Troubleshooting

Problem 

Possible Cause 

Solution 

PC hangs on starting Windows 95 before any login dialog box appears. Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del shows nothing running. 

DNS server address is configured incorrectly on the TCP/IP property page (e.g., 123.345.6.7 instead of 123.345.6.15).

Boot in safe mode and fix the DNS server address. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network. Double-click TCP/IP. After you correct the problem, restart your computer. 

Logging in fails after a few minutes with the message Unable to contact authentication server.

When you make a serial connection, you must first connect to the Solstice network so that a PCNFSD server can authenticate your username and password. Then you can log in to the network provider. 

Click OK to close the message. Click Cancel in the Solstice or Windows 95 network login dialog box. When the Windows 95 desktop appears, double-click the icon for the dial-up connection you configured. When the network login dialog box again appears, type your user name and password for the Solstice network. You will see the message Logging on to network when the login succeeds.

You can use TCP/IP applications, such as Netscape, but browsing or mapping NFS servers fails with the message You are not logged in to the network.

You have a TCP/IP connection to the server, but were not authenticated by a PCNFSD server and are, therefore, not logged in to the network.  

Select the icon for the dial-up connection you are making. Select Properties, click Server Type, and then make sure Log On To Network is selected. 

Select Start, select Shutdown, and then click Close All Programs and Log On As A Different User. Then follow the procedure in "To Log In and Connect to a PPP Server".

You entered the authentication server incorrectly or the authentication server is not working. 

Use the Windows ping command to reach the machine running the authentication server. Ask a network administrator for the correct IP address of the authentication server to use.

Retype the correct authentication server address in the login dialog box and click OK. 

One or more TCP/IP settings are incorrect.  

On Windows 95, follow the steps in the "Checklist for TCP/IP Settings on Windows 95". On Windows NT, follow the steps in the "Checklist for TCP/IP Settings on Windows NT".

You have not yet configured a serial connection. 

Click Cancel on the Solstice NFS Client login dialog box to log in without networking enabled. Follow the instructions in "To Create a Dial-Up Connection".

You are trying to connect to a PPP server, and Solstice NFS Client is set up with an asterisk (*) for the authentication server. When you connect to a PPP server, the local network consists of only the client and the PPP server. Solstice NFS Client cannot broadcast beyond the local subnet.

Select NFS Client, click Properties, and then click the Security tab. Type the IP address for an authentication server on the network. 

The name server cannot find an IP address for the remote computer.

Verify that you typed the name for the remote computer correctly. 

Ping the remote computer's IP address. 

The remote computer, the network, or part of the network is down. 

Check your modem or network cables. 

Ping your computer to verify it can connect to itself (which verifies that your local interface is running). 

Ping your name server (by name or by IP address) and your local gateway.  

You log in to NT and see the message

The Solstice NFS Client 
was not started because 
a local network was not 
detected and the 
authentication server 
could not be reached.

You cannot successfully log in to the network and be authenticated until you establish a connection to the Solaris server. 

Click OK to complete the NT login. Follow the procedure "To Log In and Connect to a PPP Server".

You see the message

Unable to browse the 
network. The network 
is not present or is 
not started.

You cannot browse NFS servers until you connect to a PPP server and log in to the Solstice network. 

Follow the procedure "To Log In and Connect to a PPP Server".

After you log in to NT, network drives fail to automatically reconnect and are marked with a red x in My Computer. 

You are not logged in to the network.  

Make sure you are logged in to the network. Follow the procedure "To Log In and Connect to a PPP Server". Double-click the drive to re-establish the connection.