Computers brings down network connection for other Computers

[J S U W Y N]

Router: FIOS 3100

Switches: Netgear

 

THREE OLDER PCs (I5 4670s)

Operating System: Windows 10

Note: Just reloaded Windows 10 on all three machines, wiping the C drives and reinstalling Windows

 

Connected to the same Netgear Switch 3

Switch connected to another Netgear Switch 2

Switch connected to another Netgear Switch 1

Switch connected to FIOS 3100 router

 

When THREE older PC's boot they appear to be fine and connect to internet.

Start loading applications (Epics, Battle Net, Steam) 

If all three PCs are on at some point (not right away)

OTHER PCs running from a different Netgear switch lose connection to the internet.

 

OTHER PCs switch configuration

PC connected to Netgear Switch 4

Switch connected to Netgear Switch 1

Switch connected to FIOS 3100 router

 

The only solution is to shut down the THREE OLDER PCs.

Then the OTHER PCs start to regain their internet access.

 

Note: This started happening in 2021, I think due to a windows update, but can't completing confirm that.

I have several Switch configurations that are 3 Switches connected to each other. 

I'm not aware of there being a limit on the number of switches connected to each other.

 

What I have tried:

1. Wiping out and reinstalling Windows 10 on the THREE older PCs

2. Replacing Netgear Switch 4

3. Rebooting router

4. Moved ONE of the THREE older PCs to the OTHER PCs Switch configuration

    When I initially turned it on, the Netgear Switch 3 went down, meaning it had power but no internet

    Turned off Netgear Switch 4

    Switch reconnected and ONE of the THREE older PCs now appears to be working.

    Going to let it run over night and load updates

 

 

I know that I have not provided all the details needed, so please feel free to ask for additional details.

 

Question: Looking for thoughts on what is causing the issue and what could be done to solve the problem.

 

 

 

[Blue4130]

27 minutes ago, J S U W Y N said:

Router: FIOS 3100

Switches: Netgear

 

THREE OLDER PCs (I5 4670s)

Operating System: Windows 10

Note: Just reloaded Windows 10 on all three machines, wiping the C drives and reinstalling Windows

 

Connected to the same Netgear Switch 3

Switch connected to another Netgear Switch 2

Switch connected to another Netgear Switch 1

Switch connected to FIOS 3100 router

 

When THREE older PC's boot they appear to be fine and connect to internet.

Start loading applications (Epics, Battle Net, Steam) 

If all three PCs are on at some point (not right away)

OTHER PCs running from a different Netgear switch lose connection to the internet.

 

OTHER PCs switch configuration

PC connected to Netgear Switch 4

Switch connected to Netgear Switch 1

Switch connected to FIOS 3100 router

 

The only solution is to shut down the THREE OLDER PCs.

Then the OTHER PCs start to regain their internet access.

 

Note: This started happening in 2021, I think due to a windows update, but can't completing confirm that.

I have several Switch configurations that are 3 Switches connected to each other. 

I'm not aware of there being a limit on the number of switches connected to each other.

 

What I have tried:

1. Wiping out and reinstalling Windows 10 on the THREE older PCs

2. Replacing Netgear Switch 4

3. Rebooting router

4. Moved ONE of the THREE older PCs to the OTHER PCs Switch configuration

    When I initially turned it on, the Netgear Switch 3 went down, meaning it had power but no internet

    Turned off Netgear Switch 4

    Switch reconnected and ONE of the THREE older PCs now appears to be working.

    Going to let it run over night and load updates

 

 

I know that I have not provided all the details needed, so please feel free to ask for additional details.

 

Question: Looking for thoughts on what is causing the issue and what could be done to solve the problem.

 

 

 

Can you draw a network diagram? It sounds like you have a (needlessly?) complicated setup.

[deferentlemur]

Agreed, that's a lot of switches. 

 

Is QoS active on them? it may think a PC is gaming and re-allocate bandwidth. Although this case seems extreme.

 

Are the switches well-aged? The seemingly randomness of the problem makes me wonder if there is an intermittent hardware fault. It might help to test with one switch at a time in the network, and see if the fault persists.