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Troubleshooting VM Internet Connectivity

Use this guide to troubleshoot internet reachability issues on Windows Server VMs.

Prerequisites

Before troubleshooting, verify the following:

Aspect Requirement
Zone The VM must be in the SSA zone to reach the internet directly.
Firewall rules Add an outgoing firewall rule to the internet on ports 443 and 80, and port 53 to DNS.
Access You need administrative access to the Windows VM.
Basic knowledge Familiarity with networking concepts, DNS, and Windows Server settings is expected.

Common Causes and Fixes

DNS server configuration

Incorrect DNS server settings can prevent internet reachability.

  1. Open Server Manager.
  2. Select Local Server.
  3. Check DNS settings under NIC Teaming.
  4. Confirm that DNS server addresses are correct.
  5. Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
  6. Test DNS resolution:
nslookup site.sa

If DNS resolution fails, review the DNS server settings or try alternative DNS servers.

Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration

Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration can prevent website access.

  1. Open Server Manager.
  2. Select Local Server.
  3. Locate IE Enhanced Security Configuration.
  4. Click the On link.
  5. Set both Administrators and Users to Off.
  6. Apply the changes.
  7. Restart Internet Explorer or the server if needed.

Firewall settings

Firewall rules can block internet access.

  1. Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
  2. Review inbound and outbound rules.
  3. Confirm there are no rules blocking internet access.
  4. If needed, create a new outbound rule to allow internet access.

Proxy server configuration

If the network uses a proxy server, verify the proxy configuration:

  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Go to Tools.
  3. Open Internet Options.
  4. Select the Connections tab.
  5. Open LAN Settings.
  6. Confirm the proxy server details are correct.

Safety and Security

Follow these safety practices:

  • Back up critical data and configuration before making significant changes.
  • Be careful when changing firewall settings.
  • Keep the server updated with security patches.
  • Document changes made during troubleshooting.