Peer to peer network problems

I have a peer to peer network set up between 4 computers running only
1 program. My OS is Win98SE. All 4 computers have 10/100 NIC's.
For 2 years,It's been working fine with a 10 speed 3COM hub. Now that
my database has increased, slowdowns have been taking place. I
purchased a new 3COM 10/100 hub to try to run at 100 and speed up the
network. When I hook it up, the lights on the hub show the circuits
running at 100, but either the network runs extremly slow or I get a
404 Network error. I was running with Client and Netbuei, but I also
tried TCP/IP with the same results. I tried new cat 5 cables and a new
Linksys Hub with the same results. All the computers find each other
on Network Neighborhood. I even tried cutting down to 2 computers,
reloading my NIC drivers and Network protocols. No luck. It runs Ok
with the 10 speed hub, but either won't work or runs very slowly with
the 10/100 hub. Any ideas?

"James Avery" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a peer to peer network set up between 4 computers running only
> 1 program. My OS is Win98SE. All 4 computers have 10/100 NIC's.
> For 2 years,It's been working fine with a 10 speed 3COM hub. Now that
> my database has increased, slowdowns have been taking place. I
> purchased a new 3COM 10/100 hub to try to run at 100 and speed up the
> network. When I hook it up, the lights on the hub show the circuits
> running at 100, but either the network runs extremly slow or I get a
> 404 Network error. I was running with Client and Netbuei, but I also
> tried TCP/IP with the same results. I tried new cat 5 cables and a new
> Linksys Hub with the same results. All the computers find each other
> on Network Neighborhood. I even tried cutting down to 2 computers,
> reloading my NIC drivers and Network protocols. No luck. It runs Ok
> with the 10 speed hub, but either won't work or runs very slowly with
> the 10/100 hub. Any ideas?

Your problems relate to the transport layer; hence there is little
point playing with your protocols - they are at a higher layer.

It seems at least one of the hardware components in your network
is unable to run well at 100 MBits/s full duplex. It could be your
network adapters, your cables or your hub (some of which you
have already replaced). You need to find the culprit by process
of elimination. I would do this:
- Get one or two 10/100 MBit/s network adapters. They should
be different from the ones you already have.
- Get a cross-over cable.
- Connect two PCs with the cross-over cable.
- Set both adapters to 10 MBit/s Full Duplex
- Start a DOS Prompt on one PC
- Type this command:
debug c:\big.bin
rbx
99
w
q
This will create a test file of about 10 MBytes.
- Type this command:
net use x: \\OtherPC\c (or whatever share name you have)
- Type this command:
timethis copy c:\big.bin x:\
If you cannot locate a copy of timethis.exe on the Internet,
use your stop watch to time the command.
The command should take about 18 seconds to complete,
and around 2 seconds when you run your network at 100
MBits/s.
Note that the times will change when you run the command
again, because of the action of smartdrv.exe.

Now start playing with the follwong parameters in a systematic
manner:
- Set both adapters to 100 MBits Half Duplex
- Set both adapters to 100 MBits Full Duplex
- Replace one or both adapters
- Involve the hub in your tests.

If you go through all the combinations and permutations then
you should be able to isolate the culprit within half an hour.