Network problems...

[rapieriiia]

Hello again,

We seem to have problems using Actinic over our network, and I was wondering whether or not other have experienced the same or similar issues?

I have raised this with Actinic before, but was advised that it is a problem with our network, and for us to investigate. So, although it is not strictly an Actinic problem, it only arises when I'm using Actinic software; otherwise our XP Pro workgroup network appears to be very stable indeed, and has been for well over 2 years.

The problems are:

1) At times, when Actinic is started, the 'Network Error' message is shown, but you can navigate the network drives in explorer.

From the main EPOS screen, if you go Setup > This Till > Connect, then press the 'connect' buttons, the message 'network path could not be 'found' is displayed.

However, you can use the 'browse' buttons to locate the data, so the network must be available. Once you select the database(s) and press the connect button, Actinic freezes for ages, and you have to use ctrl + alt + del to get out of it.

When you then reload Actinic, you get the message saying that Actinic has closed abnormally, but once through that the network error goes, and you can use the software normally.

2) This one is very odd, and extremely annoying. At times the network drive (i.e a network shared folder which has had a drive letter mapped to it) becomes unavailable.

This only ever happens when using Actinic EPOS, and only ever happens during certain operations. These are:

i. When resetting z's on our tills

ii. When using the 'down arrow' key in the 'stock in' grid to change the 'quantity received' from 0 to whatever was ordered.

iii. When pressing the 'book in' button from the 'stock in' screen.

It doesn't happen every time, which is highly irritating as I think it would be easier to identify and cure if you could rely on it not working. When the error does occur, all machines with Actinic open freeze, and have to be powered off as they won't respond to any key presses.

This has been an ongoing problem since our EPOS was installed 3 months ago. I spoke to the (freelance) engineer who installed the system shortly after we started using the system, and I was very disappointed to hear that he was well aware of the issues with the system instabality before he left us.

I'll be grateful of any help anyone can offer, as I do feel that I've been let down somewhat.

Thanks in advance.

[Andy D]

Hi Nick,

Please try the following:

Temporarily turn off any fire walls you have running on your master till and then try the following:

1: Close Epos on your master till and go to My computer/C.Drive/Checkout Folder.
2: Highlight the Checkout folder, right click on it and choose the "share" option that’s listed.
3: Make sure that “full control”, “change” and “read” are all ticked to allow full control.
4: Apply and ok to confirm the changes you made.

I'd now restart each till starting firstly with the main master till and then try to reconnect via the "connect" option in "till setup".

Let me know how you get on.

Thanks,

Andy

[rapieriiia]

Network Problems

Hi Andy,

Thanks for getting back to me.

I've already tried that, and it's not made any difference.

I should have said that I have tried various things to solve the problem. Unfortunately I cannot remember all that I have tried...

Thanks once again.

[Andy D]

Hi Nick,

Here’s another thing you could check. As well as turning off any firewalls you may have running be it Windows/Norton or any others, you also need to check that in: Control Panel/Windows Firewall/Advanced tab – make sure that the “Local Area Connection” box is unticked.

Have you also checked that by going to the share on C:Checkout/network sharing and security/ “allow network users to change my files” is ticked.

If that still doesn’t solve the issue then you could mail over your database files in order for us to investigate further.

I notice that you have another thread open at the moment (missing deposits) and I’ve already requested 3 database files from you regarding that. These are different to those ones so just send all 6 over at once if you like.

C:/Checkout

Data, order and system.mdb

Thanks

[rapieriiia]

network problems

Hi Andy,

I've just removed the 'ticks' from the relevant windows firewall section. I'll see how it goes in the next few days. If I still have problems, I'll mail the databases over to you.

As for my deposits problem, I'll send the databases over shortly.

Thanks for all your help.

Nick.

[rapieriiia]

Network problems

Hi Andy,

I've run the system for a few days with the 'ticks' removed, and there was no difference.

Before I send the database files over to you for investigation, I have decided to place the shared data on another computer just to rule out a hardware problem with the computer hosting the data share.

We'll se how it goes...

Thanks.

[Andy D]

That's a good idea to test the hardware, just to eliminate any chance of it being that. Let me know how you get on and send over the files if that doesn't help any.

Thanks,

Andy

[rapieriiia]

Problem solved

Thanks for all your help, I've now solved my problem.

It was in fact a dodgy network controller in the computer hosting the shared data.

Strangely all other network shares on this computer worked, but in comparison the quantity of data being exchanged for other network requests would have been very small indeed.

[Andy D]

Problem solved

Hi Nick,

I'm glad you found the problem and have got it sorted.

Thanks for posting the result.

Andy