Buffett

Currently have a network with 3 PCs. All three PCs have Windows 98 running on them and the fastest PC is used as the server. I know this is a cheap network!!! The server has the application installed on it and the other two PCs connect to the server and run the application off of it. I have all three PCs setup in the same workgroup and am using a hub to connect the three. I am using basic NETBEUI as the protocol for them to communicate. Lately the network has been running real slow especially when printing to the printer attached and shared from the server. Anyone have any ideas how to speed things up?? I have thought about using TCP/IP as the protocol and giving each pc it's own ip address. Would this help? Also, what about installing Windows 2000, could this help speed things up as well? Any other ideas or suggested would be appreciated!!!

Thanks.

Blu

Well, I'd personally switch to IP, it's way more efficient. Also, you may want to look into an HP external print server. You can assign an IP to that and connect the printer to it, which should speed up the printer connection. They aren't cheap (~$300), but they are really useful. You'll probably want to keep NetBEUI, but make it secondary to TCP/IP. I sometimes find that NetBEUI helps with computer names on the network.

Blu

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Jeffbx

That's a common misconception - netBEUI is a much more efficient (i.e., faster) protocol than IP. It has less overhead since it's not a routable protocol, like TCP/IP. Unless you're connecting to the Internet, there is no reason to run IP on your network.

You certainly don't want to run both - that just adds unnecessary overhead to your network. For best speed, keep only netBEUI on your network.

Your slowdown can be caused by a number of things - check the following:

- Low disk space on the C:\ drive of your server. You want to have at least 200-300MB free at all times
- A virus can cause network slowdowns - make sure your virus scanner is on & has the latest signature files
- A bad network card can broadcast noise onto the network. Try unplugging one computer at a time (unplug one & leave the other two connected). If removing one particular machine improves the performance, it's possible that the network card is bad
- Outside interference can cause slowdowns. Any electrical source, especially electrical motors, broadcast noise onto your network. Remove any electrical sources from near the network wires

Unfortunately, these are only a few things that can cause a network to slow down. Hopefully it gives you a place to start troubleshooting, though.

Good luck!

JoeSmooth

Jeff is right on the ball with NetBeui and IP. As a interesting side note IPX is faster than TCP/IP as well. Why? TCP/IP is a connection oriented protocol. That means every time you open a session a hand shake has to occur. TCP/IP is excellent for one thing only, reliability (when it absolutely postively has to be there sometime in the future).

Anyway. If you have a cheap hub consider that as a source of the problem as well. Get an x-over cable and hook 1 pc to the server and check the speed. I had set up my girl friend's parents with a cheap hub and suddenly there shared cable modem connection went to ****. I troubleshot it to the hub replaced it and everything was fine.

Failing that check your cables. Go get a copy of CommView (www.winfiles.com) and see if you are getting alot of packet errors on the wire.

Good luck