Unexplained delays access files in windows share from explorer

[Guest 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

[Guest Ken Zhao [MSFT]]

RE: Unexplained delays access files in windows share from explorer

 

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! - http://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

|

[Guest Ken Zhao [MSFT]]

RE: Unexplained delays access files in windows share from explorer

 

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! - http://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! - http://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

| |

|

|