OWA and Win2k/IE6 through SSL = slow 4 min load time?

[tysonic]

Hi all,

I'm using Win2k server with SP2, Exchange Server 2000 with SP3, SSL through a PIX 506 firewall.

When I started installing some new pc's at our remote location (Compaq EVO's with Win2ksp2 and all winupdate downloads except for SP3) I noticed immediately that OWA access through a 128k ISDN line increased to exactly 2
min for the Security cert, and another 2+ mins to display the logon box. All 13 machines did the same thing. The computers these were replacing (Gateway's with Win98 and IE 5.0) worked great logging into OWA across the same network and ISDN in about 15 seconds.

So I downloaded IE6 with all the updates and tried it again on the win98 box, 23 seconds.
I downloaded Win2k SP3 to one of the new machines, 4 1/2 min
Reset to the default all Security and Options settings in IE on new machine, 4 1/2min
Enabled Integrated Authentication (it was off by default) on new machine, 4 1/2 min

Figuring it was a Firewall/Internet problem I went back to the main office (2 hour drive) and tried accessing it across the Lan on my Win2k/IE6 box (we use Outlook 2k here only), 4 1/2 min to load on a 10/100 network. Went to an older Win98 box with IE 6 and it loaded in about 15 seconds across the same Lan. WinXP Pro box on the same network was about 15 seconds.

Then I went home and tried it on my Win98 box across a DSL line and it came up in about 10 seconds. I then tried on a Win XP Home box (DSL) and it came up in about 10 seconds.

What in the world isn't setup right to allow a Win2k box access OWA as fast as a Win98 box?

Tyson

 

[wcraddock]

This is an issue with the network card and W2K. We had the same issue with Compaq's driver for the Intel Pro 100 in a very similar enviroment.

There is a regedit that resolves this issue or is resolved with SP3.

Here is the link to the article on Microsoft's site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q321098

good luck
Will Craddock

 

[tysonic]

On a whim, I decided to download Netscape 7.0 and try it on my machine. It opened OWA in 10 seconds. I then logged off and closed Netscape, opened IE and tryed it again -5 min.

ALL on the same machine/network connection. My IE browser version is: 6.0.2600.0000
Cipher: 128bit
Update versions: Q306121,Q312461,Q313675,Q316059,Q319182,Q321232,Q323759

Could this be a security setting?

Tyson

 

[tysonic]

I just downloaded the SP1 fix for IE6, it made no difference in OWA load time (still 4 1/2 min). Netscape 7.0 is still clocking in at 5 seconds.

My version of IE6 is:
6.0.2600.1106
Cipher: 128bit
Update versions: SP1

What settings are in IE that are not in Netscape that would cause such a slow down? Anything I can check?

Tyson

 

[tysonic]

Well, I tried one more thing: OWA on the Exchange/Win2k server itself. Opens in about 5 seconds with IE6.

Still takes 4 1/2 min on Win2k Pro/IE6 and 5 seconds with Netscape.

I'm stumped.

Tyson

 

[tysonic]

Fixed it. Seems it was the NetBeui protocal. I removed it and everything is fine now.

Tyson