Here is the scenario: Using a cisco switch, and routing is done over vlans. I have "Register DNS entries" disabled. I do my own DNS management and I don't want windows doing it. I have a Windows 2003 Server A, using IPs 10.10.10.1, 10.10.10.2, 10.10.10.3, and 10.10.10.4 Now I take away 10.10.10.4 from Server A (remove from the IP list), I want another server to use this IP address. I have a Windows 2003 Server B, and a Windows 2008 Server C. IF I try to use the IP address on server 2003 B (assign it to one of the NICs), it is immediately accessible (right after I click "OK" on the "Local Area Connection Properties") IF I try to use that exact same IP address on server 2008 C, on the server the IP is usable, but no other device on the network can make contact with this IP address (the IP address appears as unused). I have lots of IP address I have been playing with, this problem comes up every single time on Windows 2008. I have also tried multiple 2008 builds on different hardware, no change. There are some workarounds, but they aren't reliable: 1. Wait long enough. Sometimes a few hours wait and the IP address works and I can connect to server C using it, sometimes not 2. Set that new IP as the main IP address (rather than appending it to the list of static TCP/IP addresses, configured on the TCP/IPv4 Properties page) Why does this work on Windows 2003 right away, where as with 2008 it gets stuck? What I noticed: - Sometimes, if the main IP address is a lower value than the one I am trying to set, it will be picked up immediately. So if the main nic IP is set to 10.10.10.25 and I want to add 10.10.10.27, it will work right away on 2008. But if I try to add 10.10.10.24, it will refuse to work - When the address is added, it will work indefinitely. So if I remove it, then "OK", then add it again, it will always work. - In Windows 2003, when I make ANY change in the TCP/IP Properties panel (even under advanced), the server will "work" (aka freeze, hang, do its thing) for 3-5 seconds, then come back. In Windows 2008, if I change the main IP it will "work" for 3-5 seconds, but no other change causes it to "work" in the same manner, and adding IPs causes it to come back instantly with no noticeable "work" (unlike 2003) Is it the way Windows 2008 broadcasts IP changes? Is it the way ARP packets are sent? Is it the way Windows 2008 routes traffic? Or is this a bug in the Windows 2008 networking layer that needs to be fixed?
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