Network help needed

[Colbaker]

hi guys, need some help, My work machine and all other work machines are really slow and it takes ages to open Spreadsheets and folders on the network, I think this is due to only being 10/100 network and also running IP phone system causing all sorts of problems, Would upgrading to a gigabit network improve things? how could i check to see if this is the fault?

Thanks

 

[bitslice]

I think this is due to only being 10/100 network

umm, I'd say unlikely; lots of sites are only 10/100 and are fine for say around 50-100 users.
Adding faster hardware may work, but you really need to find out why this is happening


we really need lots more info in order to give sensible comments:
- when did this start happening ?
- does this perfomance problem happen when people have gone home ?
- how many users do you have ?
- do they all connect back to a central switch ?
- what switch hardware do you have ?



first step is to look at the traffic logs on your switch (if any)

otherwise locate a software network sniffer that will give you the "top ten talkers".
a nice one is the free "PRTG traffic grapher"
http://www.paessler.com/prtg
...and install a sensor on your file server, and on the ports linking your switches.
I downloaded it earlier to check and it should tell you what you need to know.




re: loading files:

I'd have a look at the performance of the file server as a possibility,
there are performance indicators you can setup to check it's behaving normally.

here are some links on what to look for:

Windows Server 2003 Performance Monitor
http://tinyurl.com/hlfj9

Key Performance Monitor Counters
http://tinyurl.com/7psta


hth
.

 

[Syngress]

Are your devices connected to a switch or a hub, if it's a hub swap it out for a switch as this will improve things for you a lot, also make sure all devices are running in Full Duplex as well. If there are already in a switch and full duplex, get a sniffer like wireshark (which is free) this should enable you to sniff the traffic on the network to see what is talking the most.

 

[bitslice]

wireshark

[pique]
It looks like Colbaker is far too busy in other threads to bother posting in his own
[/pique]


But thanks for the tip on Wireshark, Syngress
had a look today, and it's great for packet capture.
(I normally used Sniffer-Pro)


I like the capture filter for picking out stuff of interest
(! arp AND ! FTP AND host 10.0.0.5)
heh, what a doddle, love it


www.wireshark.org

.