Network window Crashes First Time I access LAN

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websterphreaky

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The Network window Crashes First Time I access LAN or other networks.

I have a Network with about 6 Macs and 8 Windows machines on, all share access to LAN attached NAS HD (using an embedded Linux server).

SOME of the Macs have the Network (from the Go menu) connection window crash (disappears immediately) EVERY time the first time I open it. The second time it stays open and eventually the network shares start to appear, slowly. Not every Mac has this problem and all are running 10.3.9. Ihave already tried tossing the finder.plist and no difference. I've run various maintenance apps like Cocktail, SOXs and repair permissions with no change.

It CAN'T be a corrupted file on the NAS HD, because some the Macs connnect just fine, no crash.

Looking for any help, please!
 
I would simplify your network situation and then build up from there. Try turning off or disconnecting all but two Macs and see if they can share files. Then turn things on one-by-one until you get a better sense of where the problem is.

If you cannot turn off or disconnect certain computers, disconnect two Macs and network them together directly as a test.
 
More information about your network settings might be helpful. Which protocols are active, which machines are connecting to which others and for what purpose. Do you have Windows Sharing turned on on the Macs. Are all of the machines using DHCP to get their IP addresses? What device is managing the network? Are you using DSL or Cable? If so what brand of router(s) are in use? Are any of the devices wireless?
 
macworks said:
I would simplify your network situation and then build up from there. Try turning off or disconnecting all but two Macs and see if they can share files. Then turn things on one-by-one until you get a better sense of where the problem is.

If you cannot turn off or disconnect certain computers, disconnect two Macs and network them together directly as a test.
Click to expand...
macworks, thanks for the thoughtful message - more than I can say for Stinz12!

Anyway, this issue I believe is within OS X and not external hardware or other Macs or PC's. I've already tried turning everything off late in the evening when everyone has gone and the "Network" window crash on the first lauch still happens. The second launch, the Network window stay open and "seeing" the LAN is possible, albiet slow sometimes. And as I originally posted, not all the Macs have this quirky issue with the Network window launch.

The Services that are on, are - Personal and Windows File and Print Sharing, Firewall on, Ethernet port on using DHCP, Automatic IPv6 addressing, AppleTalk is on with Auto Config. The LAN network uses a SMC 16 Port Switch and a US Robotics 802.11g Turbo Wireless Router for those users with portables (Macs and PCs).
 
Hmm. Well I have seen certain network hubs/switches that cause the issue you've described. Perhaps it's worth plugging things into a different switch temporarily to see if it resolves the issue. I recommend Asanté and Netgear.

You could also look at removing files from /System/Library/Preferences/System Configuration/ -- do not delete any of the files, simply move them to the desktop and reboot. Try them one at a time and see where you get. I know there's one file that if removed, you'll loose all of your network ports and so you'll obviously want to keep that one.

You might also try to simplify on the protocols. I would question your need for AppleTalk, but you know your network situation better than I do. And do the Windows computers connect directly to your Macs for File Sharing? If not, turn off Windows sharing -- it will not disable the ability for the Macs to connect to windows machines. Also consider turning off the Firewall on the Macs. If your Macs are not connected directly to the Internet, there's probably no need for you to have your Firewall on since you've already got a firewall built into your Internet router.
 
Please cool your jets Stinz12, or you most likely will recieve the results you are looking for.
 
Stinz12 said:
Dude, somebody was on my Username! That was not me, look at my most recent posts, they dont look anything like those. Oh My God, I don't know who could've gotten onto my Username.
Click to expand...

So simply change your password on the forum to ensure that it doesn't happen again -- even the most simple-minded computer users can figure that out... unless, of course, you're lying.

Either way, it's gonna be tough to trust anyone with "Stinz" in their name, so if it really wasn't you (I mean, come on, do you think we're that dense?), then simply create a new user account here, and set it to not automatically log you in with cookies.

At any rate, your ridiculous capitalization of random words gives you away. Next time be more careful if you're going to try and fool someone.
 
macworks said:
Hmm. Well I have seen certain network hubs/switches that cause the issue you've described. Perhaps it's worth plugging things into a different switch temporarily to see if it resolves the issue. I recommend Asanté and Netgear.

You could also look at removing files from /System/Library/Preferences/System Configuration/ -- do not delete any of the files, simply move them to the desktop and reboot. Try them one at a time and see where you get. I know there's one file that if removed, you'll loose all of your network ports and so you'll obviously want to keep that one.

You might also try to simplify on the protocols. I would question your need for AppleTalk, but you know your network situation better than I do. And do the Windows computers connect directly to your Macs for File Sharing? If not, turn off Windows sharing -- it will not disable the ability for the Macs to connect to windows machines. Also consider turning off the Firewall on the Macs. If your Macs are not connected directly to the Internet, there's probably no need for you to have your Firewall on since you've already got a firewall built into your Internet router.
Click to expand...

macworks,

I've tried other network switches and the problem remains, and the network protocols I'm running on all the Mac are identical and actually pretty minimalistic. So, since only some of those Macs exhibit this "network window" crash (closes) immediately on launch the first time, I still have to conclude that it's something flakey in those particular OS X 10.3.9 builds. Of course there is always the possibility of one of those famous Apple Update induced bugs, that has somehow effected a few of the Macs.

Seems to me I recall that there were some reports of Networking bugs introduced by some OS X updates in the recent past. Something that has always bugged (pun intended) me about Apples sloppiness.

Oh, I need to have AppleTalk on as we have a Apple Laser printer on the network.
 
Have you tried re-installing the Mac OS X 10.3.9 combo update? Sometimes that resolves flakey issues. And what about picking out files from /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ ???
 
I didn't know that you could "reinstall" an update? What is involved?

I have tried tossing various plist preference files, including Finder. Which preference files are you thinking of removing?

Appreciate the help!

Glad to see that the sys admin tossed that rude "Stenz.." jerk from the forum postings. Guess reporting a complaint works.
 
Just download the Mac OS X 10.3.9 Combo update from Apple's download site. It should mount up and open the installer automatically.

It's a well known issue that incremental updates to 10.3.9 led to various bugs and that installing the Combo updater often takes care of some of these flakey issues.
 
Will give reinstalling the 10.3.9 Combo update a try this weekend. Generally I always use the Combo's even when the built-in Updater notifies any of our Macs that an update is available.

Any thoughts on which library preferences to dump relating to network in OS X? Have already tried tossing Finder and that didn't work.

Thanks again.
 
websterphreaky said:
Will give reinstalling the 10.3.9 Combo update a try this weekend. Generally I always use the Combo's even when the built-in Updater notifies any of our Macs that an update is available.

Any thoughts on which library preferences to dump relating to network in OS X? Have already tried tossing Finder and that didn't work.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Try setting up a test user account and trying it with that. Then you can tell if it is the user setup, passwords or the machines themselves.
 
Go into hard drive/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ and try moving one file at a time to the desktop followed by a reboot and reconfig of network settings. If your network ports disappear, you've moved out a file that needs to go back in.

I'm sorry I don't know exactly which file to move, but I do know that I've had success in the past getting rid of one or more of these files.

I'd test it for you and tell you which exact files, but it's a bit time consuming and I'm on a deadline to go live with a web site today.
 
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