Windows Server 2008 (sp2) stops responding on network share requests from Windows Vista and 7 clients.

I have two Windows Server 2008 SP2 machines (TFS and TFSBUILD). Periodically, the TFSBUILD server shares (\TFSBUILD\ShareName or \TFSBUILD\C$) become unresponsive to requests from Windows Vista (Server 2008) and Windows 7 client requests. Windows XP machines are still able to connect.

No events in the server log indicate any problem. A simple restart corrects the issue temporarily, but it always returns.

It is not this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948732 (we aren't using that software).

This does not appear to be an issue with SMB 2.0. Per @Maxwell I tried disabling it on the server and on the Windows 7 and Vista stations:

sc config lanmanworkstation depend= bowser/mrxsmb10/nsi
sc config mrxsmb20 start= disabled

All anti-virus software has been disabled, firewall is disabled by policy. No other network activity is affected.

The TFSBUILD server is a virtual, running under Hyper-V (x86 guest on an x64 host). The host has the same OS version and SP.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

From serverfault Peter LaComb Jr.

• when server stops responding can you access network resources FROM TFSBUILD ? does TFSBUILD change its IP address (dhcp) ? is "LanmanServer" service running ?

  Peter LaComb Jr. : On TFSBUILD, LanmanServer is running. From TFSBUILD I can access other servers shares (though not the shares on the local machine). And I can RDP in to TFSBUILD.

  evg345 : so it very likes that problem at SMB protol may be it helps when you disconect from CLIENT vista/win7 and reconect again ? > net use /delete \\192.168.1.205\root$ look at http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16196/how-to-disconnect-non-mapped-unc-path-drives-in-windows/

  Peter LaComb Jr. : Dropping client connects has no effect.
  From evg345

• Maybe this has something to do with SMB 2.0, you could try disabling it on the server and on the Windows 7 and Vista stations:

  sc config lanmanworkstation depend= bowser/mrxsmb10/nsi
  sc config mrxsmb20 start= disabled
  

  You may also want to read this article at petri.co.il

  This may be a workaround...

  Peter LaComb Jr. : Trying that now.

  Peter LaComb Jr. : Excellent suggestion, but no luck.

  Maxwell : Was Symantec Endpoint installed on the server?

  Peter LaComb Jr. : No, in fact, I thought that was the KB I linked to, but I'll update it.

  Peter LaComb Jr. : Per @DrZaiusApeLord I should have RTWFA - Adding reg. entry now to see if that fixes it.

  Peter LaComb Jr. : Nope, that didn't help.

  Maxwell : One more idea, maybe this has something to do with the TCP Chimney OffloadFeature http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;951037&x=17&y=10

  Peter LaComb Jr. : No luck there either.

  Peter LaComb Jr. : Seems I was wrong - it had an issue one time after adding the registry entries, but now is stable.

  Maxwell : Glad it solved your problem.
  From Maxwell

• There seems to be a somewhat related question here. One answer that sticks out is to check the "File and printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" option on the network adapters. However, this would likely cause it to never work, not stop working after a while.

  I'd suggest you get Wireshark on the server and start a trace of the network traffic. Check to see what it looks like when XP clients connect to a share, and when the Win7/Vista clients connect (both when it works and after it stops working). Hopefully you'll find some obvious missing piece when it's not working that can help lead to the actual cause.

  Peter LaComb Jr. : You're right - if F&P sharing wasn't installed it wouldn't work at all. Already installed Wireshark. I'll post traces of working/non-working soon.

  tony roth : Most av software isn't really disabled until you uninstall it! I'm pretty sure this is true for mcafee not sure of others.
  From Paul Kroon

• hm. can you disable/remove IPv6 and all others unnecessary filters/services on TFS/TFSBUILD servers ?

  you can look at WinXP network configuration to decide what to disable ...

  From evg345

• sc config lanmanworkstation depend= bowser/mrxsmb10/nsi
  sc config mrxsmb20 start= disabled
  

  You also need to put in the reg key on the server to disable SMB2. Then you will need to reboot the server and all your clients.

  From DrZaiusApeLord