Unexplained delays access files in windows share from explorer

[Jim Helfer]

I am using Windows XPsp2 PCs to access a few windows shares on a
Windows 2003SP2 server. Over a 100Mbit or Gigabit connection. (I am
transitioning from 100 to 1Gig switches. This problem has stayed
constant no matter the speed of the network.)

Sometimes when you log in and open Windows Explorer, the share will
not appear until after a delay of a few minutes.

Sometimes when you open the share from Explorer, there will be a delay
(arrow-hourglass and blank right side pane). of usually 10-15 seconds,
sometimes as long as 30-45 seconds before the files are displayed. After
that, the performance accessing files seems normal.

Sometimes however, the share will open normally, but one of the
subfolders will delay when opening.

If access a folder on a share and later revisit that folder after a
period of activity, you may experience a delay again.

The server has 4 Gig ram, and runs a SQL server and DHCP. It is not a
DC. Their are two additional servers the are DC/DNS servers. The patces
and drivers are up to date.

One share is only accessed infrequently by a few people, and contains
a good deal of files, some quite large.
The other share is access nearly daily by the entire staff, but only
to run timesheet software. So, the access is breif, and the amoutn of
data transfered is small.

Our File and Print are on Netware, so all machines run NWClient
4.91sp3, but the windows file sharing is given a higher priority than
Netware client.

I think these delays are starting to affect some other server
operations (such as pushing out newer versions).

Any ideas on where to look would be apreciated.


--
Jim Helfer
Computer Systems Administrator
WTW Architects
Timber Court
127 Andesron St.
Pittsburgh PA 15212
412-321-0551 x330
jhelfer@wtwarch.com

 

[Ken Zhao [MSFT]]

Hello Jim,

Thank you for using newsgroup!

Based on my knowledge, Windows Server 2003 SP2 introduces a number of new
networking features, including TCP Chimney Offload, Receive Side Scaling
(RSS), and Network Direct Memory Access (NetDMA). Unfortunately, RSS and
TCP Chimney Offload are not compatible with these technologies:

o Windows Firewall
o Internet Protocol security (IPsec)
o Internet Protocol Network Address Translation (IPNAT)
o Third-party firewalls
o NDIS 5.1 intermediate drivers

The critical question in determining which steps to use is "how many NICs
are in the box?". If you have a multi-homed box (more than 1 NIC), use all
four steps below. If you have a single NIC server, our recommendation is to
follow the steps below in order and see if each step provides resolution.
RSS can provide significant performance enhancements if your network
hardware supports it end-to-end. Our general recommendation is to update
your NIC driver in 100% of cases.

Step 1: Update the Driver
Most of the issues we've seen are related to older NIC drivers that do not
know how to use the advanced networking features ( of Windows Server 2003
SP2. Virtually every major manufacturer has come out with a new driver in
'07. Before you do anything else, make sure that you have the latest
Server 2003 drivers for you NIC. The vast majority of the cases we've seen
can be solved by this step alone.

Step 2: Disable Offloading on the Advanced Properties of the NIC
Most NICs have various offloading functions that can increase network
performance (or at least lower CPU usage on the server). Again, this is
only if your network hardware supports high throughput end-to-end. That
means that your NICs, cabling, switches, and possibly routers all have to
support gigabit networking and know how to deal with these offloading
functions. Your vendor(s) have the final say on wether RSS, checksum
offloading, etc. will work with the combination of equipment you have.
That's a nice way of saying that your typical "lean and mean" small
business is not likely to have invested in high-end hardware. In support,
we routinely turn these functions off when troubleshooting any networking
issues. We've never seen a case in an SBS environment where there was
perceived network slowness after disabling offload functions. If in doubt,
disable all advanced features, test to see if they provide relief, and then
re-enable them one by one to see if A) these features cause your networking
issue and B) if they offer any kind of performance gain. Here are a few
examples (your vendor will likely have different settings based on model
and driver revision)

Step 3: Disable RSS in the Registry
Use the steps in KB 927695 to disable Receive Side Scaling (RSS) by adding
a DWORD registry key value for
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Enable
RSS and setting it to 0. A reboot is required to make the value go in to
effect.

Step 4: Set DisableTaskOffload in the Registry
Use the steps in KB 904946 to create a DWORD value for
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Disabl
eTaskOffload and set it to 1. A reboot is required to make this value go
in to effect.

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.





--------------------
| Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:51:56 -0400
| From: Jim Helfer <JimHelfer@newsgroup.nospam>
| User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.4 (Windows/20070604)
| MIME-Version: 1.0
| Subject: Unexplained delays access files in windows share from explorer
| Content-Type: text/plain charset=ISO-8859-1 format=flowed
| Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
| Message-ID: <OZrLeuavHHA.3556@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.general
| NNTP-Posting-Host: wtwarch.com 66.212.142.243
| Lines: 1
| Path: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP01.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl
| Xref: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl microsoft.public.windows.server.general:16502
| X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.general
|
|
| I am using Windows XPsp2 PCs to access a few windows shares on a
| Windows 2003SP2 server. Over a 100Mbit or Gigabit connection. (I am
| transitioning from 100 to 1Gig switches. This problem has stayed
| constant no matter the speed of the network.)
|
| Sometimes when you log in and open Windows Explorer, the share will
| not appear until after a delay of a few minutes.
|
| Sometimes when you open the share from Explorer, there will be a delay
| (arrow-hourglass and blank right side pane). of usually 10-15 seconds,
| sometimes as long as 30-45 seconds before the files are displayed. After
| that, the performance accessing files seems normal.
|
| Sometimes however, the share will open normally, but one of the
| subfolders will delay when opening.
|
| If access a folder on a share and later revisit that folder after a
| period of activity, you may experience a delay again.
|
| The server has 4 Gig ram, and runs a SQL server and DHCP. It is not a
| DC. Their are two additional servers the are DC/DNS servers. The patces
| and drivers are up to date.
|
| One share is only accessed infrequently by a few people, and contains
| a good deal of files, some quite large.
| The other share is access nearly daily by the entire staff, but only
| to run timesheet software. So, the access is breif, and the amoutn of
| data transfered is small.
|
| Our File and Print are on Netware, so all machines run NWClient
| 4.91sp3, but the windows file sharing is given a higher priority than
| Netware client.
|
| I think these delays are starting to affect some other server
| operations (such as pushing out newer versions).
|
| Any ideas on where to look would be apreciated.
|
|
| --
| Jim Helfer
| Computer Systems Administrator
| WTW Architects
| Timber Court
| 127 Andesron St.
| Pittsburgh PA 15212
| 412-321-0551 x330
| jhelfer@wtwarch.com
|

 

[Ken Zhao [MSFT]]

Hi Jim,

I am just writing to see how everything is going. If you have any updates
or need any further assistance on this issue, please feel free to let me
know.

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.




--------------------
| X-Tomcat-ID: 45095161
| References: <OZrLeuavHHA.3556@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>
| MIME-Version: 1.0
| Content-Type: text/plain
| Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
| From: v-kzhao@online.microsoft.com ("Ken Zhao [MSFT]")
| Organization: Microsoft
| Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:06:15 GMT
| Subject: RE: Unexplained delays access files in windows share from
explorer
| X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.general
| Message-ID: <f8TVyCfvHHA.3972@TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl>
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.general
| Lines: 164
| Path: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl
| Xref: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl microsoft.public.windows.server.general:16524
| NNTP-Posting-Host: tomcatimport2.phx.gbl 10.201.218.182
|
| Hello Jim,
|
| Thank you for using newsgroup!
|
| Based on my knowledge, Windows Server 2003 SP2 introduces a number of new
| networking features, including TCP Chimney Offload, Receive Side Scaling
| (RSS), and Network Direct Memory Access (NetDMA). Unfortunately, RSS and
| TCP Chimney Offload are not compatible with these technologies:
|
| o Windows Firewall
| o Internet Protocol security (IPsec)
| o Internet Protocol Network Address Translation (IPNAT)
| o Third-party firewalls
| o NDIS 5.1 intermediate drivers
|
| The critical question in determining which steps to use is "how many NICs
| are in the box?". If you have a multi-homed box (more than 1 NIC), use
all
| four steps below. If you have a single NIC server, our recommendation is
to
| follow the steps below in order and see if each step provides resolution.
| RSS can provide significant performance enhancements if your network
| hardware supports it end-to-end. Our general recommendation is to update
| your NIC driver in 100% of cases.
|
| Step 1: Update the Driver
| Most of the issues we've seen are related to older NIC drivers that do
not
| know how to use the advanced networking features ( of Windows Server 2003
| SP2. Virtually every major manufacturer has come out with a new driver in
| '07. Before you do anything else, make sure that you have the latest
| Server 2003 drivers for you NIC. The vast majority of the cases we've
seen
| can be solved by this step alone.
|
| Step 2: Disable Offloading on the Advanced Properties of the NIC
| Most NICs have various offloading functions that can increase network
| performance (or at least lower CPU usage on the server). Again, this is
| only if your network hardware supports high throughput end-to-end. That
| means that your NICs, cabling, switches, and possibly routers all have to
| support gigabit networking and know how to deal with these offloading
| functions. Your vendor(s) have the final say on wether RSS, checksum
| offloading, etc. will work with the combination of equipment you have.
| That's a nice way of saying that your typical "lean and mean" small
| business is not likely to have invested in high-end hardware. In
support,
| we routinely turn these functions off when troubleshooting any networking
| issues. We've never seen a case in an SBS environment where there was
| perceived network slowness after disabling offload functions. If in
doubt,
| disable all advanced features, test to see if they provide relief, and
then
| re-enable them one by one to see if A) these features cause your
networking
| issue and B) if they offer any kind of performance gain. Here are a few
| examples (your vendor will likely have different settings based on model
| and driver revision)
|
| Step 3: Disable RSS in the Registry
| Use the steps in KB 927695 to disable Receive Side Scaling (RSS) by
adding
| a DWORD registry key value for
|
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Enable
| RSS and setting it to 0. A reboot is required to make the value go in to
| effect.
|
| Step 4: Set DisableTaskOffload in the Registry
| Use the steps in KB 904946 to create a DWORD value for
|
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Disabl
| eTaskOffload and set it to 1. A reboot is required to make this value go
| in to effect.
|
| Thanks & Regards,
|
| Ken Zhao
|
| Microsoft Online Support
| Microsoft Global Technical Support Center
|
| Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
<http://www.microsoft.com/security>
| ====================================================
| When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
| that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
| ====================================================
| This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
|
|
|
|
|
| --------------------
| | Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:51:56 -0400
| | From: Jim Helfer <JimHelfer@newsgroup.nospam>
| | User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.4 (Windows/20070604)
| | MIME-Version: 1.0
| | Subject: Unexplained delays access files in windows share from explorer
| | Content-Type: text/plain charset=ISO-8859-1 format=flowed
| | Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
| | Message-ID: <OZrLeuavHHA.3556@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>
| | Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.general
| | NNTP-Posting-Host: wtwarch.com 66.212.142.243
| | Lines: 1
| | Path: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP01.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl
| | Xref: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl
microsoft.public.windows.server.general:16502
| | X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.general
| |
| |
| | I am using Windows XPsp2 PCs to access a few windows shares on a
| | Windows 2003SP2 server. Over a 100Mbit or Gigabit connection. (I am
| | transitioning from 100 to 1Gig switches. This problem has stayed
| | constant no matter the speed of the network.)
| |
| | Sometimes when you log in and open Windows Explorer, the share will
| | not appear until after a delay of a few minutes.
| |
| | Sometimes when you open the share from Explorer, there will be a
delay
| | (arrow-hourglass and blank right side pane). of usually 10-15
seconds,
| | sometimes as long as 30-45 seconds before the files are displayed.
After
| | that, the performance accessing files seems normal.
| |
| | Sometimes however, the share will open normally, but one of the
| | subfolders will delay when opening.
| |
| | If access a folder on a share and later revisit that folder after a
| | period of activity, you may experience a delay again.
| |
| | The server has 4 Gig ram, and runs a SQL server and DHCP. It is not a
| | DC. Their are two additional servers the are DC/DNS servers. The
patces
| | and drivers are up to date.
| |
| | One share is only accessed infrequently by a few people, and contains
| | a good deal of files, some quite large.
| | The other share is access nearly daily by the entire staff, but only
| | to run timesheet software. So, the access is breif, and the amoutn of
| | data transfered is small.
| |
| | Our File and Print are on Netware, so all machines run NWClient
| | 4.91sp3, but the windows file sharing is given a higher priority than
| | Netware client.
| |
| | I think these delays are starting to affect some other server
| | operations (such as pushing out newer versions).
| |
| | Any ideas on where to look would be apreciated.
| |
| |
| | --
| | Jim Helfer
| | Computer Systems Administrator
| | WTW Architects
| | Timber Court
| | 127 Andesron St.
| | Pittsburgh PA 15212
| | 412-321-0551 x330
| | jhelfer@wtwarch.com
| |
|
|