Networking questions

[Django]

Ok I don't know how many different kinds of networks are out there and what they are called. Here is my question, is it possible for a contracted company like an ISP to control a network within an office from their headquarters?? This is what happened at my office this week, one early morining I was doing some drawings that are stored on the external hard dirves that are connected via the office network and noticed that all of a sudden I can't save my work or backup, nothing. I can't even access the printers that are on the network that has their own individual print servers. At first I thought it was the coworker's fault as he constantly keeps on messing with the hub and CAT 5 cables ect. Now I was told by the receptionist that the ISP provider is having problems with their equipment hence why we ain't got no network.
Our network is wireless........meaning that there are no transmission lines from the ISP to our building, they use a small satellite dish or something to that extent. I want to know why would the ISP have full control over our netowrk and if that is really be the case, is our info and files safe?? All computers are still connected via CAT 5 cables. I thought we had VPN all this while cause when the internet is down we could still access the office's printers and hard drives. But to have the network down completely because of the ISP is just plain madness, to me.

[PrOLifIC_onE]

I just have a little knowledge about local networks for homes and small businesses. Most likely your network is not dependent nor controlled by your ISP (Unless you have some unique setup where everything in your network passes through some external server via the internet).

Most networks in a home or office are independent and should be connected (computer-to-computer or computer-to-printer etc..) even if you lose your ISP or internet connection. If you have problem with your local network then something happened within your building.

Now I am not a network guru like some of the guys on here so wait for a few more responses before you come to any conclusion.

[Hitman]

My first question is do you have a local IT department in your company or is it contracted out to a 3rd party? Typically small offices or satellite offices contract out their IT needs to a company that specializes in networks. These company's usually manage the network of several different offices. They may be either upgrading or having issues with your network. Someone who doesn't know better might call this company your ISP. It's very possible that the same company could manage your local Network and your internet. It's been my experience that these are usually two different companies.

[Django]

Well from what I know, the ISP that the office uses set up the installation of the routers, hubs and whatever else is used to control the network. But I find it strange that they the ISP actually has control over the network for the office from their location. Don't know how reliable or safe that setup really is because if something goes down we have no control over it and left at the mercy of the people that is contracted to monitor the network.

Originally Posted by Hitman

My first question is do you have a local IT department in your company or is it contracted out to a 3rd party? Typically small offices or satellite offices contract out their IT needs to a company that specializes in networks. These company's usually manage the network of several different offices. They may be either upgrading or having issues with your network. Someone who doesn't know better might call this company your ISP. It's very possible that the same company could manage your local Network and your internet. It's been my experience that these are usually two different companies.

No we don't have a local IT department, the network/internet is contracted out to a 3rd party. From what you are saying, it appears that the same company does indeed manage both the internet and network for our office.

[Cyberlon]

Your ISP is not controlling your network, but they provide the secure connection to your central hub via the VPN. Without the VPN, your IT department has more than likely set it up so you don't have access to network resources such as printers or file shares. Other LAN options would still be available, but since you are more than likely using DHCP to get your IP address, and the DHCP server is unavailable while the ISP is down, you can see where it would appear that the ISP is in charge.

[carpenator]

OK, let me do some speculation based on the little details I have. I am guessing you have a Microsoft Server, either 2000 or 2003. With the invent of Windows 2000 DNS has become everything to how the server works. It finds resources and communicates using DNS names, bobscomputer.acme.com. This is way different than before 2000 where computers would just blurt out, hey I am bobscomputer and I am here. This is why WINS, that set of numbers you don't use was invented, to shut it up and keep track.

Going back to DNS, if your server was set to use external DNS, which is how it gets set up by ISPs that don't know what they are doing, been there troubleshot that, your network is dependent on their DNS servers. If you can't get to them, you are going to have fits all over the network. If it is a Windows Server newer than NT, it should have its own DNS server installed and the server should look itself for DNS. Your computer should also look to the server for DNS. Otherwise it is like calling Dijiboti and asking them where Bob's computer is, they don't know and could care less.

If you can give me some more details I can give you some more things to look for. This is the typical problem though from what I have seen.

Hope that helps a bit