Files and folders going missing of server.

Hemps

Hemps

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Have a desparate situation:

We have a file and app. server running Server 2003 R2
3 nic each connected to it's own switch.

Running Active Directory, dhcp and dns.
Shares on server are mapped for users when they login (netlogon and sysvol) -
i'e net use \\server\f maps drive letter drive f for the users.
Goes up to x all mapping to a specific app like pastel, orion etc.

On the F mapping are all our client files etc. xl , word etc.

For some reason files and folders just randomly "dissapear" off this share.
Thought it might be users but some folders are very large and can only get deleted by a specific user as no-one else has access rights to some of them etc.
For the user to delete these files by mistake, I dont think they do it on purpose.

any ideas?
 
What is the status of your malware scans? Clean? Infected?

Run netstat -e and check whether you got any errors or not. A high error count means problems.

Any remote-control programs like UltraVNC running?

Anbody able to connect to this PC remotely? (VPN etc).
 
Tried with one nic and still same problem.
We have ultravnc installed.

Netsat -e no errors

Two months ago we had Server 2000 Advanced installed on the same same server and files and folders kept going missing, 1 nic running to 3 switches.
So we switched up to Server 2003 R2 to solve this issue - and a month later the same freakin issues - 3 nics bridged - 1 to each switch, hoping this would solve the issue.
 
Check the integrity of your RAID?
Possibly something wrong with someone's Synchronise/off-line files set-up?
 
I get this at work as well but it's always users that accidentally move folders into new locations. Have you tried searching for the missing files and folders?
 
User saves file.
User gets impatient and switches off machine before save is complete / power outage during save / network outage during save / wireless connection lost during save
Clue as to this happening: User is greeted with "attempt to recover files" message almost every time they open software (if software is advanced enough)

In a simple environment, the "attempt to recover files" would work, but in a shared environment, the temp folder of the machine is usually cleared out between users, resulting in no place to restore files from.

Solution: Configure the software so that it makes a backup of original before performing save (a setting that does not allow a replace-save to happen), otherwise, you will have to make backups of these files at user login and begin to stress the importance of making sure that a save is really complete to the users.
 
Offline files starts to ring bells.

All Xp workstation we have are running with this enabled.
 
Hemps said:
Offline files starts to ring bells.

All Xp workstation we have are running with this enabled.
Click to expand...

I'm also running offline files and don't have these problems. Unless users sync there offline files go home and then at home decide I don't want these files on my computer and deletes them. Then when sycning the next morning the files gets deleted.
 
Hemps said:
Offline files sounds like something
Click to expand...

Where do the files go missing? From the users workstation? If you're in the server, are the files still there?

Check their workstations. My users have to re-synchronise when moving from their desk to the boardroom. If they don't, nothing is available to them from the network/servers. Have a look on the machine when the files go missing for the SYNC icon near the clock (or open Explorer, Tools->synchronise).

Another thing to check is the switch the users are on. There may be a slight connection problem causing the users to lose the connection for a second or two.
 
The files go missing from the server.
They are all desktop pc's.

i'll check the switches web interface.
 
Search brings up nothing - scan for viruses every weekend with Eset Nod but nothing, all's clean.
 
DIAL A NERD ;) seriously if u suspect that the files/folder were deleted then use a data recovery tool to check and see if you can recover that way ....don't u do backups of all the data on the Server??
 
Plenty of backups - but restoring files is annoying and wastes my time and the user who sits and twiddles thumbs.
 
That is very strange dude. Are you restoring from a backup everyday? edit: just read your above post..

Hemps said:
Two months ago we had Server 2000 Advanced installed on the same same server and files and folders kept going missing, 1 nic running to 3 switches.
So we switched up to Server 2003 R2 to solve this issue - and a month later the same freakin issues - 3 nics bridged - 1 to each switch, hoping this would solve the issue.
Click to expand...

So going from one OS to another has the same problems. I am inclined to think its a user issue until its ruled out. Can you lock the folders down so that only information can be read and written, not deleted or moved?

I had something similar where a user thought everything was deleted, but he had actually moved the folder into another folder.
 
Where I work it is always IT's fault - even after we catch the user doing something stupid.

It's usually around once or twice a month it happens.

Often different people.
I have know disabled offline files on all computers, hopefully this is the cause.
 
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