Comments on: Shared folder becomes inaccessible on Windows Server 2008

By: sujeshpk

sujeshpk — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:23:29 +0000

I am also facing the same issue with 2008 servers, were I have 2 different servers and both of them showing the same issues, once it is restarted I am able to use the shared drives. We are using Symantec 10.2 as AV. The issue is only happening when I am accessing the shared folders from clients, when I am trying to access from the server where the shared folder is hosted it is possible to access

By: jajjii

jajjii — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:36:39 +0000

Here

By: jajjii

jajjii — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:35:01 +0000

Sorry, the link to the blog is

http://blog.ralfelt.com/post/Symantec-Endpoint-Protection-suddenly-(radomly)-blocks-clients-from-accessing-shared-files.aspx

By: jajjii

jajjii — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:21:47 +0000

Hey guys,
I have tried several times to find the exact reason to why this happens.

I have expanded our network and added a Server 2008 which is also running Symantec Endpoint protection. At several times, randomly, users suddenly cannot access shared folders on the server. It starts with one user, and slowly replicates onto all users for different files and folders. Mostly any new connections are the ones that are experience problem from the instance where the first users got locked out.

I wrote a section in my blog related to Symantec Endpoint protection and folder freeze here http://blog.ralfelt.com/post/Symantec-Endpoint-Protection-suddenly-(radomly)-blocks-clients-from-accessing-shared-files.aspx
This last incident where the folders froze up on the server, I was able to monitor what the user did from the start.

The steps were that the user went to the shared folder and executed a setup program for a third party software that we use. This has been done many times in the same fashion without any problems, but this time it took a little longer than expected to run the executable file, so the user killed the program in the task manager. After that, the user could no longer access that specific file.

I then tried to access the file from another computer, and it did not allow me the access either. After a couple of tries, I could not even access the shared drive where the file was residing on.

In regards to my blog, this time I had Network Threat Protection set to OFF on the server, and still the same problem occured. I have further disabled Auto Protect in the Antivirus and Antispyware Protection to see if this network freeze will occur again.

If you have any more details regarding to your system or a specific incident, please let me know.

By: grandpa06

grandpa06 — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:52:46 +0000

Drive looks okay and I cannot see any problems.
Antivirus program is Symantec Endpoint.
It is not configured to lock out network activity for a period of time if it encounters an infected file as far as I can tell.
I can run a full scan and check the log files and cannot find a virus.
The last question, I still have to work on. the server is being used by others and not me. The workstations are in another building and I have to get to them when they are not being used by the other personnel.
It is so sporadic, that is confusing and I don’t use this drive nor the programs that run on this server.
I will keep looking and checking.
Thanks for the ideas. It all helps.

By: carlosdl

carlosdl — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:16:32 +0000

I agree with Karl.

We experienced some similar situation a few months ago, and it was caused by a virus.