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Unable to restore - "unknown network error"

Unanswered Unable to restore - "unknown network error"

  • Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:19 AM
     
     
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    Client XP Pro

    WHS RC 6.0.1424

    Host file with static IP of WHS (outside range of DHCP)

     

    Have had issues with connect installation, previous posts point issue toward router (Linksys BEFSR41 Router Firmware 1.46.02).  Router recently going into diag frequently and has been replaced.

     

    New router Linksys RVS4000 (wired gigabit v1.1.12) installed and working without issues - auto backups performing without issues previously encountered with old router.  All features of WHS seem operational.

     

    Attempted to restore from CD

     - restore CD loads, asks for keyboard type, and identified devices, but the screen for logon only appears ~1 second then disappears with "unknown network error".  Attempted with USB drive installed with driver folder from WHS server and restore app searched, found USB but with the same network error results.

     

    Any suggestions - ran connector repair from control panel add/remove, was able to connect to WHS - seem to run successful.  Also set permissions on private keys (kb 939218) to any administrator.

     

    Thanks,

    KCB

     

     

All Replies

  • Tuesday, November 27, 2007 12:29 PM
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    The Restore CD process requires that there be a DHCP server on your network. You appear to be saying that you don't use DHCP at home, in which case the PC you're running the Restore CD on won't be able to obtain an IP address.

     
  • Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1:53 PM
     
     
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    Ken,

     

    Sorry for the confusion.  I have static IP for server 192.168.x 20,  DHCP on IPs 192.168.x.100 through 192.168.x.150.

    kcb

     
  • Wednesday, November 28, 2007 3:11 AM
     
     
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    Did "unknown network error" issues make it to the OEM or today's (11/27/07) update.  In reviewing the article 941914 it does not seem this issue or other similiar issues are directly addressed.  I remember discussions of the team trying.

     

    In attempting to update WHS components v6.0.1424.2 from the console->settings->update now,  no updates were found.  I assume that the updates are for "WHS customers" and technically a beta tester is not a customer.

     

    Another note, I have already migrated to servername.homeserver.com as well as set permissions on private keys to any administrator.

     

    I don't mind the $5.99 to see if OEM and today’s update fix my issue, it is the one to three weeks waiting for the CD.  My license runs out 2/7/08 so I will be continuing trying to get the WHS restore capability working.

     

    Sure seems like a name resolution or certificate issue to me.

     

     

     

    Regards,

    kcb

     

     

     

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 2:03 AM
     
     
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    Unknown network error usually points to a netbios or driver issue. Have you opened the backup of the home computer you are trying to restore from another computer and copied the drivers from the 'Windows Home Server drivers for restore' to a thumb drive in a 'drivers' folder, plugged the thumb drive with the drivers into the home computer you are attempting to restore and then booted it with the restore cd? This should slurp up your network card drivers during boot and provide you with all services.

     

    The beta has been concluded as we are a released product, I'm fairly certain that our windows updates are version specific and won't install on an RC build but I haven't tried that. This being a version-specific rather than a 'customer-centric' scenario, you should know we still love our beta testers very much. 

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 3:12 AM
     
     
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    Yes, I used the thumb drive for the drivers - but will try again for good measures.

     

    I updated my client hosts file to include my server.  Ken Warren helped me out there.  I did that under RC to get client up and running as well using XP.  It appears that my network has a NetBios name resolution issue.  I migrated over to Vista since this post originated

     

    My ISP is comcast, using a provider supplied cable modem into a Linksys RVS4000 router, WHS machine on a static IP.  It works great - as long as I dont have an issue and need to perform a restore.  Just can't get that to work.

     

    Other than that - life is great!

     

    kcb

     

    Client is Windows Vista (clean install), WHS is OEM

     

     

     

     

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 3:37 AM
     
     
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    Is it a true static IP or an IP reserved for your home server from DHCP services on the router?

     

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 3:46 AM
     
     
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    I think so... the router is has a range  .100 through .150 for the dynamic range.  I picked a value less than that, and used the mac address to identifiy it.  I have some router config snapshots if you would like to see them... ipconfig /all, nslookup,...

    kcb

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 4:32 AM
     
     
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    Please try disabling the IP reservation for your home server on the router and rebooting your home server so that it takes an IP from the DHCP pool. Once the home server is online again, try to run the restore.

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 4:41 PM
     
     
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    I have established a static IP and  given DNS  on home server.  If I disable the IP reservation within the router will I not have to reconfigure the home server for DHCP prior to the recovery attempt?

     

    By the way I tried to recover with a newly copied set of drivers on thumb drive from server recent automatic backup.   Similiar signature as RC and RTM releases prior to OEM - just after entering password the recovery process fails "unknown network error has occurred during PC restore".  Just to mention the thumb drive was recognized in the hardware list and light did flash on thumb drive, so something was going on with it.

     

    kcb

     

    Client is Vista - clean load (it was 18 days ago)

    WHS is OEM (reinstall from RTM)

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 6:29 PM
     
     
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    I removed the static IP setting from the server TC/IP configuration.  Rebooted server and it acquired the proper IP address.  Release and renewed DHCP table at router with all other devices online – server acquired the proper IP.  Checked DHCP client list – all is good and hopes are high!

     

    Attempted a PC restore – still failed after password entry, same location – did not use thumb drive and host file still has server IP and name.

     

    An observation that the doesn’t seem correct, when the “Detect Hardware” dialog appeared the focus was still on “Initializing Restore CD…”.  The Initializing Restore was in focus and in front of the Detect Hardware, by bring the detect hardware dialog in focus the both buttons worked.

     

    kcb

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 7:37 PM
     
     
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    Unplug both the client and server them from your router.  Then use a single RJ45 network cable to plug them directly into each other.

     

    Boot the restore CD on the client machine, provide any needed drivers, and run the restore.

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 8:22 PM
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     Daryl wrote:
    Unplug both the client and server them from your router.  Then use a single RJ45 network cable to plug them directly into each other.

     

    It won't work with a standard network cable.  It needs to be a crossover cable.

     

     Daryl wrote:
    Boot the restore CD on the client machine, provide any needed drivers, and run the restore.

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 8:28 PM
     
     
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    Ok, I'll try that... does it matter wheather I use a crossover or straight through cable configuration?

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 8:46 PM
     
     
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     kariya21 wrote:

    It won't work with a standard network cable.  It needs to be a crossover cable.

     

    Network cards haven't needed crossover cables in years.  They auto-sense what type of device is at the remote end, and swap wire pairs as needed.

     
  • Saturday, January 12, 2008 9:45 PM
     
     
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    Oh... tells you how current I am...

     

    Wired Ethernet connection direct from client to server with straight through RJ45 cable.  Server network card TC/IP configuration is DHCP.  Client has thumb drive with latest drivers pulled from latest backup set from the server.  Booted off the restore CD.  Server established 169.254.98.57 IP, subnet mask 255.255.0.0. 

    Received a repeat of the dialog confusion described above. 

    The restore wizard did progress past the password entry and the backup sets were identified.  Two radio buttons were present (computer name (this computer) and another radio button with computer name.  The server has two backup sets.  The non default has some backup sets listed the other was blank (this client computer name is the same for both sets –( XP load as well as the current Vista load).

    I stopped at that point – one step at a time…. I have good client configuration.  Before I test this completely I need  ~6-8hrs dedicated.    Not ready to check that just yet. 

    I will add a feature request into connect    “Ability to restore PC without rewiring network and thumb drive available with latest driver set”.     I don’t think that is pushing the envelope to much… what do you think?    Also, this “feature” request has been around the forum not only from me but others since I have been around (RC).  I need to gather up my firmware versions of my devices, screen shots, etc so maybe next week I will formally request the “feature”.  Almost forgot this one, "Install process to configure client hosts file to enable WHS console connect to server"

    Cheers,

    kcb