Network Slow Troubleshooting

[hoemee]

I have a feeling that this is a broad based question, but I am looking for some input as to where to begin troubleshooting......when you get the complaint of a network operating slow for users where do you begin? Hardware ? Software? Antivirus? Do you optimize each workstation (like with ram) and then go to the server?

Any tips from experience?

[mbossman2]

the 1st thing you should try and determine is what is being slow in responding?

file access?
application access?
internet access?

something else?

Once you have determined that, you can examine that specific network service for issues.

[glc]

The first thing I do is make sure they are using a decent quality switch and their wiring isn't messed up. All it takes is one flaky port or pinched cable to impact the entire network.

[hoemee]

They are using a actively managed switch - not sure of the model........I will check. Right now, interner access is slow - when I was doing updates last night, it brought everything down to a crawl - it is a dell power edge 1900 server.....another user was logged in with a tablet pc and was slow as well. I was also logged in remotely yesterday, doing updates on the server (windows updates) and it brought the whole system to a crawl..........had to discontinue the updates...

Can I check for a pinched cable by pinging the server from each client station and looking for abnormally high latency?

[mojo]

So is it just internet access that is slow, or all network traffic? Like mbossman said, you need to determine what specifically is slow.

[hoemee]

That is what I am talking about- where do I begin ...and I guess what tools would I utilize to begin narrowing down the scope...........

[hoemee]

It definitely is the internet access - especially when I was in there tonight doing windows updates directly on the server - it brought the workstations down to nothing and the remote laptop operators were calling in and asking what was going on! The more workstation updates I do simultaneously, the slower they become as well......but even just the server alone is deathly slow. The switch is a SRW248G4 48 port 10/100 + 4 port gigabit switch with web view...

Have a great Christmas everyone......

[glc]

What kind of Internet access do you have there, and exactly how is it being shared out?

[hoemee]

It is high speed, cable - how to I determine how it is shared out?

[glc]

What is the cable modem connected to? Do you have a router? Is it commercial multi-IP service or a basic single dynamic IP? Is there a firewall appliance?

You need to figure out the complete topography before you can even start to try to pin down problems. Get qualified help if you need it, bring in a consultant if you have to.

EDIT: Just found your thread about the server running out of hard drive space. This may be related.