Slow LAN performance using NW6SP5

[jwgrahamjr]

I am running NW6 SP5 - 10 user license. My server is built around an Asus server mobo with single Pentium4 2.53Ghz processor, 1GB of ram and gigabit ethernet on the motherboard...RAID-1 with two 10,000RPM Seagate SCSI drives (U320). The server's gigabit ethernet is connected to the gigabit port of a 3COM Superstack 3 24 port 10/100 switch. Gigabit connectivity to the server is confirmed from the switch LEDs. There are 7 compurters on the LAN connected to the server. All are Dell PCs forced to run at 100Mbps full duplex. Confirmed via LEDs on the switch. Printing is 10mbps and I am using the built in print server in my Lexmark Optra W810 and NDPS. Machines are running Win98SE (completely patched) with Novell client 3.4. These PCs are using proprietary data entry software to add records to a database on the server. Network cabling is cat 6. Internet connection is via a Linksys 10/100 router connected to the switch which is connected to a cable modem. Here is the problem. Users have recently begun complaining about the system being unusably slow at certain random times...for example it takes 3 minutes to copy a 5MB file on one workstation and several seconds on another. The slow performance is not attributed to any one machine - all machines are randomly affected by extremely slow LAN traffic. I checked the health monitor by going to the IP address of the server via a workstation. Everything is listed as OK (CPU exhibits low usage rarely peaking above 60%, drive throughput is normal, etc)...for LAN Traffic it is showing peak usage of 65mbps and sustained at about 20mbps. With this much sustained usage there should not be slowdowns like they are experiencing. I found that by rebooting the server the slowdowns that users are experiencing go away for 24-36 hours and then return. I have not been able to pinpoint the cause of the slowdowns Any suggestions?

 

[marvhuffaker]

A couple thoughts...

Check your "Minimum packet receive buffers" and 'Maximum packet receive buffers". The defaults are pretty low, and you can safely put them up to 2500 and 5000 respectively.

Also.... Check your LAN stats in MONITOR and look for any errors such as "Receive Discarded, No Available Buffers."

Others to look for that are common are 'bad frame alignment', 'carrier sense missing', and others in the "Ethernet Counters" section. These errors usually indicate that there is a problem with your speed/duplex.

Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[dhd10]

where would this be set?
this may help my server out.

thnaks

sean

 

[dhd10]

Well I found where to add but has not helped me

I am running NW6 SP5 - 250 user license. My server is built around an HP Prolent server dual Pentium4 2.53Ghz processor, 1GB of ram and gigabit ethernet on the motherboard with Six SCSI drives. The server's gigabit ethernet is connected to the gigabit port of a Cisco 2950 switch. Gigabit connectivity to the server is confirmed from CMS(CLUSTER MANAGEMENT SUITE). There are 12 compurters on the LAN connected to a WAN via T-1 back to the server. For the most part there is just internet traffic. there will be VoIP in Three weeks.

I have an access program where the data file are on the server and the app file is on the system. when we start the file it takes over 4 mins to start and it is not that big of a database. under 4mg. once it is open works fine but this is a system needs to be opened and closed 20 to 30 time a day and they are not to leave the file open (HIPAA rules) any thoughs would be great.


sean

any help would be great

 

[marvhuffaker]

start by disabling a couple cache settings. They kill databases:

SET CLIENT FILE CACHING ENABLED=OFF
SET LEVEL 2 OPLOCKS ENABLED=OFF



Marvin Huffaker MCNE, CNE
Marvin Huffaker Consulting

http://www.redjuju.com

 

[terry712]

is it using an n100 or a q57 nic
if so make sure that latest version - at least 7.05 (current i think - some earlier version had a stutter
make sure you have the latest nssd support pack on - not sure for 6 but it's probably 7 or 7.01

the client caching etc will most likely be the main killers though

i would also make sure that hyperthreading is off on the server

 

[bytehd]

half duplex?

George Walkey
Senior Geek in charge

http://www.insyncva.com