Gigabit Problems

WILD9 · 20 Apr 2009 at 11:24

Ok just finished my ITX server and everything is great apart from one small problem. File transfers in one direction are much slower but only if initiated on the vista 64 client otherwise they are fast, to make it clearer :

Transfers initiated from the server :

Server 2008 -> Vista x64 ~90Mb
Vista x64 -> Server 2008 ~90Mb

Transfers Initiated at the workstation :

Server 2008 -> Vista x64 ~20MB
Vista x64 -> Server 2008 ~90Mb

So both network cards and setups are capable of blisteringly fast transfers in both directions but file downloads initiated from Vista are runing much slower.

Hardware :

Server
Server 2008
Intel 945 GCLF2
1Gig DDR2
Network Chipset = Realtek RTL8111C

Workstation
Vista x64
Gigabyte P35-DS3R
4gig DDR2
Network Chipset = Realtek RTL8111B

Things Im aware of/ have tried :

If Certain madia software is open Vista throttles the network - Known issue I can make this happen and the speed throttles right back to about 5Mb so this is not the source of this problem

Remote differential compression has been dissabled in Vista - No difference

Because the connection has been proven to be capable of fast transfers both ways im inclined to think this is some smart arse vista service/"Feature" slowing things down when its in control of the download, odd that it can upload fast though.

Any Ideas?

HEADRAT · 20 Apr 2009 at 11:49

I suffered with similar and spents hours trying to figure it out, in the end I bought a decent switch and PCI-E Intel Pro NIC's and the problems went away.

I don't like just throwing money at a problem but in the end it was getting so frustrating I did to preserve my sanity.

NETGEAR GS105 ProSafe and Intel PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter.

I suspect the Realtek NIC's are at the route of your problems. I'm sorry that my post doesn't help with your fundemental problems but to save you hours of problems and headaches I'd ditch the onboard NIC's

HEADRAT

WILD9 · 20 Apr 2009 at 12:40

Im reluctant to spend £100 on it when its demonstrated that the hardware is capable of full speed transfers. Im not saying i wont end up doing just that but I think I'll give it a few days headaches just in case.

HEADRAT · 20 Apr 2009 at 12:44

Sure, I hope you fix it, I had problems with Vista when pre SP1.

If you fix it let us all know

WILD9 · 20 Apr 2009 at 18:36

Result! Transfers initiated on the server now run at 90-100MB. Transfers at the workstation get ~ 77MB Which frankly I can live with, Its a lot faster than many people get out of Gigabit. VMWare Workstations virtual network cards seemed to be the problem as removing them has fixed it. No great loss I dont really use any of the extra functionality so Microsoft Virtual PC will do me fine.

As an aside I was surprised by the impact of drivers on transfer rates I tried updating the drivers on the Vista 64 machine and with the newer drivers all my 90MB network transfers dropped down to 60MB.