2008 R2 Random Lockups

[retrofitme]

Hey Everyone,

I have a 2008 R2 Server that is experiencing random lockups. There is no BSOD, no memory dump, and no Event log entries to work from.

 

Symptoms:

When it has crashed, I cannot access any file shares, services, RDC, DNS or even the login screen directly on the server, BUT I can ping successfully. The only thing that resurrects the server is a hard reboot. Sometimes the server will go for weeks without any issues, then it will start locking up 3 - 4 times per day. I cannot correlate this to any changes in the environment or usage.

 

The system is running the following services: File Share, Folder Redirection for (desktop, mydocs) on 7 PCs (5 xp, 2 win 7), DNS, and two shared printers. My customer is running a shared Access database program called Max Solutions (www.maxsolutions.com) which is a POS, registration and scheduling system. It merely requires a drive share to host the DB file. The crashes occurred before MaxSolutions was deployed to the server, and crashes can occur during off hours when MaxSolutions isn't in use.

 

Steps I've taken to Resolve this issue:

1) Removed Backup Software

2) Disabled Firewall

3) Removed These Updates: KB979309, KB980232, KB979683, KB978601, KB981332 as per this thread: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsserver2008r2general/thread/f8996258-4b5e-462d-ab58-b1e1286ddc43

4) Attempted to Install this hotfix in KB2265716 which seems to describe the problem perfectly, but the hotfix would not install saying that it didn't apply to my computer. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2265716

5) Replaced Network Router & Cables to Router.

6) Delayed installation of AV software until this issue is resolved.

7) Scheduled a nightly reboot of the system during off hours (grasping at straws)

 

Server Specs:

Dell T110 2008 R2, 4GB Ram, Raid 5 (4 drives) PERC S300 (software based). Server loads are quite light. Server was purchased in May of 2010 and has experienced the issue intermittently since then. I've run every manor of hardware test, and can find no issues hardware wise. Other searches I've done indicate that many different server brands are having this issue.

 

Have any of you seen a similar situation? If so, what was the solution?

 

Thanks in Advance!

-Jason