Network Connection Dropping

[tokyomike]

The problem: When doing large copies from my PC (to a local NAS or the internet) my ethernet connection dies.

The way it manifests is that I begin a backup or file copy and get a pretty good and constant transfer rate (80% or so of theoretical maximum). Then, a few minutes later, both incomming and outgoing transfer rates go to zero and Windows reports that I have lost my internet connection (internet access icon in task bar).

Hardware: Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming K6
- Tried both ethernet ports, disabling the other
- Tried Microsoft and ASRock drivers (current)
- Tried both connection speed to 100Mbps (simplex and duplex) and 1000Mbps

OS: Windows 10 Pro (ver: 10.0.17134)
- Last update: 2018-09 x64 ベース システム用 Windows 10 Version 1803 更新プログラム (KB4100347)

Antivirus: Norton 360 Premier
- Disabled firewall

Network traffic monitoring: NetBalancer

Backup software: EaseUS
- Tried various maximum speeds. down to 20MB

Other:
- swapped out gigabit switch
- swapped out ethernet cables

I think that covers it. Please let me know if you need to know anything else. I cannot seem to get to the bottom of this one.

All help appreciated, thanks,

Mike

 

[Tumeden]

Sounds like its hardware issues with the router/modem itself, Maybe you could check if there are available firmware updates for it.

 

[tokyomike]

Sounds like its hardware issues with the router/modem itself, Maybe you could check if there are available firmware updates for it.

Thanks, I did think about that. I believe that the firmware is up to date. All the other devices attached to the network continue to work properly and the time before losing connection is well inside the lifespan of the allocated IP addresses.

I should add that the system that fails is currently working through an internal gigabit switch which then connects to the router (and DHCP server). I'll try reconfiguring EVERYTHING if I can't find another solution. In any event, moving the DHCP to my NAS may be worth a try.

Mike

 

[tokyomike]

OK, I now have both the NAS and the Windows 10 PC on static IPs, not referencing the router at all. All network traffic is through a switch (not the one built into the router). The problem persists. One additional thing that confuses me is that the time to fail is extremely variable - it can be 30 seconds or 10 minutes, without any change to the backup job.

I should add that I have tried this with maximal and minimal compression. The PC CPU load is low throughout.

Thank you,

Mike

 

[Tumeden]

Is there a way to test without the switch in between, or try different ethernet cables you may have?

There's a lot of trial and error in networking, a lot of process of elimination.

 

[tokyomike]

Is there a way to test without the switch in between, or try different ethernet cables you may have?

There's a lot of trial and error in networking, a lot of process of elimination.

You're right and I have given this my best shot re the components between the PC and the NAS. I have replaced the cables with the ones that came with the NAS (QNAP). I have replaced the switch and, as I said before, have now eliminated all reliance on the router. The only concern that I still have is the on-board ethernet on the PC. Although unlikely to be the culprit, I have a new ethernet card arriving tomorrow based on a different chipset (original is Intel - there are some documented compatibility issues with Windows 10 relating to VPNs).

Thanks again,

Mike

 

[bill001g]

It depends on what type of failure you are getting. You technically don't care if you can't get to the internet since you are only accessing a device inside your house. If the port is completely failing that is something different than just not being able to access the internet.

I would see what happens if you unplug your router from the switch and do the copies. Since you have already done all the hard work of setting up static ip addresses this should work without the router.

If this works I would be suspect of some form of ip conflict with another device or maybe some conflict on the router IP.

If this also fails you start to suspect a hardware issue. If you have not tried new ethernet cables that is a good option. If the wires are just slightly loose in the plugs small difference in temperature will cause the metal to expand and contract causing disconnections.

 

[tokyomike]

It depends on what type of failure you are getting. You technically don't care if you can't get to the internet since you are only accessing a device inside your house. If the port is completely failing that is something different than just not being able to access the internet.

The port is failing entirely from the PC only. The port on the NAS is still available from other sources.

A further observation - I went out earlier and think that it may eventually have reset on its own by it was several hours. Seems like something locking up and waiting for a very long timeout but I could be mistaken (will endeavor to repeat this overnight).

I would see what happens if you unplug your router from the switch and do the copies. Since you have already done all the hard work of setting up static ip addresses this should work without the router.

If this works I would be suspect of some form of ip conflict with another device or maybe some conflict on the router IP.

Tried this and no luck. Exactly the same symptoms.

If this also fails you start to suspect a hardware issue. If you have not tried new ethernet cables that is a good option. If the wires are just slightly loose in the plugs small difference in temperature will cause the metal to expand and contract causing disconnections.

I have tried several sets of ethernet cables - and have reduced everything to 100Mbs, just to be sure that I'm not consistently using a substandard cable by accident.

I'll see how the alternative NIC works tomorrow unless someone has anything specific in mind that I might have missed. In particular, I'm thinking that there may be a driver or hardware compatibility issue but, having updated pretty much everything I can think of, I can't see what it might be.

Thank you!

Mike

 

[tokyomike]

Is there a way to test without the switch in between, or try different ethernet cables you may have?

There's a lot of trial and error in networking, a lot of process of elimination.

As I said in another post, I tried other cables. I have now tried two different cables in a direct connection - same result. I am increasingly convinced that this is a problem at the PC end.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[Tumeden]

Is there a way to test without the switch in between, or try different ethernet cables you may have?

There's a lot of trial and error in networking, a lot of process of elimination.

As I said in another post, I tried other cables. I have now tried two different cables in a direct connection - same result. I am increasingly convinced that this is a problem at the PC end.

Thanks!

Mike

This is the second time you had replied to my same question Mike, I think it's time to take a break and rest your eyes LOL.

 

[tokyomike]

This is the second time you had replied to my same question Mike, I think it's time to take a break and rest your eyes LOL.

😳

 

[tokyomike]

Thank you for the help but it looks as though I have found the problem (once you've eliminated the impossible etc. etc.):

Network traffic monitoring: NetBalancer

My backup has been running for about 2 hours now and is half way through - I'm sure that I can optimise the speed but it is working! All I did was kill NetBalancer and everything started to work swimmingly. Anyway, I'll update if the problem manifests again while I'm asleep but think that this may be it... trivially simple to resolve.

Mike

 

[Tumeden]

Thank you for the help but it looks as though I have found the problem (once you've eliminated the impossible etc. etc.):

Network traffic monitoring: NetBalancer

My backup has been running for about 2 hours now and is half way through - I'm sure that I can optimise the speed but it is working! All I did was kill NetBalancer and everything started to work swimmingly. Anyway, I'll update if the problem manifests again while I'm asleep but think that this may be it... trivially simple to resolve.

Mike

Good to hear mike, funny how something so simple can be such a big cause and issue.
Best of luck in the future. I'll mark your own post as the solution for now, if it doesn't happen to be the final solution you're able to unmark it and continue posting.

 

[tokyomike]

Thank you for the help but it looks as though I have found the problem (once you've eliminated the impossible etc. etc.):

Network traffic monitoring: NetBalancer

My backup has been running for about 2 hours now and is half way through - I'm sure that I can optimise the speed but it is working! All I did was kill NetBalancer and everything started to work swimmingly. Anyway, I'll update if the problem manifests again while I'm asleep but think that this may be it... trivially simple to resolve.

Mike

Good to hear mike, funny how something so simple can be such a big cause and issue.
Best of luck in the future. I'll mark your own post as the solution for now, if it doesn't happen to be the final solution you're able to unmark it and continue posting.

It did work - I was wondering how to mark the solution, so thank you.

Best,

Mike