Authentication & Sharing extremely slow with Win2k Server Network ?

[plenderj]

I have a small network with just about 5 or 6 computers and a Win2k Server.
For some reason though, authentication for shares, and file sharing in general is extremely slow.

So if I click through to our windows network (in "network neighborhood"), and select our server, it might take the best part of a minute to enumerate the shares.
Then if I click into a share, it might take ages to give me the list of files in that share.
And if I double click to open a particular file, it might take another minute or so.

Any thoughts ?
I'm using Windows XP Professional, and am logging onto our domain.
I have my own user accounts, which is also a member of the administrator's group.... my computer has a computer account.... um.... can't think of anything else really....

[Edneeis]

And there is nothing showing in the event log or anything? Does it happen on all the computers or just some? There is a registry tweak that disables the check for scheduled tasks on remote computers which is suppose to speed things up. I can find a link for you if you want.

Here is the link:
http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakxp/display.asp?id=526

This one actually says its for XP but I've seen it and used it with Win2k Pro also.

[Beacon]

Do you have Norton running on the server??

There are tonnes of registry tweaks but i'd say this is more of a network issue!
Have you used performance monitor??

[Pc_Madness]

Originally posted by plenderj
I have a small network with just about 5 or 6 computers and a Win2k Server.
For some reason though, authentication for shares, and file sharing in general is extremely slow.

So if I click through to our windows network (in "network neighborhood"), and select our server, it might take the best part of a minute to enumerate the shares.
Then if I click into a share, it might take ages to give me the list of files in that share.
And if I double click to open a particular file, it might take another minute or so.

Any thoughts ?
I'm using Windows XP Professional, and am logging onto our domain.
I have my own user accounts, which is also a member of the administrator's group.... my computer has a computer account.... um.... can't think of anything else really....

Are all the nics/hubs the same speed?

[Beacon]

Hmm i would say this is a Software issue since it didnt happen before xp!

Other things to try:

1) Incorrect computer names or passwords. I dont think this applies to you just check! Go to manage passwords in xp. Then delete any pre-xp machines or passwords. Restart.

2) Remove NetBEUI and IPX unless you use them!
Also if none of your computers use IEEE 802.1x authentication protocol then disable that as well. Located in Authentication tab of your LAN connection.

3) Make sure the Computer Browsing service has started.

[plenderj]

1) All computer names and passwords are fine - I did a fresh install of XP Pro when I installed the server.

2) Don't use them. But I did have the network authentication thing on...

3) Yep that's started.



The odd thing with all this, is that sometimes its blindingly quick.
btw, there's no norton or anything weird on the server.

So one time, I might try to browse to a network share, and it takes forever.
But then other times, everything comes up right away.

... I'm logging onto the domain with the right username and password.
That user is an administrator.... the admin's password on my system is the same as on the server.... um....

It doesn't bother me that much.
Its just an odd problem :)

[plenderj]

Oh yes, and sometimes if I browse into our domain, there will be no computers listed at all.



And regarding the hardware, I'm actually connected to the switch to which the server is connected also.
Its a 10/100 meg AT switch, and both the server and I have 10/100 meg cards @ 100mbps.