*Urgent* DHCP server quit working

**Heeter** · May 24th, 2009

Hi all,

Sorry about the Urgent tag, but I am at a real loss here.

This is for a winserver2003SBS. Everything WAS working fine up until now.

This is a main DC, with DHCP service.

The DHCP service quit working, I can get on the net with the DC, but cannot acces the files on the DC with the workstations. I cannot connect to the DC via Remote desktop either.

I have tried several times the Un/Re authorize the DHCP server, to no avail. I have rebooted and an error comes up on reboot that a service or driver failed. I check the event veiwer and it says something "Warning" "RemoteAccess" "The system cannot contact a DHCP server"

Everytime I open up the DHCP Server interface, It shows as "not Connected", then when I move my mouse over it, it then shows as "Active", but it still won't work from a workstation.

Please someone assist me, I really need this thing running properly for tomorrow morning.

Thanks in advance,

Heeter

**LordOfLA** · May 25th, 2009

uninstall the DHCP service from control panel > add/remove programs > windows components, reboot, reinstall DHCP.

Should fix it.

If not go find a shotgun

**Heeter** · May 25th, 2009

Thanks for your response, LofLA

I am crossing my fingers that, hopefully, it will do it.

I am returning out there tomorrow morning.

I hope I don't need that shotgun.

Thanks again,

Heeter

**Heeter** · May 25th, 2009

Sorry, Bud

That didn't work,

I have no idea how to fix this............

Heeter

Dark Atheist · May 25th, 2009

is there a firewall on the server? if so check its not blocking dchp requests, what is the ip/scope of the network, has the ip of the server been changed somehow

It sounds like it's time to roll up your sleves and start doing some network packet inspection.

You should installed the Network Monitor on your server if you haven't already (it's under Add/Remove components in one of the sub-menus). You can also use Ethereal if you don't want to use the native MSFT tool.

Once you have a tool installed installed, you can use to it capture all the packets going in and out of the server. You should see DHCP broadcast packets going into the server, and hopefully it responds to the machines with DHCP lease information.

Here is a packet walk through I found in a quick search:

http://www.eng.tau.ac.il/~netlab/resources/booklet/Ethereal_DHCP.pdf

If you scroll down, then you can see the network activity with a DHCP Discover (the client looking for a DHCP server), and the DHCP server repsonding with a DHCP offer.

If you don't see the packet coming into the server, then for some reason the broadcast packet from the client (hopefully on the same subnet as the DHCP server, otherwise you need a DHCP relay/helper) isn't making it to the server.

If you see the packed comign into the server, but no response from the server, then there is something wrong with the DHCP service. Either the scopes were configured wrong, or the service isn't running/authorized.

If you see it respond, and the data it's handing the client (you can see some of it in the packet) looks correct, then you need to check to see if the packet is making it back to the client (you may have to install NetMon/Ethereal on the client to do this).

In either case you need to validate that the packets are going where they need to. Like with the ISA server, ISA was blocking the inbound packets from getting to the DHCP service, so the DHCP service would have never responded.

**Heeter** · May 25th, 2009

Thanks for your responses, 3D

I will go through this list and check back................

Thanks

Heeter

**Heeter** · May 25th, 2009

UPDATE:

although I still have no idea what is going on. I just found out that a couple of days ago, the office had tried installing VMWare server onto the DC.

They couldn't get it to work so they uninstalled it. Seems like that might be the issue as well.

I don't know why the boss lets people touch the DC, but it is not helping out right now in the least bit.

Heeter

**Heeter** · May 25th, 2009

Hi Guys,

I keep getting the same service or driver failed error concerning the DHCP service upon reboot.

Heeter

Dark Atheist · May 25th, 2009

only thing i can think of is vmware has installed a virtual device, so you might ant to look under device manager.

What anti virus do you have on there? Is there anything else on the network that might be acting as a dhcp?

**Heeter** · May 25th, 2009

Thanks for your reply, 3D

The antivirus is NOD 15 cal server version. Hasn't been an issue, working flawlessly until this situation. I double checked the router to make sure that it wasn't acting as a DHCP server. It is good on that front.

I will check the DM.

Heeter

Dark Atheist · May 26th, 2009

an idea just popped into my head - i'm wondering if the vmware server did something to winsock layer, may have hooked something in, you could try resting that and see if that helps.

I'm out of here for 2 weeks now, hope you get it sorted

**Heeter** · May 26th, 2009

Great, 3D

I will try that.

Thanks a million for your help, I don't think a rep point is good enough to describe your assistance.

Let's see if this helps...............

Boss is talking about removing me from here already....

Thanks again

Heeter

**LordOfLA** · May 26th, 2009

What is the event log saying?

Ofcourse if the boss is talking about letting you go I'd not work to hard on it..

**kcnychief** · May 26th, 2009

To get you up and running quickly, while inconvenient, if this is the environment with only 12 PC's, I would go workstation to workstation and set static IP's that are valid within the network. For example, if your scope was 10.1.1.100-10.1.1.150, give them all an IP within that range, with a valid subnet, gateway and DNS. That should restore functionality assuming there are no other network connectivity problems. Technically speaking, that's the only real thing that the DHCP server is doing. Other than other advanced stuff, but this will restore the basic functionality to get the boss off your back until you fix it.

Once everyone is fat and happy again, you can work on your DHCP server issue. When the DHCP server is up and running, simply go to each workstation or put a login script to reset thet LAN connections back to DHCP.

There should also be more detailed information in the event viewer around what is happening. Do the statics, try some more stuff with the DHCP server and look at the event viewer close to the date/time you try to fix it. I would also verify that your server is up to date with patches and such. Un-install any software that has been installed recently, such as the VMware stuff, and see what happens

**Heeter** · May 26th, 2009

Thanks for the ideas, Guys.

The only error the event viewer is giving is about the DHCP service not starting.

I will get the full read on what the event viewer is stating in a bit.

I will issue static IP addresses right away.

Unfortunately, this is my only source of income for now.............

Heeter

**kcnychief** · May 26th, 2009

What is the event ID? This is a possible cause, but with the Event ID would have more info

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927059

**Heeter** · May 27th, 2009

Thanks for all your help guys,

I issued static IP's to all workstation for now, everything has stabilized, gives me some breathing room.

Heeter

**kcnychief** · May 27th, 2009

That's good news. Did you grab the event IDs from the event viewer for the DHCP errors?

**Heeter** · May 27th, 2009

I will be back there this morning, I will grab the errors codes when I get there.

Thanks again,

Heeter

**Mastershakes** · May 28th, 2009

This thread is hilarious. Lord seems to be only sane one. Give us the EVENT LOG errors.

May 24th, 2009	Top \| #1
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	Urgent DHCP server quit working Hi all, Sorry about the Urgent tag, but I am at a real loss here. This is for a winserver2003SBS. Everything WAS working fine up until now. This is a main DC, with DHCP service. The DHCP service quit working, I can get on the net with the DC, but cannot acces the files on the DC with the workstations. I cannot connect to the DC via Remote desktop either. I have tried several times the Un/Re authorize the DHCP server, to no avail. I have rebooted and an error comes up on reboot that a service or driver failed. I check the event veiwer and it says something "Warning" "RemoteAccess" "The system cannot contact a DHCP server" Everytime I open up the DHCP Server interface, It shows as "not Connected", then when I move my mouse over it, it then shows as "Active", but it still won't work from a workstation. Please someone assist me, I really need this thing running properly for tomorrow morning. Thanks in advance, Heeter

May 25th, 2009	Top \| #2
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,015 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 209	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** uninstall the DHCP service from control panel > add/remove programs > windows components, reboot, reinstall DHCP. Should fix it. If not go find a shotgun If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

May 25th, 2009	Top \| #3
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** Thanks for your response, LofLA I am crossing my fingers that, hopefully, it will do it. I am returning out there tomorrow morning. I hope I don't need that shotgun. Thanks again, Heeter

May 25th, 2009	Top \| #4
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** Sorry, Bud That didn't work, I have no idea how to fix this............ Heeter

May 25th, 2009	Top \| #5
Dark Atheist I never said I was nice Joined: April 2003 Location: In The Void Posts: 6,346 Blog Entries: 8 Reputation: 1877 Power: 0	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** is there a firewall on the server? if so check its not blocking dchp requests, what is the ip/scope of the network, has the ip of the server been changed somehow It sounds like it's time to roll up your sleves and start doing some network packet inspection. You should installed the Network Monitor on your server if you haven't already (it's under Add/Remove components in one of the sub-menus). You can also use Ethereal if you don't want to use the native MSFT tool. Once you have a tool installed installed, you can use to it capture all the packets going in and out of the server. You should see DHCP broadcast packets going into the server, and hopefully it responds to the machines with DHCP lease information. Here is a packet walk through I found in a quick search: http://www.eng.tau.ac.il/~netlab/resources/booklet/Ethereal_DHCP.pdf If you scroll down, then you can see the network activity with a DHCP Discover (the client looking for a DHCP server), and the DHCP server repsonding with a DHCP offer. If you don't see the packet coming into the server, then for some reason the broadcast packet from the client (hopefully on the same subnet as the DHCP server, otherwise you need a DHCP relay/helper) isn't making it to the server. If you see the packed comign into the server, but no response from the server, then there is something wrong with the DHCP service. Either the scopes were configured wrong, or the service isn't running/authorized. If you see it respond, and the data it's handing the client (you can see some of it in the packet) looks correct, then you need to check to see if the packet is making it back to the client (you may have to install NetMon/Ethereal on the client to do this). In either case you need to validate that the packets are going where they need to. Like with the ISA server, ISA was blocking the inbound packets from getting to the DHCP service, so the DHCP service would have never responded.

Latest News Posts

Latest Forum Posts

Latest Member Blogs

May 25th, 2009	Top \| #6
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** Thanks for your responses, 3D I will go through this list and check back................ Thanks Heeter

May 25th, 2009	Top \| #7
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** UPDATE: although I still have no idea what is going on. I just found out that a couple of days ago, the office had tried installing VMWare server onto the DC. They couldn't get it to work so they uninstalled it. Seems like that might be the issue as well. I don't know why the boss lets people touch the DC, but it is not helping out right now in the least bit. Heeter

May 25th, 2009	Top \| #8
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** Hi Guys, I keep getting the same service or driver failed error concerning the DHCP service upon reboot. Heeter

May 25th, 2009	Top \| #9
Dark Atheist I never said I was nice Joined: April 2003 Location: In The Void Posts: 6,346 Blog Entries: 8 Reputation: 1877 Power: 0	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** only thing i can think of is vmware has installed a virtual device, so you might ant to look under device manager. What anti virus do you have on there? Is there anything else on the network that might be acting as a dhcp?

May 25th, 2009	Top \| #10
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** Thanks for your reply, 3D The antivirus is NOD 15 cal server version. Hasn't been an issue, working flawlessly until this situation. I double checked the router to make sure that it wasn't acting as a DHCP server. It is good on that front. I will check the DM. Heeter

May 26th, 2009	Top \| #11
Dark Atheist I never said I was nice Joined: April 2003 Location: In The Void Posts: 6,346 Blog Entries: 8 Reputation: 1877 Power: 0	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** an idea just popped into my head - i'm wondering if the vmware server did something to winsock layer, may have hooked something in, you could try resting that and see if that helps. I'm out of here for 2 weeks now, hope you get it sorted

May 26th, 2009	Top \| #12
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** Great, 3D I will try that. Thanks a million for your help, I don't think a rep point is good enough to describe your assistance. Let's see if this helps............... Boss is talking about removing me from here already.... Thanks again Heeter

May 26th, 2009	Top \| #13
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,015 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 209	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** What is the event log saying? Ofcourse if the boss is talking about letting you go I'd not work to hard on it.. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

May 26th, 2009	Top \| #14
kcnychief █▄█ ▀█▄ █ Joined: April 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,949 Reputation: 4941 Power: 302	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** To get you up and running quickly, while inconvenient, if this is the environment with only 12 PC's, I would go workstation to workstation and set static IP's that are valid within the network. For example, if your scope was 10.1.1.100-10.1.1.150, give them all an IP within that range, with a valid subnet, gateway and DNS. That should restore functionality assuming there are no other network connectivity problems. Technically speaking, that's the only real thing that the DHCP server is doing. Other than other advanced stuff, but this will restore the basic functionality to get the boss off your back until you fix it. Once everyone is fat and happy again, you can work on your DHCP server issue. When the DHCP server is up and running, simply go to each workstation or put a login script to reset thet LAN connections back to DHCP. There should also be more detailed information in the event viewer around what is happening. Do the statics, try some more stuff with the DHCP server and look at the event viewer close to the date/time you try to fix it. I would also verify that your server is up to date with patches and such. Un-install any software that has been installed recently, such as the VMware stuff, and see what happens XBOX Live Gamertag: kcnychief

May 26th, 2009	Top \| #15
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** Thanks for the ideas, Guys. The only error the event viewer is giving is about the DHCP service not starting. I will get the full read on what the event viewer is stating in a bit. I will issue static IP addresses right away. Unfortunately, this is my only source of income for now............. Heeter

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Screensaver quit working	leencaci	Windows Desktop Systems	1	December 18th, 2003 6:10am
DHCP server for wxp	kanbeki	Windows Desktop Systems	4	November 3rd, 2003 12:24pm
DHCP Server?	AaronMcarthur	Windows Desktop Systems	4	July 7th, 2002 12:40am
Server service quit working, how to fix it?	bodhibkb	Windows Desktop Systems	2	March 21st, 2002 9:53pm
XP as DHCP server?	jeflies	Windows Desktop Systems	1	January 11th, 2002 4:29pm

May 26th, 2009	Top \| #16
kcnychief █▄█ ▀█▄ █ Joined: April 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,949 Reputation: 4941 Power: 302	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** What is the event ID? This is a possible cause, but with the Event ID would have more info http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927059 XBOX Live Gamertag: kcnychief

May 27th, 2009	Top \| #17
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** Thanks for all your help guys, I issued static IP's to all workstation for now, everything has stabilized, gives me some breathing room. Heeter

May 27th, 2009	Top \| #18
kcnychief █▄█ ▀█▄ █ Joined: April 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,949 Reputation: 4941 Power: 302	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** That's good news. Did you grab the event IDs from the event viewer for the DHCP errors? XBOX Live Gamertag: kcnychief

May 27th, 2009	Top \| #19
Heeter Overclocked Like A Mother Joined: July 2002 Location: In front of my computer Posts: 2,729 Reputation: 684 Power: 150	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** I will be back there this morning, I will grab the errors codes when I get there. Thanks again, Heeter

May 28th, 2009	Top \| #20
Mastershakes OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: July 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,721 Reputation: 1040 Power: 120	*Re: Urgent* DCHP server quit working** This thread is hilarious. Lord seems to be only sane one. Give us the EVENT LOG errors. So many idiots - so little time