5 of 6 networked computers slow - help please

Gregster

Gregster

Gregster

Caporegime
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My very kind wife kindly offered my services to try and sort out their work computers. They have 6 computers and run a program called proscript. A very undemanding program and works nice and quick on one computer but runs slow on the other 5.

It is a Chemist that is very busy and I thought I knew a little but could scratch my way around to find the problem but nothing. One computer does it very quick and it reads from a database and sends the prescriptions to be printed and is basic text being sent, so nothing demanding. I checked internet speeds and 6mb down and 300K up but no idea why one computer could do it in 1 minute for example and yet the opther 5 takes 3 minutes.

Am I missing something obvious?
 
I presume the computers are all the same spec?

Where is the database stored?

Is it a network printer?

What is the connectivity between the computers? Ie, into patch panel, then NER into a switch?

Or are they running off an old 10Mbit hub for example?

Really need to know a little more about the infrastructure in use please Greg.
 
S2KIP said:
I presume the computers are all the same spec?

Where is the database stored?

Is it a network printer?

What is the connectivity between the computers? Ie, into patch panel, then NER into a switch?

Or are they running off an old 10Mbit hub for example?

Really need to know a little more about the infrastructure in use please Greg.
Click to expand...

Sorry, my description was poor and lacked any real info. I will try and explain it as best I can.

6 dell computers all with i3 and 4GB ram. No other processes running and memory usage is low (1.7GB). One of the computers is quick doing the prescriptions, whilst the other 5 are slow.

  • As best I can see, they are connected to a cisco router and then a switch.
  • This is where it starts to go over my head, as there is also a 56K modem plugged into something but could that just be for faxing?
  • They have seperate printers for each computer
  • Speedtest showed good internet speeds and I assume 6mb down and 300K up is fast enough for what the program is reading?

Sorry for the vague response but I did tell the Mrs it is over my head but because it is a very busy Pharmacist, they are getting moaned at all the time as people are waiting and getting someone down from head office can take forever.

Cheers
 
Modem will probably be for fax as you say.

Are they all printing to different computers?

Where is the hold up, application doing its job, or any length in time waiting for it to print?
 
S2KIP said:
Modem will probably be for fax as you say.

Are they all printing to different computers?

Where is the hold up, application doing its job, or any length in time waiting for it to print?
Click to expand...

Each computer has its own printer and the program is where the hold up is. The quicker computer (same spec as the others) scans the prescription and it has several questions that need inputting and this is all a swift operation but the other computers is a constant wait with the egg timer and can take a very long time. The whole thing is sent/recieved to a main computer within the NHS I presume and I would have pointed the finger there but as one of the 6 is quick, I am somewhat confused. No port forwarding is needed. I checked all the settings on the main computer and they tally up with the slower ones, albeit I only checked one computer. I basically came away with me head held low and said sorry but I don't have a clue.

If it was a simple fix, I would go back there and do it but I am completely out of ideas.
 
How are the others connected to the outside world?

I don't think it would be router then switch, not many routers have more than a couple of interfaces, if it has it's likely router then ASA?

If not it'll be switch and then router. It could be, and highly unlikely, that 5 of the 6 computers have duplex mismatch on the switch, or a speed mismatch.

Getting on the switch, and presuming it's Cisco IOS, do the following:

Code: 
telnet <ip of switch if known>
Enter password if known (if it prompts for one)
en
Enter password if known (if it prompts for one)
sh ip int bri

This will list the switches interfaces and details, it's a good way to highlight errors.

If you don't know the IP of the switch, go onto the Cisco router and run:


Code: 
telnet <ip of router if known>
Enter password if known (if it prompts for one)
en
Enter password if known (if it prompts for one)
sh cdp nei det

This will list any Cisco device connected, if CDP is enabled of course.

Knowing the exact infrastructure here is key, as it very much sounds like it could be a network related issue.
 
Just to let you know S2KIP, the pro's are in today, so a headache taken from me but appreciated your advice and help :)

Top man ta.
 
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