Outlook clients lag sometimes

[timkowal]

We have Exchange 2003, single server, about 25 users, and a store size of about 25G. The users frequently complain that Outlook lags or hangs or stalls very often when they are browsing through their emails. This seems to happen regardless of individual mailbox sizes. The server doesn't seem to be overworked.

Exchange store is on D, with about 70G free. C drive is only 10G though, with only 1.5 free. I don't like this, of course, but I don't really see how this would cause this problem.

Any ideas?

 

[Spirit]

Are you using Cached Mode?

I am having issues also and am just looking into the causes.

Is your Ex srvr a DC? Is there a DC/GC in the same site what is its load like?

Clutching at straws just trying to get the thought process moving.....

Iain

 

[rye8261]

25 users and 25G already? I sure hope you are using Cached mode on Outlook 2003

Do you have anything special done on the exchange server like more than one IP address?

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[WhoKilledKenny]

Im not sure having the clients using Cached mode is the answer. In fact I would steer you away from using cache mode unless a client is a laptop user whom works offline.

Regading your hardware, it sounds like the disk housing Exchange database is local to the server. What type of RAID is configure, Hardware or Software and what RAID level?

What is the pop-up message users are getting?

 

[timkowal]

We have a separate DC. It's load is pretty light too: it's just a DC for our 25 users.

We are using Cache mode. I thought that would mean LESS overhead on Exchange, doesn't it?

Users do get a pop up message sometimes when the delay is particularly long. I can't remember though, something about Exchange server being offline.

There's a hardware RAID 5. Nothing else strange that I know of. I'm taking over for the tech who left about a month ago, so I'm still poking around to see what's going on.

 

[skialta]

Have you investigated your networking? Are you using hubs or switches? Is it possible that you have a speed/duplex mis-match? That might explain it along with the questions WhoKilledKenny asked may help us answer you better.

 

[WhoKilledKenny]

I would recommend disabling cache mode on your clients. I have seen slowness issues as well as users disappearing from the GAL. You usually want your logs on RAID 1 or 1+0 - but your environment is not big enough to see any issues.

 

[timkowal]

I think the networking looks good. We have two Extreme Networks 100Mb switches, linked up through the backbone. Is there a diagnostic tool you'd recommend? Otherwise, I think that part looks fine.

I tried disabling cache mode on one PC and I'll see if the user reports that things are working better or not.