logon and network drive access slow after firewall

[Guest]

Hi Guys

Have a huge problem with the network moving very slowly
I Inherited this set-up from a large number of ad-hoc consultants working their magc on it.
There is traces of linux software, trialwares that have expired and old technologies which co-exis
with new stuff.

We were called because everything kept falling on itself. Now it works but has become very slow

This is what was done.
This is a Windows 2000 server with mostly XP clients and some windows 98 client
connecting through a few switches along with a few print servers

Anti-Virus was installed on all machines and existing viruses were searched and destroyed
OS's were updated. The W2K Server is on SP
A hardware firewall was installed

All clients use the Firewall as the Gateway for the internet while the DNS is pointed to the server which is A

Logon is slow Drive access is slow access to files and printing is also slow
However, if we go through once it will be quick for about 15-20 minutes after which it will again tak
a minute to access a shared drive or longer

I would appreciate any pointers on this
Thanks in advance

regard
- Ja
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Roland Hall]

:
: Have a huge problem with the network moving very slowly.
: I Inherited this set-up from a large number of ad-hoc consultants working
their magc on it.
: There is traces of linux software, trialwares that have expired and old
technologies which co-exist
: with new stuff.
What kind of cabling and have to run a PentaScanner test on all drops and
patch cables? If fiber is involved anywhere, have you run an OTDR?

: We were called because everything kept falling on itself. Now it works but
has become very slow.
NT 3.51 had the same problem after updating from NT 3.50. A lot more stuff
was working that just didn't work in 3.50.

: This is what was done.
: This is a Windows 2000 server with mostly XP clients and some windows 98
clients
: connecting through a few switches along with a few print servers.

Network print servers or shares on workstations/servers? Obviously the 98
clients cannot print directly with TCP/IP but the W2K clients can and no
need to route through a server.

: Anti-Virus was installed on all machines and existing viruses were
searched and destroyed.
Only on the clients? Which ones? Does RTAV scan specific or all files?

: OS's were updated. The W2K Server is on SP3
You might want to consider moving to SP4.

: A hardware firewall was installed.
So, local addressing changed?

: All clients use the Firewall as the Gateway for the internet while the DNS
is pointed to the server which is AD
There are no DNS settings, INCLUDING servers pointing to ISPs DNS, except
possibly through forwarders?

: Logon is slow Drive access is slow access to files and printing is also
slow.
What are the connect speeds? ...duplex? Interconnectivity devices. What
brand? model? Are they running the latest firmware? How about updated
drivers for NICs, etc.?

Slow is relative. Logon is slow where? All users logon to domain? What
about logging on at the console of a server? What protocols are involved?
If more than one, why? What is the binding order? What services are
offered on the servers?...include protocol services, i.e. WINS, etc. Are
you using HOSTS, LMHOSTS?

: However, if we go through once it will be quick for about 15-20 minutes
after which it will again take
: a minute to access a shared drive or longer.

Have you set all clients to NOT participate in domain elections? Have you
run performance monitor on the server(s)? What errors are you getting in
the log files? Do you have all the lastest WindowsUpdates? Office updates?

Have you checked for SpyWare? What ports are open on the firewall? Has
anyone put a protocol analyzer on the network to at least perform a 24-hour
test for network activity? What actually happens in a logon? Does everyone
logon the same way? ...same script? etc....

--
Roland Hall
/* This information is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose. */
Online Support for IT Professionals -
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/technet/default.asp?fr=0&sd=tech
How-to: Windows 2000 DNS:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308201