Server 2003 SP1 slow

I have just replaced a Novell Netware 6 server with a Windows 2003 SP1 server.
Functionality is generally fine and the server speed itself is good. The
workstations are predominantly Win98SE running a variety of dated databases
for various accounting applications. There are around 35 workstations
connected through CAT5 100Mb/s switches.

Active Directory is running and the network does not have a Domain Controller.

When opening applications the start up is exceedingly slow although speed is
reasonable once the application has launched. However users are
intermittently locked out in the middle of processing. Printing to IP print
servers is slow and retrieving data files in Word and Excel is also quite
slow.

I have disabled Opportunistic Locking on the server. This has made the
applications slightly more stable but has certainly not cured the problem. I
have left the Novell shell on the workstations until we can be certain of the
reliability of the new configuration. We have also installed Sophos AV on the
server. (This was installed on the old server as well)

Can anyone suggest any further tweaks?

What do you mean "Active Directory is running and the network does not have a Domain Controller"?

Do you still need IPX? If not, remove IPX from all computers. Also check the WINS and DNS settings.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"TonyFrim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:97C0BF1A-6E0D-4444-B770-(E-Mail Removed)...
I have just replaced a Novell Netware 6 server with a Windows 2003 SP1 server.
Functionality is generally fine and the server speed itself is good. The
workstations are predominantly Win98SE running a variety of dated databases
for various accounting applications. There are around 35 workstations
connected through CAT5 100Mb/s switches.

Active Directory is running and the network does not have a Domain Controller.

When opening applications the start up is exceedingly slow although speed is
reasonable once the application has launched. However users are
intermittently locked out in the middle of processing. Printing to IP print
servers is slow and retrieving data files in Word and Excel is also quite
slow.

I have disabled Opportunistic Locking on the server. This has made the
applications slightly more stable but has certainly not cured the problem. I
have left the Novell shell on the workstations until we can be certain of the
reliability of the new configuration. We have also installed Sophos AV on the
server. (This was installed on the old server as well)

Can anyone suggest any further tweaks?

I uninstalled the Novell shell and IPX and the perrformance returned to what
it should have.

Many thanks

Tony


"Robert L [MS-MVP]" wrote:

> What do you mean "Active Directory is running and the network does not have a Domain Controller"?
>
> Do you still need IPX? If not, remove IPX from all computers. Also check the WINS and DNS settings.
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "TonyFrim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:97C0BF1A-6E0D-4444-B770-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have just replaced a Novell Netware 6 server with a Windows 2003 SP1 server.
> Functionality is generally fine and the server speed itself is good. The
> workstations are predominantly Win98SE running a variety of dated databases
> for various accounting applications. There are around 35 workstations
> connected through CAT5 100Mb/s switches.
>
> Active Directory is running and the network does not have a Domain Controller.
>
> When opening applications the start up is exceedingly slow although speed is
> reasonable once the application has launched. However users are
> intermittently locked out in the middle of processing. Printing to IP print
> servers is slow and retrieving data files in Word and Excel is also quite
> slow.
>
> I have disabled Opportunistic Locking on the server. This has made the
> applications slightly more stable but has certainly not cured the problem. I
> have left the Novell shell on the workstations until we can be certain of the
> reliability of the new configuration. We have also installed Sophos AV on the
> server. (This was installed on the old server as well)
>
> Can anyone suggest any further tweaks?

Thank you for the feed back.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"TonyFrim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:B1319ED1-8FD7-40E1-84D1-(E-Mail Removed)...
I uninstalled the Novell shell and IPX and the perrformance returned to what
it should have.

Many thanks

Tony


"Robert L [MS-MVP]" wrote:

> What do you mean "Active Directory is running and the network does not have a Domain Controller"?
>
> Do you still need IPX? If not, remove IPX from all computers. Also check the WINS and DNS settings.
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "TonyFrim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:97C0BF1A-6E0D-4444-B770-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have just replaced a Novell Netware 6 server with a Windows 2003 SP1 server.
> Functionality is generally fine and the server speed itself is good. The
> workstations are predominantly Win98SE running a variety of dated databases
> for various accounting applications. There are around 35 workstations
> connected through CAT5 100Mb/s switches.
>
> Active Directory is running and the network does not have a Domain Controller.
>
> When opening applications the start up is exceedingly slow although speed is
> reasonable once the application has launched. However users are
> intermittently locked out in the middle of processing. Printing to IP print
> servers is slow and retrieving data files in Word and Excel is also quite
> slow.
>
> I have disabled Opportunistic Locking on the server. This has made the
> applications slightly more stable but has certainly not cured the problem. I
> have left the Novell shell on the workstations until we can be certain of the
> reliability of the new configuration. We have also installed Sophos AV on the
> server. (This was installed on the old server as well)
>
> Can anyone suggest any further tweaks?