Hi Guys,

I am having a network issue using Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Enterprise x64. It is very similar to Vista, so any Vista user may be able to help too!


Basically, this is the setup:

Intel Q6600
4GB OCZ Reaper RAM
Intel DP35DP
EVGA 8600GT
2x 80GB Seagate Barracuda in RAID 0 (2 Partitions, 1x 60 GB OS, 1x 100GB Data)
3x 500GB Hitachi Deckstar in RAID 5 (1 Partition of 1TB)
OZC 610W PSU

1x Intel Gigabit PCI Card



The setup on the server is as follows:


Connection 1 is connected a Netgear DG834G, with IP address xxx.xxx.x.20, this router goes out to the internet.

Connection 2 (The PCI card) is connected to a Netgear GS105 Switch.

What I have setup is internet connection sharing. The connection 1 is set to be shared over Connection 2.
I have then installed the DHCP server role, and assigned a scope to connection 2.

Any PC connected to connection 2, gets a DHCP address from the server, and its internet is routed out through connection 1.

Now this all works fine.

The problem arises when I setup file sharing.


I have setup 3 Shared areas (2 restricted, 1 public) and 1 shared Printer.

These shares can only be accessed when a network connection is in the "Private" Network catergory. (This should be familiar to Vista users)

Now the Connection 1, is set fine into the "Private" area, and it will stay there on reboots. However, connection 2, will NOT let me rename its network, or stay set as Private.

I also have 2 VM connections, which come with VMware, now I do not know if these are causing the problem, but I need them either way.




Bottom line, how do I STOP the "identifying Network" crap that Vista/Server 2008 pulls?

It keeps trying to "Identify" Connection 2, and the VM connections, and then puts them into "Public", which means Sharing is disabled over these connections!
I can set it to "Private", but on reboot, its back to Public.

Any ideas how to disable this?


I have searched google and found LOTS of hits for this problem within Vista, and people come up with real stupid solutions.

One solution that kept cropping up was setting Fixed IPs. I have already set this. ALL connections (including the VM connections) have FIXED IP address, and a Default Gateway assigned.


Id really appreciate any help!

Thanks