POP3 Server access suddenly very slow

[TheDuck]

Up until this week my PO3 access on one of my WM accounts has been perfect,
but now message download has slowed to less than a crawl.
Current config:

TCP Global Parameters
----------------------------------------------
Receive-Side Scaling State : enabled
Chimney Offload State : enabled
Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level : normal
Add-On Congestion Control Provider : ctcp
ECN Capability : disabled
RFC 1323 Timestamps : disabled

I have tried disabling auto-tuning and have also used 'highlyrestricted' but
this seems to make no difference.
Net access for everything else is fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Chris

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Try a different mail client, such as Windows Live Mail:

http://download.live.com/wlmail

Also, make sure your antivirus is not configured to scan emails.

 

[TheDuck]

Hi Gary, whilst this may be an effective expedient, I neither want to change
my client nor disable virus scanning.
Everything worked fine up until a week or so ago. I need to resolve the
root cause of this behavior change.

I have tried Outlook 2007 under Windows 7, and it also crawls when accessing
the same pop3 server.
I have also tried disabling the email scanning (AVG 8.5) and this did not
help.
I have mailed the system admin of the ISP and he claims they have no server
or network issues that could cause this.

Cheers, Chris

Try a different mail client, such as Windows Live Mail:

http://download.live.com/wlmail

Also, make sure your antivirus is not configured to scan emails.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

If Outlook has the same issue, then it's not a problem with
your email client. Either the server has issues or something else
on your PC is causing it. You can verify whether the issue is
server-related by trying a different mail server. One way to do
that is to install a free Gmail POP account.

Email scanning in any antivirus should be disabled, for reasons
explained here:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

Even Symantec (Norton), the originator of the email scanning concept
admits that it is redundant and unnecessary:
See http://tinyurl.com/bhsva or
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...88256c7500723cf0?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

"Is my computer still protected against viruses if I disable Email Scanning?
Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses
that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect
scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email
and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this.
To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep
Auto- Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have
the most recent virus definitions."

 

[TheDuck]

Hi Gary, thanks for the suggestions.

I have tried:
1. Outlook 97 under Windows 7 with same account - no change
2. Outlook 97 with different email account but same pop server - same
problem
3. MS Mail under Vista Business with gmail account - no problem
4. MS Mail under Vista Business - local Shaw pop3 account - no problem.
5. Outlook Express under XP home with different mail account with the same
problem server - same problem
6. Accessing mail using the ISP's webmail service - no problem

So, I conclude the problem lies with the ISP's pop3 server
(pop3.iafrica.com)

Unfortunately, although I have detailed the issues to them, they claim there
is no problem their end.

Using tracert I achieve the following result. Clearly, it's slow in Africa,
but not sure if this explains the slow 100Kb/s I seem to be getting
downloading mail.

C:\Users\Chris>tracert pop3.iafrica.com

Tracing route to iafricapop.mweb.co.za [196.2.50.70]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 7 ms 24 ms 22 ms 96.50.76.1
3 18 ms 22 ms 19 ms rd1cv-ge6-0-0-1.gv.shawcable.net
[64.59.166.130]
4 11 ms 22 ms 11 ms rc2bb-tge0-9-0-0.vc.shawcable.net
[66.163.76.229]
5 81 ms 40 ms 32 ms rc3sj-tge0-0-1-0.cl.shawcable.net
[66.163.77.146]
6 34 ms 47 ms 47 ms ge13-1.br02.sjo01.pccwbtn.net
[206.223.116.48]
7 176 ms 207 ms 187 ms telkomsa.ge9-16.br02.ldn01.pccwbtn.net
[63.218.13.14]
8 178 ms 222 ms 179 ms
lon-ip-dir-telecity-ge-0-3-0-100.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.43.9.42]
9 201 ms 175 ms 175 ms lon-ip-dir-telecity.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.9.249]
10 343 ms 330 ms 331 ms wblv-ip-lir-1-pos-6-1.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.9.49]
11 336 ms 343 ms 331 ms wblv-ip-esr-2-gig-6-0-0.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.23.114]
12 333 ms 331 ms 344 ms tiscali-backup-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.25.3.42]
13 333 ms 342 ms 332 ms popwall.mweb.co.za [196.2.50.70]

The only other potential issue could be my Wireless Router as this is common
for all the tests. However, as my access to the Shaw POP3 account is fine,
I tend to think this is not an issue.

Is there any other way I can test the link?
Any other ideas?

Many thanks, Chris


If Outlook has the same issue, then it's not a problem with
your email client. Either the server has issues or something else
on your PC is causing it. You can verify whether the issue is
server-related by trying a different mail server. One way to do
that is to install a free Gmail POP account.

Email scanning in any antivirus should be disabled, for reasons
explained here:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

Even Symantec (Norton), the originator of the email scanning concept
admits that it is redundant and unnecessary:
See http://tinyurl.com/bhsva or
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...88256c7500723cf0?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

"Is my computer still protected against viruses if I disable Email Scanning?
Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses
that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect
scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email
and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this.
To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep
Auto- Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have
the most recent virus definitions."

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

I believe your conclusion that the pop3.iafrica.com server is at
fault is correct. I just telnetted to that server, and it responded
appropriately on port 110, but that only tests the basics. From my
California location, ping time is a decent 277 ms, and trace time
doesn't exceed 290 ms at any hop. Your results, although slightly
worse, are in the ballpark of what one expects for a cross-Atlantic
connection.
I remember when Vista first hit the street, TCP auto-tuning was
a big issue for some who accessed older servers. The author in
this article
http://www.kombitz.com/2007/02/14/vista-auto-tuning/
claims that the command that turns it off needs to be repeated
periodically. I can't remember whether a reboot resets that
parameter, or perhaps every Windows update does.

You can do some additional troubleshooting by turning on server logging:
Tools, Options, Advanced, Maintenance, check the box for Mail.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

Hi Gary, thanks for the suggestions.

I have tried:
1. Outlook 97 under Windows 7 with same account - no change
2. Outlook 97 with different email account but same pop server - same
problem
3. MS Mail under Vista Business with gmail account - no problem
4. MS Mail under Vista Business - local Shaw pop3 account - no problem.
5. Outlook Express under XP home with different mail account with the same
problem server - same problem
6. Accessing mail using the ISP's webmail service - no problem

So, I conclude the problem lies with the ISP's pop3 server
(pop3.iafrica.com)

Unfortunately, although I have detailed the issues to them, they claim there
is no problem their end.

Using tracert I achieve the following result. Clearly, it's slow in Africa,
but not sure if this explains the slow 100Kb/s I seem to be getting
downloading mail.

C:\Users\Chris>tracert pop3.iafrica.com

Tracing route to iafricapop.mweb.co.za [196.2.50.70]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 7 ms 24 ms 22 ms 96.50.76.1
3 18 ms 22 ms 19 ms rd1cv-ge6-0-0-1.gv.shawcable.net
[64.59.166.130]
4 11 ms 22 ms 11 ms rc2bb-tge0-9-0-0.vc.shawcable.net
[66.163.76.229]
5 81 ms 40 ms 32 ms rc3sj-tge0-0-1-0.cl.shawcable.net
[66.163.77.146]
6 34 ms 47 ms 47 ms ge13-1.br02.sjo01.pccwbtn.net
[206.223.116.48]
7 176 ms 207 ms 187 ms telkomsa.ge9-16.br02.ldn01.pccwbtn.net
[63.218.13.14]
8 178 ms 222 ms 179 ms
lon-ip-dir-telecity-ge-0-3-0-100.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.43.9.42]
9 201 ms 175 ms 175 ms lon-ip-dir-telecity.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.9.249]
10 343 ms 330 ms 331 ms wblv-ip-lir-1-pos-6-1.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.9.49]
11 336 ms 343 ms 331 ms wblv-ip-esr-2-gig-6-0-0.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.23.114]
12 333 ms 331 ms 344 ms tiscali-backup-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.25.3.42]
13 333 ms 342 ms 332 ms popwall.mweb.co.za [196.2.50.70]

The only other potential issue could be my Wireless Router as this is common
for all the tests. However, as my access to the Shaw POP3 account is fine,
I tend to think this is not an issue.

Is there any other way I can test the link?
Any other ideas?

Many thanks, Chris


If Outlook has the same issue, then it's not a problem with
your email client. Either the server has issues or something else
on your PC is causing it. You can verify whether the issue is
server-related by trying a different mail server. One way to do
that is to install a free Gmail POP account.

Email scanning in any antivirus should be disabled, for reasons
explained here:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

Even Symantec (Norton), the originator of the email scanning concept
admits that it is redundant and unnecessary:
See http://tinyurl.com/bhsva or
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...88256c7500723cf0?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

"Is my computer still protected against viruses if I disable Email Scanning?
Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses
that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect
scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email
and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this.
To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep
Auto- Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have
the most recent virus definitions."

 

[TheDuck]

Thanks Gary.
I have tried adjusting the Auto-Tuning settings, but it made no difference
(currently back to the default settings of HighlyRestricted). Given that
everything else about my Internet is 100% I think there is no doubt the
problem lies with the ISP. How to get the tech folk there to conduct a
thorough investigation is the next challenge as I've yet to have them take
the ball and run with it.
Cheers, Chris


I believe your conclusion that the pop3.iafrica.com server is at
fault is correct. I just telnetted to that server, and it responded
appropriately on port 110, but that only tests the basics. From my
California location, ping time is a decent 277 ms, and trace time
doesn't exceed 290 ms at any hop. Your results, although slightly
worse, are in the ballpark of what one expects for a cross-Atlantic
connection.
I remember when Vista first hit the street, TCP auto-tuning was
a big issue for some who accessed older servers. The author in
this article
http://www.kombitz.com/2007/02/14/vista-auto-tuning/
claims that the command that turns it off needs to be repeated
periodically. I can't remember whether a reboot resets that
parameter, or perhaps every Windows update does.

You can do some additional troubleshooting by turning on server logging:
Tools, Options, Advanced, Maintenance, check the box for Mail.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

Hi Gary, thanks for the suggestions.

I have tried:
1. Outlook 97 under Windows 7 with same account - no change
2. Outlook 97 with different email account but same pop server - same
problem
3. MS Mail under Vista Business with gmail account - no problem
4. MS Mail under Vista Business - local Shaw pop3 account - no problem.
5. Outlook Express under XP home with different mail account with the
same
problem server - same problem
6. Accessing mail using the ISP's webmail service - no problem

So, I conclude the problem lies with the ISP's pop3 server
(pop3.iafrica.com)

Unfortunately, although I have detailed the issues to them, they claim
there
is no problem their end.

Using tracert I achieve the following result. Clearly, it's slow in
Africa,
but not sure if this explains the slow 100Kb/s I seem to be getting
downloading mail.

C:\Users\Chris>tracert pop3.iafrica.com

Tracing route to iafricapop.mweb.co.za [196.2.50.70]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 7 ms 24 ms 22 ms 96.50.76.1
3 18 ms 22 ms 19 ms rd1cv-ge6-0-0-1.gv.shawcable.net
[64.59.166.130]
4 11 ms 22 ms 11 ms rc2bb-tge0-9-0-0.vc.shawcable.net
[66.163.76.229]
5 81 ms 40 ms 32 ms rc3sj-tge0-0-1-0.cl.shawcable.net
[66.163.77.146]
6 34 ms 47 ms 47 ms ge13-1.br02.sjo01.pccwbtn.net
[206.223.116.48]
7 176 ms 207 ms 187 ms telkomsa.ge9-16.br02.ldn01.pccwbtn.net
[63.218.13.14]
8 178 ms 222 ms 179 ms
lon-ip-dir-telecity-ge-0-3-0-100.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.43.9.42]
9 201 ms 175 ms 175 ms lon-ip-dir-telecity.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.9.249]
10 343 ms 330 ms 331 ms wblv-ip-lir-1-pos-6-1.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.9.49]
11 336 ms 343 ms 331 ms wblv-ip-esr-2-gig-6-0-0.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.23.114]
12 333 ms 331 ms 344 ms tiscali-backup-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.25.3.42]
13 333 ms 342 ms 332 ms popwall.mweb.co.za [196.2.50.70]

The only other potential issue could be my Wireless Router as this is
common
for all the tests. However, as my access to the Shaw POP3 account is
fine,
I tend to think this is not an issue.

Is there any other way I can test the link?
Any other ideas?

Many thanks, Chris


If Outlook has the same issue, then it's not a problem with
your email client. Either the server has issues or something else
on your PC is causing it. You can verify whether the issue is
server-related by trying a different mail server. One way to do
that is to install a free Gmail POP account.

Email scanning in any antivirus should be disabled, for reasons
explained here:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

Even Symantec (Norton), the originator of the email scanning concept
admits that it is redundant and unnecessary:
See http://tinyurl.com/bhsva or
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...88256c7500723cf0?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

"Is my computer still protected against viruses if I disable Email
Scanning?
Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses
that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect
scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email
and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of
this.
To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep
Auto- Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have
the most recent virus definitions."

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

OK, good luck.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

Thanks Gary.
I have tried adjusting the Auto-Tuning settings, but it made no difference
(currently back to the default settings of HighlyRestricted). Given that
everything else about my Internet is 100% I think there is no doubt the
problem lies with the ISP. How to get the tech folk there to conduct a
thorough investigation is the next challenge as I've yet to have them take
the ball and run with it.
Cheers, Chris


I believe your conclusion that the pop3.iafrica.com server is at
fault is correct. I just telnetted to that server, and it responded
appropriately on port 110, but that only tests the basics. From my
California location, ping time is a decent 277 ms, and trace time
doesn't exceed 290 ms at any hop. Your results, although slightly
worse, are in the ballpark of what one expects for a cross-Atlantic
connection.
I remember when Vista first hit the street, TCP auto-tuning was
a big issue for some who accessed older servers. The author in
this article
http://www.kombitz.com/2007/02/14/vista-auto-tuning/
claims that the command that turns it off needs to be repeated
periodically. I can't remember whether a reboot resets that
parameter, or perhaps every Windows update does.

You can do some additional troubleshooting by turning on server logging:
Tools, Options, Advanced, Maintenance, check the box for Mail.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

Hi Gary, thanks for the suggestions.

I have tried:
1. Outlook 97 under Windows 7 with same account - no change
2. Outlook 97 with different email account but same pop server - same
problem
3. MS Mail under Vista Business with gmail account - no problem
4. MS Mail under Vista Business - local Shaw pop3 account - no problem.
5. Outlook Express under XP home with different mail account with the
same
problem server - same problem
6. Accessing mail using the ISP's webmail service - no problem

So, I conclude the problem lies with the ISP's pop3 server
(pop3.iafrica.com)

Unfortunately, although I have detailed the issues to them, they claim
there
is no problem their end.

Using tracert I achieve the following result. Clearly, it's slow in
Africa,
but not sure if this explains the slow 100Kb/s I seem to be getting
downloading mail.

C:\Users\Chris>tracert pop3.iafrica.com

Tracing route to iafricapop.mweb.co.za [196.2.50.70]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 7 ms 24 ms 22 ms 96.50.76.1
3 18 ms 22 ms 19 ms rd1cv-ge6-0-0-1.gv.shawcable.net
[64.59.166.130]
4 11 ms 22 ms 11 ms rc2bb-tge0-9-0-0.vc.shawcable.net
[66.163.76.229]
5 81 ms 40 ms 32 ms rc3sj-tge0-0-1-0.cl.shawcable.net
[66.163.77.146]
6 34 ms 47 ms 47 ms ge13-1.br02.sjo01.pccwbtn.net
[206.223.116.48]
7 176 ms 207 ms 187 ms telkomsa.ge9-16.br02.ldn01.pccwbtn.net
[63.218.13.14]
8 178 ms 222 ms 179 ms
lon-ip-dir-telecity-ge-0-3-0-100.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.43.9.42]
9 201 ms 175 ms 175 ms lon-ip-dir-telecity.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.9.249]
10 343 ms 330 ms 331 ms wblv-ip-lir-1-pos-6-1.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.9.49]
11 336 ms 343 ms 331 ms wblv-ip-esr-2-gig-6-0-0.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.43.23.114]
12 333 ms 331 ms 344 ms tiscali-backup-gw.telkom-ipnet.co.za
[196.25.3.42]
13 333 ms 342 ms 332 ms popwall.mweb.co.za [196.2.50.70]

The only other potential issue could be my Wireless Router as this is
common
for all the tests. However, as my access to the Shaw POP3 account is
fine,
I tend to think this is not an issue.

Is there any other way I can test the link?
Any other ideas?

Many thanks, Chris


If Outlook has the same issue, then it's not a problem with
your email client. Either the server has issues or something else
on your PC is causing it. You can verify whether the issue is
server-related by trying a different mail server. One way to do
that is to install a free Gmail POP account.

Email scanning in any antivirus should be disabled, for reasons
explained here:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

Even Symantec (Norton), the originator of the email scanning concept
admits that it is redundant and unnecessary:
See http://tinyurl.com/bhsva or
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...88256c7500723cf0?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

"Is my computer still protected against viruses if I disable Email
Scanning?
Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses
that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect
scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email
and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of
this.
To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep
Auto- Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have
the most recent virus definitions."

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

Hi Gary, whilst this may be an effective expedient, I neither want to
change
my client nor disable virus scanning.
Everything worked fine up until a week or so ago. I need to resolve the
root cause of this behavior change.

I have tried Outlook 2007 under Windows 7, and it also crawls when
accessing
the same pop3 server.
I have also tried disabling the email scanning (AVG 8.5) and this did not
help.
I have mailed the system admin of the ISP and he claims they have no
server
or network issues that could cause this.

Cheers, Chris

Try a different mail client, such as Windows Live Mail:

http://download.live.com/wlmail

Also, make sure your antivirus is not configured to scan emails.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)


Up until this week my PO3 access on one of my WM accounts has been
perfect,
but now message download has slowed to less than a crawl.
Current config:

TCP Global Parameters
----------------------------------------------
Receive-Side Scaling State : enabled
Chimney Offload State : enabled
Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level : normal
Add-On Congestion Control Provider : ctcp
ECN Capability : disabled
RFC 1323 Timestamps : disabled

I have tried disabling auto-tuning and have also used 'highlyrestricted'
but
this seems to make no difference.
Net access for everything else is fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Chris