Network Speed Increase

[kickarse]

For some reason we have a couple machines that just bog when trying to run a program over the network. Everyone else run's this same program but just these few have issues. It's seems it could be a port issue.

Does anyone know of any XP tweaks for network settings? We're running DHCP off a 2003 box and 3 NT4 DC's.

[Ctrl-X]

If network settings on the other clients weren't tweaked, and they don't experience this problem, then I don't think tweaking is going to help... Concentrate on the network equipment (switches, cables, wall ports) instead. One thing that might help is setting the network speed in the network adapter properties on the affected clients from "Auto" to the desired value (10 or 100 Mb, Half or Full duplex).

[allen2]

You might also check the network cables.

[kickarse]

I've switched NIC's, cables, reinstalled in fact... Only thing that's the same is the jack, switch port, switch cable and switch...

I'll probably try a new wire and a difference port on the switch...

[cluberti]

Have you forced the TX rate and duplexing of the NICs on those ports? Auto negotiation can be problematic, even on higher-end hardware.

[mark strelecki]

Ctrl-X and the others are on the money with those suggestions.

I would only add that the nature of networking creates something called "collision domains" and the fewer we have of them, the better the LAN will run.

Perhaps the systems having the throughput issues are suffering from excessive packet collisions. You say you're using a switch, and that SHOULD minimize this issue.

I use ROUTERS on my LANs and get tip-top network speed all the time. (Wireless clients are a different story.)

Another thing to try: shut down ALL systems (power off kinda thing) and reboot the switch (power cycle it), then bring up the DCs one at a time, then the clients, one at a time. This could fix traffic patterns that have been cached in the network as well as the switch itself.

Are all systems protected by UPS, as well as the switch(es)? Power surges and brownouts confer many operational issues to the equation and are easily controlled with high-grade reliable power for everybody.

Please let us know what you find out. Live and learn, and teach somebody else in the process.

Best wishes from chilly Atlanta, GA.

[Ctrl-X]

Another thing to check would be the settings of the switch ports in question. They may very well be configured for 10 Mb/s half duplex (for instance because they used to have hubs connected to them - Yes, I have encountered this myself).

[kickarse]

Our whole telcom rack needs to be redone so it wouldn't surprise me about this. I came into the mess a year back and we've had issues on this front for a while...

I'll try these suggestions, thanks!