Problem with fileserver performance

[abenstex]

Hi everyone,

i am pretty new to Windows 2003 and have encountered the following problem. I set up a fileserver on Windows 2003, but some users mentioned that it takes up to one minute to open files that don't exceed 100kb in size and it also takes very long for the file tree to be shown in explorer. Now my question is what could be the reason or what is the best way to find out the reason for this slow behavior.

Thanks!
Chris

 

[abenstex]

Forgot to mention some things: there are never more than 3 or 4 users accessing the server at the same time. System: Dell PowerEdge 1800 with 1GB RAM, Intel XEON 3.2 GHz, 510GB hard drive. Other software is only a small cvs server for me alone and a database server, which is currently still empty and was not running when the problems started...

 

[skialta]

Check your speed and duplex settings on your NIC. Are you connected to a switch or hub? You may want to hard-code your NIC to Full Duplex, 100mb and see if that makes a difference. Where I work today we have to do this otherwise we have the same types of issues you're having.

 

[pagy]

How is this network setup? Is the 2003 server a domain controller and are the PCs logging into that domain?

If so then check your DNS settings on the PCs, the preferred DNS server should be set to your servers IP address. The server as well should have its own IP address as its preferred DNS server.

Or is this setup in a workgroup configuration?


All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.
- Mark Twain

 

[abenstex]

The server is not a domain controller, and later i will check the NIC. Thanks for the hints you gave!

 

[abenstex]

@skialta: the nic is running with 100mb, so the problem must be somewhere else i'm afraid.

 

[pagy]

Even in a workgroup I like to have some form of DNS resolution, if even just for the server.
Any chance you could humor me and on the PCs add an entry into their hosts files for your 2003 server. Then give the PCs a reboot and see what its like then.

Also
Is there any specific reason why you don't have it setup in a domain configuration? I usually prefer a domain setup even if I only have a few users.


All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.
- Mark Twain

 

[pagy]

What protocols do you have installed on the clients?, make sure theres no Nwlink installed, I've seen that slow things down.


All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.
- Mark Twain

 

[technome]

Sounds like your wiring will not pass certification (wires causing errors). A cheap LED test is useless for wire testing.

If you network wiring can pass certification, disable flow control...
If you switch has a flow control option, turn off flow control on all machines including the server (flow control is redundant as to the machines if flow control can be set at the switch), then set flow control to off on all switch ports. Monitor errors on ports, if the wiring is good you should get few if any errors over a weeks time..if you get more than a few errors on particular ports, retest the wires connected to them.

........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm

 

[skialta]

you may need to hard code 100mb full duplex for your nic. This is done in the device manager.

 

[abenstex]

I changed the hosts file and configured the nic. Apparently it helped as at least some of the users experienced improvements. Thanks to everybody!!!