Network Slowdown

[classicsoftware]

I have a client with an 11 node NT network. The Server is a Dell Poweredge P-III 350. The users runs a proprietary (sp?) Dental Office Management Software package.

Without warning, the system will grind to a crawl. The only network protocol is NetBEUI. Only the 2-3 machines that go on line with AOl have TCPCIP installed.

Anyone have any ideas?
Do you guys have aby network testing software I can buy/download?
Please advise.

[Ghost_Hacker]

I use Sniffer for network analysis , but it's not free. ( there might be a demo version you can get) Etherpeek is also recommend by some but I've never used it and don't foget NT has a built in network analyzer you can use if cost is a problem. (NetMON ..it's not as good as Sniffer but can do in pinch. You'll have to install it to the Server.) Ethereal is another network sniffer that is free to use. I use it to look at packet captures made by Snort or TCPDump. (agian can do in a pinch but see if you can get your hands on a demo of Sniffer.)


( you may know some of this already, but I blab for awhile longer anyway http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif )First thing I would look at is the pattern of application traffic, do a trace on the communications between one workstation and the server as that workstation accesses the network application. For example after the session has been setup does the workstation request info then the server replies with one packet or several packets request,reply,reply (burst mode.. good) or is it a one to one relationship request,reply,request,reply (slow file transfer.. not so good could get ugly ) or is it request,request,request,reply (yuk!!! very bad you've got a problem hope it's not by design http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ).

After you have an idea of how the application "flows" you can fire up all the workstations and look at the network utilization (Sniffer and Etherpeek can do this in real time don't know about NT's built in network tool) Also look for excessive broadcast, retransmissions, time outs on the network.


Good Luck http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Matt D]

Hmmm,now this is bringing back bad memories http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gifabout a year ago I had a client who is a Dentist,set him up a nice network when he opened his office,no problem(had'nt even had a service call in almost 2 years),they installed some new office software.Slow downs,kicked off the net,lock up,,,well,to many hour's later,I find that it's a socket problem with 98.
You did'nt say the O/S but if it's 98 you might want to try this http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gifsave has a .reg file.

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\VxD\MSTCP]
"MaxConnections"="25000"

There is a problem with some software that will not release the sockets in 98,is it a case of P.P.P.(P.iss P.oor P.rograming)or problem with MS?
Anyway I hope this helps.

Matt D.

[Matt D]

Sorry;
Reading back you did say it was a NT network.My Bad,still sounds like the same old,same old http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif,you might want to check around for a sockets fix for NT,or the software their useing.
Matt D

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A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick
boxing. --Emo Philips