Network application closes unexpectedly

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dominique Deleris
  • Start date Start date
D

Dominique Deleris

Hello,

We are facing the following problem:

We have an application, written in Delphi, which is available from an
"application server" through a shared folder. In this shared folder are
located the program executable itself, as well as all needed DLLs. From the
client workstations, the application is launched from the shared folder, and
DLLs are also downloaded as needed. Sometimes the application is launched
directly via \\server\share\app.exe, sometimes via a mapped drive X:\app.exe
(with X:\ mapped to \\server\share).

This has been working perfectly for years, using Windows NT 4.0 servers are
Windows NT 4.0 / 2000 Pro workstations.

We have now problems with XP Pro client workstations, where the application
will randomly abort without any error message (it simply disappears from the
screen). The event logs do not show any error message, and we could not get
any audit failures with the standard Windows auditing tools (Local security
policy, Local policies, Audit policy)

The only way we can reproduce it at will so far is to unplug the network
cable, or disconnect the share while in the application. Then, on next user
action (e.g. menu selection), the application will disappear...

So, we have very little information on what can possibly cause the
behaviour.

Our questions:

- Does it look like a known problem to anybody?
- Does anybody know how to identify the root cause of the problem? or how to
trace such problems in a simple manner?

Thanks in advance,

Kind regards,

And a happy new year to everybody :)

Dominique
 
this may help. quoted from http://www.ChicagoTech.net
XP disconnection issue

1. Try to disable autodisconnection feature first.
2. If disabling autoconnection doesn't fix the problem and other
workstations don't have the same issue, check the hardware settings, for
example, configure the computer' network cards for half duplex. Most Hubs
don't support full duplex.
--
For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net


Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
Networking Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/networksolutions.htm
VPN Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpnsolutions.htm
VPN Process and Error Analysis, http://www.chicagotech.net/VPN process.htm
VPN Troubleshooting, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpn.htm
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
 
Dominique,

I have a few questions...
1. Are you running WINS? (I have seen this happen before; we needed WINS to
make applications on a NT4 server work reliably even with DNS working
perfectly.)
2. Are you SURE there isn't an intermittent network problem dropping
connection? Try a program like WhatsUP or ADRem (I prefer Adrem) to verify
that you have a consistent connection to the network. Maybe you have a
flaky switchport, or a ProxyARP problem... or a bad network cable.
3. Is DNS a problem? Try a line in LMHOSTS to make sure. If that fixes it,
fix your DNS.
4. Does this happen to everyone? At the same time?
5. Are you out of concurrent licenses? Or the maximum threshold set on the
share?

I know those aren't in any good order, but work your way up the OSI model.
Check the physical connections, then your network path, then your naming,
then your server, then your share, then the app..
 
Ryan Hanisco said:
3. Is DNS a problem? Try a line in LMHOSTS to make sure. If that fixes it,
fix your DNS.

DNS would be the HOSTS file. WINS is the LMHOSTS file.
 
Back
Top