Server 2003 slow network access

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CYaBro

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#25156 13-Aug-2008 15:08

Hi,

I look after a local dentist practice where we have just replaced an old PIII 1GHz server that was running Windows 2000 Pro SP4.
The new server is a Xeon 2.4GHz Quad Core with 2GB RAM and 2x500GB SATA in RAID1.
It is running Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2.

I haven't configured it as a domain controller or DNS server or DHCP server as none of that is really needed.
It just has their Exact dental server software and data running on it.

Since the new server has gone in the users are complaining that the Exact software is running a lot slower than it was with the old server.

I think the problem is that they have a heap of data which includes xrays and some data folders have over 5,000 files & folders in them.
I have seen this before with Server 2003 where workstations have trouble browsing network shares on the server that have a lot of files/folders in them. This problem did not occur with Win2000 Server or Pro.

I have never been able to find a fix for this other than reduce the number of files/folders in the folders that have a lot.
This can't be done here however.

Anyone got any ideas?

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

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#156648 13-Aug-2008 17:24

Try this on each workstation:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters]
"SizReqBuf"=dword:0000ffff

amanzi

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#156820 14-Aug-2008 10:10

Have you checked to see if SMB signing is switched on? I don't think it would be if the server isn't configured as a domain controller, but worth checking anyway. This article explains more: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887429

CYaBro

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#157082 14-Aug-2008 23:59

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
I tried those today but didn't appear to make any difference.

I did also set all machines to use NetBIOS over TCP/IP in the network card properties.
Set all network cards connection speed to 100Mbps Full duplex rather than auto.
Also put the server IP address in the hosts file.

I also found another registry setting to try - changing the value of TcpAckFrequency - Set this to 1 and it seemed to make some difference but not a lot.
Will have to keep an eye on it for a few days.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

rphenix

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#157128 15-Aug-2008 09:14

What about setting up a wins server on the 2k3 system?

I've seen it where workstations that were previous communicating with a wins (aka nt4/2k domains) dont like it when theres nolonger a wins server and 2003 doesnt use wins by default but you can add it.

It might not fix it but it cant hurt to try :)

rphenix

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#157137 15-Aug-2008 09:43

Also perhaps check this on a workstation

if you do ipconfig /all
Do you see this:
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Peer-Peer
?

If its something else like hybrid, then you might want to consider changing it. The default for XP should be Peer-Peer I believe.

Option1:

Heres a registry file you can create:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters]
"DhcpNodeType"=dword:00000002

Backup everything under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters first :)

Reboot workstation and see how it goes.

Option 2:

The better way would be to change the node type on the dhcp server.

Under the DHCP MMC console on the 2k3 Server right click on "Server Options", click configure, scroll down to about 3/4 you should see the option 046 WINS/NBT Node Type.

Tick the option, set the data entry as 0x2.

Click Okay, restart DHCP server.

Then either wait for the lease to expire on all workstations or do ipconfig /release && ipconfig /renew
on a pc to test it.

Simonm

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#157526 17-Aug-2008 15:10

Can you advise the disk configuration of the old server?

Secondly are the files been scanned by AV software at any part of the process? (Server/workstation active scanning)

Thirdly, are you using any authentication on those shares?

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AllNightNerding

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#157557 17-Aug-2008 18:59

What dental practice is this?

When does the slow access occur? eg, are you doing a backup or while you are doing the xrays or appointments? Do you use the Trophy software to do the xrays?

If you have appointments that are being sent out to cellphones how often are these going out?

Make sure all clients and computers have the latest service pack isntalled, I had a system where with one of the new updates that software of excellence sent out, caused all systems slow to a crawl and then completly crash and then everything had to be turned back on again.

Is it still slow when doing just a bunch of files or maybe copying a movie across? or is it just when exact is active?

Maybe try re-building the database and see if it runs better.

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CYaBro

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#157577 17-Aug-2008 20:12

Thanks for all the suggestions people!

The old and new server are both running 2 HDDs in RAID1.
The difference being that the new server is 2x500GB SATA and the old has 2x80GB IDE.

The software is Exact and the Xray software is Examine Pro.
I have tried doing a re-index of the database but that made no difference.

As I said it seemed to be going OK when I left on Thursday and didn't hear from them on Friday so hopefully it is all sorted now.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

CYaBro

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#159713 25-Aug-2008 21:17

Well just got a message today from the practice and it is still slow :(

Will go there tomorrow and check a few other things.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

CYaBro

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#159717 25-Aug-2008 21:22

Simonm: Can you advise the disk configuration of the old server?

Secondly are the files been scanned by AV software at any part of the process? (Server/workstation active scanning)

Thirdly, are you using any authentication on those shares?

The old server was running 2x80GB IDE in RAID1 on a Promise PCI raid card.
The new server is running 2x500GB SATAII in RAID1 on the onboard Intel Raid controller. - The mainboard is an Intel Entry level server board - S3000AH I think.

There is no AV software on any machine server or workstations as they have no internet access.

The only authentication is that all workstations log in using Username: User - Password: 123
The server has that user set up on it as well and all the shares are set to allow Everbody full access on the share as well as the security tab.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Regs

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Snowflake

#159718 25-Aug-2008 21:32

CYaBro: Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Set all network cards connection speed to 100Mbps Full duplex rather than auto.

is this how you set up the server network card when you installed it? If you did, and you didnt set the network switch to also be manual set 100Mbps full duplex then that might explain your network performance. If one end is set auto and the other end manual you often get the resulting link of 10mbps half-dupex. Always match auto with auto or manual with manual. If your switch is not configurable then leave everything as auto.

also, what sort of server have you put in? there are some issues it appears with some HP servers and NICs where disabling the TOE, RSS and other features improves scalability and throughput when using it with windows 2003 sp2 which adds the scalable networking pack and switches on some extra params by default

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CYaBro

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#160313 27-Aug-2008 23:50

Thanks for that Regs.

I did find a MS KB article on how to turn off/disable TOE but I found that the update had already been installed on the server.
I updated the network card drivers to the latest from Intel's site and also made sure any TOE stuff was turned off in the network card settings itself as well as the registry.
It doesn't seem to have made any difference to the speed though :(

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Regs

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Snowflake

#160320 28-Aug-2008 02:02

CYaBro: Thanks for that Regs.

I did find a MS KB article on how to turn off/disable TOE but I found that the update had already been installed on the server.
I updated the network card drivers to the latest from Intel's site and also made sure any TOE stuff was turned off in the network card settings itself as well as the registry.
It doesn't seem to have made any difference to the speed though :(

and how about the settings for "Auto" versus Manual "100 Full Duplex" on the card and the switch? do they match?

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CYaBro

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#160369 28-Aug-2008 10:00

Regs:
CYaBro: Thanks for that Regs.

I did find a MS KB article on how to turn off/disable TOE but I found that the update had already been installed on the server.
I updated the network card drivers to the latest from Intel's site and also made sure any TOE stuff was turned off in the network card settings itself as well as the registry.
It doesn't seem to have made any difference to the speed though :(

and how about the settings for "Auto" versus Manual "100 Full Duplex" on the card and the switch? do they match?

Yea - all set to auto.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

rhysb

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#160390 28-Aug-2008 10:34

What NIC is in the server? I had a similar problem with a law firm and it turned out to be some settings on the Intel NIC. If it is an Intel NIC try looking in the performance options in device manager.

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