troubleshooting a slow network.

[GJP]

We currently have 1 win 2000 server with around 25-30 users. All out client
pc's are running windows XP pro over a domain network. We are trying to
encourage everyone to store files on the server so that they can be shared.
We have recently noticed that accessing files over the network has become
very slow. Accessing the files on the server is very fast. Any ideas where
to start troubleshooting on this one? Is there a way top monitor network
usage, usage by user and etc?

TIA

G

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

We currently have 1 win 2000 server with around 25-30 users. All out
client pc's are running windows XP pro over a domain network. We are
trying to encourage everyone to store files on the server so that
they can be shared. We have recently noticed that accessing files
over the network has become very slow. Accessing the files on the
server is very fast. Any ideas where to start troubleshooting on
this one? Is there a way top monitor network usage, usage by user
and etc?

Are you using a switch or a hub? Use a switch with a decent backplane....
Lock all server/workstation NICs at a specific speed/duplex setting (i.e.,
don't use autosense) such as 100/full if it works ... and if using a managed
switch, lock down the switch ports as well.
Are you running file-level antivirus on the server? Change the realtime
scanning to 'inbound only'

 

[GJP]

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

GJP wrote:

Are you using a switch or a hub? Use a switch with a decent backplane....

At the moment we are using a two hubs... these were installed when i arrived

Lock all server/workstation NICs at a specific speed/duplex setting (i.e.,
don't use autosense) such as 100/full if it works ... and if using a managed
switch, lock down the switch ports as well.

Havent touched any settings, just standard settings. Will try this then.

Are you running file-level antivirus on the server? Change the realtime
scanning to 'inbound only'

All work stations have symantec anitvirus with realtime and server running
the corp/server edition of this software.

Some more info too... the server has 3 partitions. The server (c, this
has 2GB free, the exchange which also has 2GB free and the data which has
15GB free, its about 10 months old.

Any tools included in win 2000 i could use to monitor network usage?

Thanks.
G.

 

[Phillip Windell]

At the moment we are using a two hubs... these were installed when i

arrived

Hubs are bad. They share the bandwidth and don't dedicate it as switches do.
In other words, they are a lot less effiecient.

Havent touched any settings, just standard settings. Will try this then.

Hubs are less complex. There may not even be any "settings".

 

[GJP]

arrived

Hubs are bad. They share the bandwidth and don't dedicate it as switches do.
In other words, they are a lot less effiecient.
then.

Hubs are less complex. There may not even be any "settings".

Yeah, i agree with the hubs. Just out of college, so new to this, but even i
thought it was strange that all computers connected to hubs, and we are
expanding and they want another hub, i will try my best to get them away
from the hubs.

In my previous post i was refering to the settings of the NIC, not hub.
Havent had alook at the NIC settings, they just default ones, will try this
though.

Thanks for the advice

G.

 

[Steven L Umbach]

In addition to the other suggestions, there is a known issue with XP Pro and W2K
servers and smb signing. See the KB link below and you may want to temporarily
disable all four of the "digitally sign communications" security options in the Local
Security Policy on the Windows 2000 Server. Run secedit /refreshpolicy machine_policy
/enforce on the server when done. Note that if you have digitiallly sign
communications (always) for client in your domain policy or in the Local Security
Policy of any domain members it may cause their network access to be denied. By
default that setting is not enabled. --- Steve

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;814112