Slow network

Hi, i have a network between 2pcs, one on Win 98 the other on Win2k.

Have been having problems with it being very slow. The Win98 PC can open shared drives and folders much faster then the W2K PC. It also takes about 2mins for folders on the non local PC to appear, this occurs instantly on the other PC.

File transfers initiated by the win2k pc are very very slow (5 mins to send 1MB test wav file) If initated by the win98 pc, its significantly faster.

Both are set FulDuplex 100 and Sandra SiSoftware thing tests both end at 9000kB/sec.

Does anybody have any ideas on how to fix this problem?

 

What IP address/subnet masks are you using and are the PCs connnecting to the internet? If yes, how?

It sounds like the 2K machine is doing a lot more searching than the 98 machine is. Happens sometimes since 2K is so much more 'network aware' and 98 may be fast because it isn't trying to look for things that aren't there.

 

hi, i have both of them set IP address automatically. Everything is set to "auto" or default as i have little knowhow on network settings.

If you have any ideas or can tell me what things "should" be set to id appreciate it.

Many thanks,
Stuart.

 

What device are you using to network the PCs?
What IP address and subnet mask do they have?
- on XP do start~run~ipconfig /all and on 98 do start~run~winipcfg
If you are using ICS, which PC is host and which is client?

 

settings

Hi, ALL the network settings for both the PC's are shown Below...
I have tried to maintain the format of

Heading/Topic - Heading/Topic - Setting
etc.
Hope it makes sence.

-----
All components under the network settings (Windows 2000 Pro)
-----

Client for Microsoft Networks
Adaptor : Realtek RTL139(A)
Link Speed/Duplex mode: Auto (want 100Full)
Network Address: Not Present(is this not auto?)
RPC Service: Windows Locator


File and Printer Sharing
Enabled

Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
General "“ Obtain IP Address automatically
- Obtain DNS Server address automatically
Advanced "“ IP Settings "“ IP addresses - IP addresses "“ DHCP Enabled
- Subnet Mask - BLANK
Default Gateways "“ ALL BANK
Interface Metric "“ 1
DNS "“ DNS server… - BLANK
Append primary "“ append parent
Register this connections addresses in DNS
WINS - EMPTY
- Enable LMHOSTS
- Use NetBIOS setting
Options "“ IP security "“ No Not use IPSEC
-TCP/IP filtering "“ (all) Permit all

Information from DOS "pingâ€:
Ran from Win2kPC

Ping w2kpc
Pinging w2kpc [169.254.235.29] with 32 bytes of data
Etc

Ping w98pc
Pinging w98pc [169.254.162.95] with 32 bytes of data
etc

-------------------------------------------------------
WIN98PC

Client for Microsoft Networks
Properties - General - Quick Logon
Primary Network Logon - Windows Logon
File and Print Sharing - Both enabled

SiS 900 PCI Adaptor
Driver - Enhanced NDIS driver
Bindings - IPX/SPX compatible protocol
- TCP/IP
Advanced - Delay Time - Value 0
- Media Type - Value Auto_Config
- Network Address - Not Present

IPX/SPX compatible protocol
Bindings - Client for Microsoft Networks
- File and Print Sharing
Advanced - Force Even Length Packets - Not Present
- Frame Type - Auto
- Maximum Connections - Not Present
- Maximum Sockets - Not Present
- Network Address - 0
- Source Routing - off
NetBIOS - (not checked)

TCP/IP Properties
IP Address - Obtain Automatically
WINS Configuration - Use DHCP for WINS Resolution
Gateway - (all blank)
DNS Configuration - Disable DNS
Bindings - Client for Microsoft Networks
- File and print sharing
Advanced - Allow Binding to ATM - No
NetBIOS - (greyed out)

File and Print Sharing Properties
Browse Master - Automatic
LM Announce - No

Access Control
Share-Level access

-------------

Most of that lot means nothing to me so id appreciate some insight.

Many thanks and apologies for putting that lot above on!

 

Well, part of the problem certainly showed up. 169.254.235.29 is one of the Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) addresses Win2K/XP will assign itself when the PC cannot find a network. It allows the PC to start but it usually means the system will not communicate with anything else on the network.

98 does not have this 'feature' so I'm sorta surprised at the results - mostly that things are working at all. Still, gives a starting place.

To keep me from giving you bad advice, more info is in order.

- Do either or both PCs connect to the internet?
- If so, dial-up or broadband?
- If both use the internet, are you running ICS (internet connection sharing) to share the modem?
- Are you connecting them directly together or using a switch/hub/etc?
- Do you have both PCs using Client for Microsoft Networks?
- Are they using the same Workgroup name and different PC names?
- If so, are the names all 15 characters or less; using only alpha-numeric characters with no spaces?

I will be asking for IP info again at some point so here's a trick to make reporting from the 2K machine easier. Unfortunately it won't work from 98.

- start~run~cmd
- ipconfig /all > c:\config.txt You won't see any results on screen but they info will be written to the text file you specified.
- Copy the contents of c:\config.txt and paste it here.

 

Hi,

Neither PC's are connected to the internet in any form (cant afford phone line)

At the moment they are connected directly with a crossed cable. I will possibly be adding a hub or switch in the future as im looking to add a laser printer. This wont be for some time tho.

Both have diffirent computer names and are both set to WORKGROUP. Names are all less than 15 char's with no spaces consisting of only alpha-numeric char;s.

Both of them are using Client for Microsoft Networks
.
I will get you the IP info soon, i catually use University PC's for internet so im nowhere near the two pc's.

The problem only arised after i put win2k on my pc. When it was just two w98 pc's it was fine in both directions.
Now that ones win2k, it takes ages for shared drives or folderes to open on the win2k PC. File transferrs initated on the win2k pc are also very very slow.

 

A little more troubleshooting here.

Load NetBeui on both PCs then disable or remove TCP/IP from both. With a 2 PC network and no internet connection this will do fine for networking and if you want to continue with TCP/IP, the performance with only NetBeui running will help track down the problem area.

 

Hi, have ran ip config and the following was found:

C:\>ipconfig/all

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name - : sjg1983
Primary DNS Suffix - :
Node Type - : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled - : No
WINS Proxy Enabled : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection

Connection-specific DNS Suffix :
Description - : Realtek RTL8139(A) PCI Fast Ethernet
Adapter
Physical Address - : 00-40-95-30-25-00
DHCP Enabled - : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled : Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address : 169.254.235.29
Subnet Mask - : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway - :
DNS Server - :

C:\>

Results from the win98pc:

Host name : JD1977
DNS Servers :
Node Type : Broadcast
.
.
Adapter : SiS NIC SISNIC
Adaper Addess: 00-0a-e6-3a-a8-dd
IP Auto Adfdress: 169.254.162.65
Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0
DHCP Server: 255.255.255.255
Lease Obtained: 12 16 03 16:49:44

Will also give NetBeui a try... Will let you know the results

 

Good on trying NetBeui and will be interested to see how things work out.

For the IP piece, part of your problem is
IP Address : 169.254.235.29 & 169.254.162.65
Subnet Mask - : 255.255.0.0

The addresses do work but the 2K PC is having to scan thru 65,534 possible addresses looking for PCs. That takes time. It's also confused to see a DHCP server address on the 98 PC when it can't find such a server on your network (after all the above searching).

When you set up TCP/IP again, turn off the auto-assign feature and set things as follows (note: this is for 2 direct connected PCs and no internet)
IP addresses 192.168.0.10 & 192.168.0.20
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0 (this only makes 2K look thru 255 possible addresses)
Default gateway should be blank
DHCP server should be blank
WINS, and all other items should be blank

You will still see the hardware address of the network card when you do ipconfig since it is burned into a chip on the card and never changes.