Server network card problem

We are using a server to service our students’ e-learning needs with a product called Blackboard. Recently, a second network card was added to the server to feed a dedicated T-1. There may have been easier ways to do it, but that was the easiest we could come up with at the time. We started seeing a problem recently in which the Blackboard application appears to stop responding on both network cards for a period of time, then starts running again. We have been unable to find a cause for the problem. When this is going on, I can terminal server into the server over either network card with no problems. Any suggestions? – Via the Internet

We are using a server to service our students’ e-learning needs with a product called Blackboard. Recently, a second network card was added to the server to feed a dedicated T-1. There may have been easier ways to do it, but that was the easiest we could come up with at the time. We started seeing a problem recently in which the Blackboard application appears to stop responding on both network cards for a period of time, then starts running again. We have been unable to find a cause for the problem. When this is going on, I can terminal server into the server over either network card with no problems. Any suggestions?

– Via the Internet

First, see if there are any firmware/bios updates for the motherboard in the server and network cards in use. Make sure the latest drivers are also installed on the server. Do a quick check on the Windows Update Web site to verify you have all the latest patches installed. Check with the server vendor to see if the second network card you’re using is one it supports and have tested in the server.

I have talked to the folks at Blackboard about your configuration. They told me that what you’re trying to do is valid and should work. After you have applied all Windows updates currently available, check Blackboard’s support Web site and apply any updates/service packs for your version of the product. If you haven’t already called Blackboard support, that would be a good idea. Have them do a Webex session and look over your system top to bottom to see if any other problems are apparent.

If nothing is apparent at this point, try disabling the second network card. This may require that you run a command-line reconfiguration process for Blackboard so it removes any trace of what it knew about the second network card. Look at the event logs on the server to see if any errors are being reported –  that could explain the problem. Although this does take down the dedicated connection, it is a necessary step that should be done to eliminate possible problem areas. If this fixes the problem, make sure you tell Blackboard support, as it would seem to indicate a possible problem with their product talking to more than one network card. After talking to them, this is something I believe they will want to fix. Try binding the network address to the first network card that was originally assigned to the second and hook the other Internet connection to this card via a hub or switch, which will allow the network card to receive requests from either network subnet as needed.

I will assume you’re using some type of firewall on both of the network connections for this server. Check with the vendor whose solution you use to see if any firmware updates are available or there are any configuration changes that should be made to your setup. By disabling the second network card, this should initially eliminate the firewall as a problem, but this is something that should be looked at. It is a good idea to put a protocol analyzer on both connections to see if anything different is going on at the server when you’re having a problem with Blackboard responding.