network, it is realistic to choose a 10BaseT cabling scheme using twisted pair cabling and a hub, or "10Base2" cabling used coax cable, T-pieces and terminators. Once you have decided on the type of cabling you are going to use, you then select which network card you are going to install. This is because, without a network card, your PC will not be able to connect to the network and access or share information with other computers. Please visit the following links for detailed information on setting up peer-to-peer network using a hub:

http://www3.mistral.co.uk/colinp/colinnet.htm

http://www3.mistral.co.uk/colinp/colinnet.htm

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/peer.htm

On Windows 2000/ME (client machine), I am unable to connect to my RAS server using dialup. It gives error 619, port was disconnected. But I am able to connect to the Internet thereby ruling out problem of modem connectivity. I am able to connect to RAS server on Windows 95/98 but not on Windows 2000/ME (client machine). Kindly help.

This issue occurs because the account you were logged on with at the time you joined the domain did not have administrator privileges on the Windows 2000 domain. Because of this, services that could easily compromise network security, such as RRAS, deny clients the ability to obtain access to the domain.

I would suggest that you do the following to solve the problem:

Firstly you must register the RRAS server in Active Directory using an account that has domain administrator permissions. To do so follow the steps below:

Note: This method may be used with Windows NT/2000-based based RRAS or RAS servers.

Note: The Netsh.exe methods can only be used if the RRAS server is Windows 2000-based.

Use either of the following methods with the Netsh.exe tool:

Method 1: Log on the RRAS computer using an account that has domain administrator privileges, type Netsh. RAS add registered server at a command prompt, and then press enter.

Method 2: To run a command with administrator privileges without being logged in as an administrator:

At a command prompt on the RRAS computer, type run as /user:domain name\administrator name "cmd", where domain name is the appropriate domain name, and administrator name is the appropriate administrator name. You are then prompted to enter a password for this account. If this computer is able to connect to the domain controller and verify the credentials, a command prompt opens with the following information in the title bar: cmd (running as domain name\administrator name)

At a command prompt, type Netsh. RAS adds registered server at a command prompt, and then press enter.