Why would 6-8 users on a 40-user network drop offline intermittently?

Answer 1

I think the problem could be in how the Network is configured and the Operating System used. If the network is configured to use a Domain Controller (DC) then your problem could be the Master Browser Service. If the computers are configured to be in a Workgroup (No DC). Then it could be the same service but a different problem. The Master Browser is the Service that tracksd network resources. In a Workgroup environment an election between the computers is held to find out who will be the master browser. If the computer who is elected Master Browser is turned Off. Then another election is held to find a new one. If theses 8 computers are on a segment of the network that has a slow link, they may not get notified of the new Master Browser and in a sence will "drop off" the network. I would need more information about the network, computers and OS to be of anymore assistance. One of two reasons are high probabilities: 1) Network wiring somewhere is questionable (hubs, not switches?) or 2) You're using WinME or WinXPH on these 6 or 8 PCs. Considering this is a network that has being up for a few months and has just suddenly one day lost users. Especially if they were on the network and then got knocked off, I would definitely be looking for any malicious activity. You would be surprised how many people will decide they want a day off work, or just want to cause hassle and will DOS your network.

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networks should slow down, not disconnect. Disconnects frequently occur when one or more users are streaming and loading the router. To make this as simple as possble;

• log into the router and set the MTU to 1492 (the default will be 1500).

Why? the smaller number will stop 'packet fragmentation', which requires buffering and packet reassembly. The buffering and reassembly are the culprits.