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Network timeouts with multicast

  • 1.  Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 05:31 AM
    I have some problems with my ghostcasting.
    I need to put an image of 12.5gb on 15 pc's.
    I use multicast for deploying the images over the network.
    Everything in my network has a 1 gigabit nic the switch is also gigabit.
    My server has windows server 2003 r2, pentium D 2800 and 4gigabite memory, intel gigabite nic.
    I start the clients with pxe-boot into the bartpe.
    There I start northon ghost 32 versie 11.
    In the ghostcast I set by options to force the multicast.
    When the i start the sending eveything go fine but after a time the network go down for some moments.
    Sometimes the network is down foor more then a minute and then the network comes active again.
    That happens more times in one ghost sesion.
    The timeouts comes variable.
     
    Do some one know how that comes or what i need to do for fixing the problem.
     
    Is the pc not good for the casting?
    Is the pxe to slow?
    I used already 3 diferents switches.
     
    thanks and regards
     
    Glenn
     


  • 2.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Jul 16, 2007 03:25 AM
    Hi Glenn,

    Usually, PXE boot does not create many issues under WinPE since the actual driver is loaded. Under DOS I have seen cases where the actual driver for the card perfroms better than PXE driver.

    When you say network is going down, does the session terminate? Is there a Ghosterr.txt file available?

    Or, does it go down and comes up again?

    How do you notice that network is going down? Is that lights in the switch, an error message or the progress bar stops moving?

    Krish


  • 3.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Jul 16, 2007 10:08 AM
    Hello Krish,

    When you say network is going down, does the session terminate? Is there a Ghosterr.txt file available?
    Or, does it go down and comes up again?
    My network goes down and comes up again.

    How do you notice that network is going down?
    By looking at the Networking tab in Windows Task Manager.
    There i see the curve go totally down to zero.
     
    Is that lights in the switch, an error message or the progress bar stops moving?
    The progress bar stops moving also the remaining time stops counting.
    When the curve starts again in Windows task Manager, the remaining time starts counting again.
    glenn


  • 4.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 04:48 AM
    Hi Glenn,

    I cannot think of any specific reason for this. However, some time back I have seen a similar behavior when the image contained very large number of very small files. Does your image contain any thing like that? Or does this happen for every image?

    Krish


  • 5.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 04:58 AM
    Hi Krish,

    Does your image contain any thing like that?
    My image is 12,5 gb large with 3 partitions. (Original images of hp pc's)
     
    Or does this happen for every image?
    With other images of 3.5 gb i have the same problem ( that are just a clean install of xp with some drivers and programs)
     

    glenn


  • 6.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 04:32 AM
    Hi Glenn,

    I have used HP original images before, so it should not be the problem.

    Then it could be anywhere, most likely, in the network. If you run a unicast session instead of multicast, does it still happen?

    Krish


  • 7.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Jul 20, 2007 09:18 AM
    Hey Krish
    When i use unicast then i don't have that problem.
    Only when i use multicast then i have that problem.
     
    The first time you do a multicast after that the pc has stand long time of with no powercord is plugged in.
    Then it seems to work fine.
    When you do a multicast after that it seems not workiing well and get time outs.
    Also if you turn of the pc for 5 minutes.
     
    glenn


  • 8.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Jul 21, 2007 02:30 AM
    Hi Glenn,

    I have seen this behaviour is some of the networks, almost look like something is buffering data and releasing them.

    However, your observation of removing the power code from PC is pointing to something with the NIC. Some times, configuration of the card while in Windows may not clear during reboot. Even if you power off the machine, if the machine is capable of WOL and has a soft power switch, it is not going to cut the power to PCI bus. Just to confirm this, could you remove the power code for about 2 minutes and try?

    Krish


  • 9.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Jul 18, 2009 10:41 AM
    Hi,

    i've got the same problem. I'm not very family with Ghost. here is my Status.

    1) Use Ghost Solution Suite 2.5
    2) Network boot with PXE server and TFTP Server in Windows server 2003
    3) GHO file size is 5.x Gb stored in the same server
    4) Router is dhcp (Linksys WRT54G), not server. 3Com switch (10/100) and ASUS (10/100)
    5) 3 lenovo x200 laptops (to push gho)
    6) can see all ip in Ghostcast server (after accepting all clients), can boot all clients

    Here is my problem :

    I can restore to only one laptop, other laptops are timeouts when i try to restore to all laptops.

    Chan


  • 10.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Aug 06, 2009 06:18 PM

    Hi:

    I'm having the exact same problem as cnnaing, almost exactly the same hardware, execept I am using GhostCast server and my image size is 25GB.  I can push the image down to the x60 and x61, but having exact problem described above with the x200.  Any ideas?

    Thanks,

    Loran



  • 11.  RE: Network timeouts with multicast

    Posted Aug 10, 2009 05:54 AM
    Hi,

    What is the network card in x200? Do you use DOS or WinPE?

    Krish