Slow browsing DFS shares

[Hof]

Hi
We have one Windows 2003 terminal server (with Citrix PS 4.5) which is extremely slow when browsing DFS shares. The problem only occurs when i browse the share by going to Start - Run and type in \\dfs\sharename. If I instead type in the \\servername\sharename there is no problem. If I map the DFS share to a drive letter i don't see the problem either.
The problem is that when browsing the folders in any DFS share the window freezes for 25 seconds. It then works again for about 10 - 15 seconds and then i freezes again for 25 seconds and so on.
We have several DFS shares published as application from this and several other servers and the problem only occurs on one server.
I welcome all ideas on how to solve this. Thanks in advance.
/Hof

 

[TheMisio]

Hof,

How did you configure your DFS? Did you configure it as a domain based DFS? Flat DFS will rely on NetBIOS which is cumbersome and slow. Domain based DFS will use DNS, which is faster.
I would suggest installing Windows 2003 R2 as DFS root server. R2 DFS version rocks. It has been completely rewriten, whereas any other 2003 DFS is still based on old technology. Please read DFS R2 improvements, and I won't have to encourage you to upgrade.

Regards,

Michael

 

[graver]

The slow browsing could be because of AV scanning. I had this issue to one of my 1000 DFS links.

Could also be in need of a hotfix. I would at least check out the link

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/915377

Tamra Graver --CNA, Network+
*************************************
It is my job to comfort the disturbed
and disturb the comfortable..........

 

[Hof]

Hi
Thanks for your answers. I do not know the exact configuration of the DFS. I have not configured that myself and I don't have any access to that but I would be very surprised if it was not configured as a domain based DFS. We have only experienced this problem from one of the Citrix/terminal servers and there are five more servers that run exactly the same applications that don't have this problem.
I have found the Microsoft link in your tip Tamra and maybe I will see if I can get the hotfix and see if that changes anything.

Can you give me more details about the issue you had with antivirus? Was the problem on the file server or on the client?
On my server (which is the client) I have problems with all dfs shares that I have tried to access if they are not mapped to a drive letter, then it's no problem.
Regards
/Hof

 

[Hof]

OK it seems now that the problem has been solved. Last thursday I installed Microsoft hotfix KB915377 and so far I have not been able to reproduce the issue.