annoying network problem

Hi, trying to solve a dysfunctional networks problem.

5 PCs:
4XP
1 Win98se.
2 printers, one a large commercial plotter.
Peer to peer network via a switch.

Network not set up by me. One PC is designated as a 'server' (as they call
it), but it is merely the PC on the workgroup which shares the Adsl internet
access, and stores all the shared documents.

All PCs can see themselves on the network, all are fully accesible, I have
IP assigned by dhcp.

The network works fine, for about 35 mins, and then access to the main PC
gets incredibly slow, crawls right down.

I have tried several different solutions, and getting more desperate.I have
replaced the hub/switch (when the hub/switch is reset the network works at
full speed), i have checked the cabling, all CAT5, i have manually assigned
ip addresses and dns servers, i have used alternative PC to share the
printers, to no joy.

Anyone any suggestions? Is this a shitty WinXP problem, should i suggest a
reversion to win2k?

thanks

Gaz

In message <(E-Mail Removed)>, Gaz <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>Hi, trying to solve a dysfunctional networks problem.
>
>5 PCs:
>4XP
>1 Win98se.
>2 printers, one a large commercial plotter.
>Peer to peer network via a switch.
>
>Network not set up by me. One PC is designated as a 'server' (as they call
>it), but it is merely the PC on the workgroup which shares the Adsl internet
>access, and stores all the shared documents.
Lovely. All your shared documents on the internet gateway!
>
>All PCs can see themselves on the network, all are fully accesible, I have
>IP assigned by dhcp.

>
>The network works fine, for about 35 mins, and then access to the main PC
>gets incredibly slow, crawls right down.
What OS does the 'server' run?
>
>I have tried several different solutions, and getting more desperate.I have
>replaced the hub/switch (when the hub/switch is reset the network works at
>full speed), i have checked the cabling, all CAT5, i have manually assigned
>ip addresses and dns servers, i have used alternative PC to share the
>printers, to no joy.
>
>Anyone any suggestions? Is this a shitty WinXP problem, should i suggest a
>reversion to win2k?
Sounds more like a shitty Win98 problem actually. I'd consider using
Ethereal on a laptop or sixth machine to see what is flying around the
network. Is there network activity show by the switch LEDs? Is the
Internet access shared using ICS? Have you virus scanned all the
machines? Are the AV definitions up to date? Can you run any kind of
load testing with half the machines switched off?
>
>thanks
>
>Gaz
>
>

--
Clint Sharp

"Clint Sharp" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> In message <(E-Mail Removed)>, Gaz <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
> >Hi, trying to solve a dysfunctional networks problem.
> >
> >5 PCs:
> >4XP
> >1 Win98se.
> >2 printers, one a large commercial plotter.
> >Peer to peer network via a switch.
> >
> >Network not set up by me. One PC is designated as a 'server' (as they
call
> >it), but it is merely the PC on the workgroup which shares the Adsl
internet
> >access, and stores all the shared documents.
> Lovely. All your shared documents on the internet gateway!
> >
> >All PCs can see themselves on the network, all are fully accesible, I
have
> >IP assigned by dhcp.
>
> >
> >The network works fine, for about 35 mins, and then access to the main PC
> >gets incredibly slow, crawls right down.
> What OS does the 'server' run?

WinXP is used as the network share and printer share.

> >
> >I have tried several different solutions, and getting more desperate.I
have
> >replaced the hub/switch (when the hub/switch is reset the network works
at
> >full speed), i have checked the cabling, all CAT5, i have manually
assigned
> >ip addresses and dns servers, i have used alternative PC to share the
> >printers, to no joy.
> >
> >Anyone any suggestions? Is this a shitty WinXP problem, should i suggest
a
> >reversion to win2k?
> Sounds more like a shitty Win98 problem actually. I'd consider using
> Ethereal on a laptop or sixth machine to see what is flying around the
> network.

I shall check it out.....

>Is there network activity show by the switch LEDs..

Yes, there is, again the network PCs are all present, just slow right down.

Is the
> Internet access shared using ICS?

Yes, but even before ics, the problem existed

Have you virus scanned all the
> machines? Are the AV definitions up to date?

yes all norton, and updated, all machines also scanned for trojans

Can you run any kind of
> load testing with half the machines switched off?

any suggestions as to network load software?

Gaz
> >
> >thanks
> >
> >Gaz
> >
> >
>
> --
> Clint Sharp

Gaz wrote:

> Hi, trying to solve a dysfunctional networks problem.
>
> 5 PCs:
> 4XP
> 1 Win98se.
> 2 printers, one a large commercial plotter.
> Peer to peer network via a switch.
>
> Network not set up by me. One PC is designated as a 'server' (as they call
> it), but it is merely the PC on the workgroup which shares the Adsl internet
> access, and stores all the shared documents.
>
> All PCs can see themselves on the network, all are fully accesible, I have
> IP assigned by dhcp.
>
> The network works fine, for about 35 mins, and then access to the main PC
> gets incredibly slow, crawls right down.
>
> I have tried several different solutions, and getting more desperate.I have
> replaced the hub/switch (when the hub/switch is reset the network works at
> full speed), i have checked the cabling, all CAT5, i have manually assigned
> ip addresses and dns servers, i have used alternative PC to share the
> printers, to no joy.
>
> Anyone any suggestions? Is this a shitty WinXP problem, should i suggest a
> reversion to win2k?
>
> thanks
>
> Gaz
>
>


Any other protocols apart from TCP/IP ? Netbui is the best protocol
for very small networks but when run with TCP/IP and both are bound to
local network sharing it can cause conflicts that do things very much
like you describe. It may also be an idea to check the host file of each
PC for conflicts.
However I deep down suspect ICS -- it has a reputation of working
perfectly in some situations but not in others try installing another
proxy server on the "server pc" free proxy servers include
"Freeproxy", "Lansuite 603" (free for up to 5 pcs and lots of extra
features) and Proxomitron (which is also a web filter).
In the longer term a 50 quid ADSL router/Switched hub with built in nats
firewall is a much better way to connect to the internet.
I would also set a lightweight DNS server on one PC (try Podasis or Bind
LE or Treewalk)

Just a thought...

If the XP is the server then check to see what services are in use. The
indexing service is a pile of poo that slows any system down to a crawl.
That starts after about half an hour...

--
Yours

Zebedee

(Claiming asylum in an attempt
to escape paying his debts to
Dougal and Florence)

"Zebedee" <abuse@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:40c88029$0$17285$(E-Mail Removed) ...
> Just a thought...
>
> If the XP is the server then check to see what services are in use. The
> indexing service is a pile of poo that slows any system down to a crawl.
> That starts after about half an hour...

Well done brains...... I'll check it out.

Gaz

>
> --
> Yours
>
> Zebedee
>
> (Claiming asylum in an attempt
> to escape paying his debts to
> Dougal and Florence)
>
>
>

"Neadhyl Wroller" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ca9tph$ne1$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Gaz wrote:
>
> >
> >
>
>
> Any other protocols apart from TCP/IP ? Netbui is the best protocol
> for very small networks but when run with TCP/IP and both are bound to
> local network sharing it can cause conflicts that do things very much
> like you describe. It may also be an idea to check the host file of each
> PC for conflicts.
> However I deep down suspect ICS -- it has a reputation of working
> perfectly in some situations but not in others try installing another
> proxy server on the "server pc" free proxy servers include
> "Freeproxy", "Lansuite 603" (free for up to 5 pcs and lots of extra
> features) and Proxomitron (which is also a web filter).
> In the longer term a 50 quid ADSL router/Switched hub with built in nats
> firewall is a much better way to connect to the internet.
> I would also set a lightweight DNS server on one PC (try Podasis or Bind
> LE or Treewalk)


The network was not working properly prior to enabling ICS, I suspected that
it maybe the ICS and disabled dhcp and manually assigned IP addresses. It
made no difference to the network.

Gaz

"Neadhyl Wroller" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ca9tph$ne1$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Gaz wrote:
>
>
> Any other protocols apart from TCP/IP ? Netbui is the best protocol
> for very small networks but when run with TCP/IP and both are bound to
> local network sharing it can cause conflicts that do things very much
> like you describe.

But, if i have a none NT pc on the network, wont netbui be required?

Gaz

"Gaz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...

> But, if i have a none NT pc on the network, wont netbui be required?

Try to reduce your internet protocols to TCP/IP only. Then at least you know
the computers will all try to talk to each other on a single protocol.

--
Yours

Zebedee

(Claiming asylum in an attempt
to escape paying his debts to
Dougal and Florence)

Gaz wrote:

> "Neadhyl Wroller" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:ca9tph$ne1$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>Gaz wrote:
>>
>>
>>Any other protocols apart from TCP/IP ? Netbui is the best protocol
>>for very small networks but when run with TCP/IP and both are bound to
>>local network sharing it can cause conflicts that do things very much
>>like you describe.
>
>
> But, if i have a none NT pc on the network, wont netbui be required?
>
> Gaz
>
>
Most small network switched hubs don't to all the DHCP otions so to run
netbios calls over TCP/IP so it means running static IP and either
maintain proper hosts files on all the pcs or set up a DNS server on
one --- less than 4 pcs using hosts file is a good option but at 5 PCs
I would start to use DNS.

My own setup is TCP/IP only because it is mixed Win98se, NT4 and Linux
uses a IP Cop PC as the DHCP and DNS server with fixed leases on the
DHCP so the IP numbers always are allocated to the same PC Hosts. I also
have Treewalk running on an NT4 box.
Runing a small network I feel a lot less exposed with IP Cop sitting
between me and the internet router. If you have an old slow PC lying
around this is an easy option .