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Windows says no more network connections allowed !

B

bjassin

Senior member
Hi,

There is a computer in the office that has a program that others can simultaneously run--it's a sheduling program. All the other computers have the location of the program mapped as a 'network drive' and a shortcut from their desktop runs the program. This has not been a problem until recently, when I added another computer at the office and when trying to 'map' the drive of the scheduling computer, I got an error that basically said 'you are using the maximun number of connections windows will allow'.

I asked the software vendor--they say that the program can handle up to 30 connections and so far we are at about 10 or so, so the problem is with windows.

What's going on? Is there a setting I need to change in the computer that has the scheduling program in order to allow more computers to 'connect' to it? It is running windows XP professional. Right now they are all connected through windows networking and a switch.


Thanks. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.

BJ
 
Windows XP Home can accommodate up to 5 concurrent users.

Windows XP Pro can accommodate up to 10 concurrent users.

Windows 2003 Small Business Server, One Domain and 75 users.

Windows 2003 Server multiple Domains and the sky is the limit.

:sun:
 
Thanks for the input. Does the OS environment of Win 2003 Server act just like windows XP. Like I said, the computer that has the schedule also has other applications--can I install and run applications under Win 2003 Server just like in XP or is it a whole different type of OS environment??

Thanks,

BJ
 
Server 2003 is essentialy the same kernal as Windows XP and you will find the OS enviroment as you call almost identical.

 
Thanks for all the replies....so, basically, to summarize, I just purchase and install this OS in the 'main' computer and now more than 10 will be able to connect simultaneously??


Amazon Software Link

Why does the label of the software say '5-client'?? I thought you could connect up to 75?? Am I missing something?

BJ
 
The initial purchase of the OS software includes 5 client licenses (allowing up to 5 simultaneous connections. You have to purchase additional separate client licenses to have more connections available.
 
in a nutshell yes you could install win2k3 and get all the connections you need, but keep in mind that although the server OS looks like XP it puts you in a whole new ballgame of networking. You will be paying a lot of money for the OS and still need to set it up correctly. I gather from your post that you do not have a domain currently and win2k3 will allow for that and more. truthfully if all you want are a couple more connections then that OS is going to be overkill (pricey) for just doing that. Also the 5-client means that you purchased the o\s and 5 cleint licenses. you will have to purchase at least 5 more to get the number of clients currently in the officie, and if you add anymore users on top of that you will have to purchase even more client access licenses and they only come in 5-packs or greater.It may be cheaper and easier for you to go back to the developers and see if you could run 2 instances of your software on 2 XP boxes and have some users connect to one and some to the other. Im just trying to give you options since it sounds like your current peer to peer network has been working fine and you really need to understand the ramifications of going to the server OS in terms of money and time spent configuring everything.
 
if it's just a shared drive to run/store the data, Samba does not have a connection limit. Run a "real" file server OS 😛
 
you know though Im an MS guy by most accounts, Mweaver doesnt have a bad idea. you can even take a lesser PC, throw linux on it with samba and be good to go. since youre not familiar with setting up win2k3 setting up a standard linux server wouldnt be all that difficult for what youre trying to accomplish, and youve even freed up a good XP box to do something else!!!
 
Oh boy...this is getting more and more complicated....

You are right in suggesting the only thing I really need is just a couple of extra connections. As far as Linux goes, I am sure it is a very good OS, but I have ZERO experience with it. I do have above-average experience with XP--afterall, I am the one who setup the 'network'. This is probably not a big deal to those here, but at the office I am considered a computer 'god' 🙂 Definetily an UNDESERVED title, but the others know absolutely NOTHING about computers.

So, basically we are looking at spending around $1000 extra (MS server and 15 licenses) just to be able to have 12-13 simultaneous network connections. Is this correct??

BJ

PS. Even if I decide to do this, is the software package I linked from Amazon the correct one?

 
Quick question:

Why can't I just get the server version and then connect with the computers that I already have--I mean, they already have XP installed in them. Why do I have to buy licenses for computers that already have a legitimate OS installed in them??

Can't a computer with windows XP connect to the one with 'windows server' directly without installing any additional 'license' in it??



BJ
 
no....

Really, grab an easy linux distro (ubuntu, fedora core would work) and setup samba, it's so easy it's not even funny. License, free. Hardware is low (can be done with an old Pentium Pro if needed, or a P2), the limiting factor is disk I/O, and you can either a) go add in card (SCSI, SATA, IDE) or mount the share from your XP Pro box. So then you have 1 connection (Samba to XP Pro) and then multiple connections (Workstations to Samba).
 
The reason that you cant just buy the server is because you still won't be legal. You must have the client os license AND a client access licesnes (CAL) for each mahcine connecting to the server.

Since you are the computer god of the office imagine how highly theyd think of you if you introduced a new simple technolgy at the office and brag about how much money you saved them (may get you a raise 😉 ) I would take this long weekend coming up and put ubuntu or fedora on an old PC. with the wizards and such you could really learn about samba over the weekend and play with it a little. It costs nothing so that way if you decided that it's too tough for the moment then you can spend the money on the sure bet (windows). Sounds like a good compromise to me.
 
Okay, let me throw this out here.

With SP1 and SP2 Microsoft decided to limit the maximum number of simultaneous outgoing connectios in XP and XP Pro to 10. (Not logged on users) According to them, this was to limit the spread of viruses. Unfortunately it tends to get directly in the way of applications like P2P and any server programs you run.

Fortunately, someone figured out how to fix it. There's information out there about a so-called "TCP/IP Fix" which removes this outgoing connection limit. I have no idea if this is what's causing what's happening, but on a general basis anything operating as a server running XP should have this limit removed.

EDIT: Linkage
 
Originally posted by: yukichigai
Okay, let me throw this out here.

With SP1 and SP2 Microsoft decided to limit the maximum number of simultaneous outgoing connectios in XP and XP Pro to 10. (Not logged on users) According to them, this was to limit the spread of viruses. Unfortunately it tends to get directly in the way of applications like P2P and any server programs you run.

Fortunately, someone figured out how to fix it. There's information out there about a so-called "TCP/IP Fix" which removes this outgoing connection limit. I have no idea if this is what's causing what's happening, but on a general basis anything operating as a server running XP should have this limit removed.

EDIT: Linkage
Click to expand...

Now that's just FUD and has nothing to do with this problem.
XP does NOT limit the number of outgoing connections to 10, it limits the number of concurrent unfinnished connections, something that shouldn't be a problem for the vast majority of users.
People who don't know the difference are extremely unlikely to be affected by it.
 
Yes, you do indeed need a server OS. I would suggest Windows Server 2003 or even 2000 wSP4, set up for simple file serving, i.e no AD. SBS 2003 with 5 CALs has been priced low for promotion, and each 5 addl CALs will cost $450 as opposed to $170 for Server 2003. SBS 2003 has many restrictions, and tries to force you down the MSFT way. In your case you need 15 CALs so price out that way.

As for using Linux, I have been trying for the past two months using Fedora, Ubuntu and Xandros, but am having problems connecting to XPs with passwords. I know its the Samba configuration that needs to be tweaked but have not been able to figure it out. Installation and setup is quite simple but the network connectivity part is not so easy. So I agree with you that unless you have someone knowledgeable in Linux to assist you- stick with Windows. Incidentally Windows 98 has no restrictions on the # of connections.
 
You know I forgot about the 98 part.... Ive taken that route in the past before when I needed to get around connections. He could indeed set up a little 98 box in the corner, very little resources for a sharepoint. That would be cheap and easy .
 
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