speeding up a network


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I recently got a new computer with winXP, and i attached it to my home network with three other computers running win98, and a netware server. the internet sharing works fine (it's running off a separate router). the problem occurs when I try to access shared drives on the windows boxes - it is really slow. I've already done the tweak with disabling the "scheduled task checking" glitch, but accessing the drives is still really slow. Most often, the list of shares on a computer comes up quickly, but after clicking one, it takes a couple of minutes before a directory listing appears. This is when both computers are idle. Also, once inside a directory, it still hangs when entering different directories or opening a file. Is there anyway to speed this up, either by changing settings on the winXP or on the win98's?

thanks in advance!

-Sumudu

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This is a problem that's plagued windows file sharing (especially 9x) for a longgggggg time. Sometimes it's not a problem..other times it's realllllllllllllllly annoying. One of my boxes is speedy, another one freezes for a good 30 seconds, and another wont work at all. I wish I could offer a solution for you - I'm fairly sure there's some sort of "timeout" involved, but I'm not sure what exactly that is. Windows networking is horribly inefficient - especially when you compare it to a SMB server such as samba (which tells you if there's a problem right away instead of letting you wait for 5 minutes). I've also noticed more efficient transfers from samba.

If there's any passwords/user specific settings for the shares, try removing them.

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Copy/Paste Information:

Might help you out!

01. Start::Run::Type: "regedit"

02. Locate:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Explorer/RemoteComputer/NameSpace

03. Under that branch, select the key :

{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}

04. delete it.

Claim:

Windows 2000 & XP machines delay as long as 30 seconds when you try to view shared files across a network because Windows is using the extra time to search the remote computer for any Scheduled Tasks. Here's how to prevent this remote search for Scheduled Tasks:

Source:

http://www.xp-erience.org/sections.php?op=...rticle&artid=71

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Are you accessing with the same username/password?

If not, there is (for some reason) a delay in the authentifcation. Windows will then try anonymous access.

I suggest you sync all your WINDOWS usernames and passwords... In a majority of cases, the Netware credentials are not linked to the Windows credentials.

If your 98 machines arn't set up to require a login, it will probably be easiest to give the current account your username and then use TweakUI to auto-login. (Your password is stored in the registry as plain text if you do this)

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thanks for all the help guys - it seems to work a little better now but still pretty slow/unreliable. does anybody know how i should change the "bindings" on the win98's (and also how to do this in XP Home), because I figured that this might be contributing to the problem.

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You should only have the TCP/IP protocol installed on all machines if you want the simplest setup.

I know that NetBEUI is nanoseconds faster, but it makes life much more complex.

I think you need CLient for MS networks as well as Netware networks if you are using a Netware server. You definately need the File and Printer Staring for MS networks though, otherwise you couldn't do what you are trying to speed up...

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NetBEUI isn't just good because it's faster, it's also a non-routable protcol, so it can't travel over the internet (and thus prevents anyone from the outside world of accessing windows shares). Binding filesharing to only NetBEUI offers an extra layer of security for a homenetwork. And I would hardly say it makes life complicated...

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I'm also aware of that, but when you're trying to solve a speed problem, its just an extra spanner in the works. I did mean to write that in, but obviously forgot :ermm:

Thanks Vlad

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well, about MS client & Novell Client, I have that all set up correctly, and I can even access the server drives quite well. I was using NetBEUI with the local sharing before, but I don't know how to set it up in WinXP. That is, I found out how to install it, but I don't know if WinXP is actually using it or not. I couldn't find anything like the "bindings" tab from win98, so I have no idea what to do. BTW, I think I need the IPX/SPX protocols too, since they seem to be important for Novell client. also, my internet works fine too since it's basically a gateway on the local network on an old 486, and runs on TCP/IP (obviously). anyone have any ideas to help me?

PS - i finally improved startup and shut down times - they are at 30s each now! yes!

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Originally posted by Quantris

well, about MS client & Novell Client, I have that all set up correctly, and I can even access the server drives quite well. I was using NetBEUI with the local sharing before, but I don't know how to set it up in WinXP. That is, I found out how to install it, but I don't know if WinXP is actually using it or not. I couldn't find anything like the "bindings" tab from win98, so I have no idea what to do. BTW, I think I need the IPX/SPX protocols too, since they seem to be important for Novell client. also, my internet works fine too since it's basically a gateway on the local network on an old 486, and runs on TCP/IP (obviously). anyone have any ideas to help me?

PS - i finally improved startup and shut down times - they are at 30s each now! yes!

To see bindings in Windows XP, go to Start -> Settings -> Network Connections, then the Advanced Menu, and finally the "Advanced settings..." tab.

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PS - i finally improved startup and shut down times - they are at 30s each now! yes!

Are you set up to use a DHCP address acclocation without a DHCP server? I don't know much about Novel server, so I can only suggest you manually set a fixed IP on every machine. Its not too hard to administer on a home network, and can even make life easier at some points.

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I'm at a loss then. Why not just set the machines to connect to the root c drive of every other machine at statup?

And no, before you ask, I don't want to be flamed about any security issues.

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Since I have no knowledge of Novell servers, can I chip in? (After all, this is the NeoWinian philosophy . . .)

Is XP Home setup to use IPX or can it use it?

For the fastest local protocol, use IPX, not NetBEUI or TCP/IP. Only bind TCP/IP on the internet/shared/routed gateway connection, but use IPX on everything else. OR If you have to choose 1 protocol only, use TCP/IP for the local network and gateway. (SMB is fine with Windows, I don't know who said otherwise. SMB works better under NetBEUI than TCP/IP.)

I believe Novell has a "Single Log On" feature available. I concur with a previous suggestion to sync all passwords/usernames/clocks etc, on your network.

XP does extra security checks which Win9x never did. For example, XP can and does check for certificates/authorities/Kerberos/authentication etc.

How else have you set up your XP PC? 2000 and XP can copy/replicate info to make network services faster for other Windows PC's, but you may want to turn this feature off (via the registry). You will need to search the MS Knowledge base for this technique. Sorry, I don't remember it.

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Originally posted by JustinLerner

Since I have no knowledge of Novell servers, can I chip in? (After all, this is the NeoWinian philosophy . . .)

Well, its a bit late to stop you :p

Originally posted by JustinLerner

XP does extra security checks which Win9x never did. For example, XP can and does check for certificates/authorities/Kerberos/authentication etc.

B]

Good point. Quantris, have you got a firewall on your 9x machines? You said you've disabled the XP firewall, but if your 9x machines are not responding closed to port 500 (Kerbos me thinks) or something like that then XP could be waiting to time out.

Originally posted by JustinLerner

Since I have no knowledge of Novell servers, can I chip in? (After all, this is the NeoWinian philosophy . . .)

Is XP Home setup to use IPX or can it use it?

For the fastest local protocol, use IPX, not NetBEUI or TCP/IP. Only bind TCP/IP on the internet/shared/routed gateway connection, but use IPX on everything else. OR If you have to choose 1 protocol only, use TCP/IP for the local network and gateway. (SMB is fine with Windows, I don't know who said otherwise. SMB works better under NetBEUI than TCP/IP.)

I thought SMB was fastest on NetBEUI cos that is the native protocol it was designed for, and IPX was the routable protocol optimised for LANs, but it was optimised for Novel purposes. :s

Oh Quantris, I don't think anyone has mentioned yet that there is a copy of NetBIOS on the WinXP CD in the value added/support directory. I can't remember which.

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about the netbeui on the winxp cd, i already installed that no problem, i think it was really the "bindings" tab in XP that I had trouble finding (too used to win98). I'll try some different protocol combinations now and see which one is fastest. thanks for all the help guys!

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