My Network is Slow

[wja777]

I have a small network setup with 18 workstations (all xp pro except for one vista business), 1 SBS 2003, 1 Server 2003 running terminal server.

the nextwork is Gigabit and we have a 4meg DSL service. At any point in time I can have from 8 to 10 users connected via the terminal server (these connections are all from outside)

I have been having some real issues lately with speed inside the office, either coping files, or running internal apps accross the network.

I don't know if this is just because of the volume of users or if there is a roge PC that is hogging internal bandwidth. (I am not taking about the speed to the internet, I am speeking of internal apps that do not have to leave the subnet, Our internet speed although slower during peak times, is acceptable for now)

My question is, does anyone have any expierence with software that can "sniff" the network to track bandwidth usage by pc?

I am currently using unmanaged switches and an unmanaged Dlink DI-634M router.

I have a standby michine that the software can be installed on. I currently have spiceworks (pretty neat program) installed, but this does not give me the network traffic info I am looking for....

If you need any other information about the network, let me know...

Any insight would be greatly appreciated...

[Nightblade]

personally in my opinion i think its time to upgrade the network to a managed switch

scour ebay for used Cisco's and get a nice 48 port i just got a 3548 Enterprise for $200 even though its only 100MB/sec it'll run faster than unmanaged switches once the layer 2 tables (MAC addresses) have been optimized and it'll allow you to control and throttle down all cleints except those you want to have unrestricted access to

you can throttle down the network generically over-all or you can just throttle em down to access to the router which is prolly what you need

[wja777]

Thanks for the reply nightblade. I think you are correct with the managed switch.

The last time the slowdown was evident (took almost 30 seconds to open an access table) I shutdown both the router and unmanaged switch and let them reboot. Once the reboot was complete, the slowdown went away.

I am going to try to replace the router first, as I have one of those available to me now.

Due to wiring, walls and just the old building we are in, I have several other unmanaged switchs through-out the 3 story building we are in. (We use floor 2 and 3 in a 200 year old converted hotel). I have one main 16 port unmanaged switch located where the servers are. I am assuming that with a managed switch to replace the 16 port, i could then max the ports to the other unmanaged swtiches?

[cat6]

It would helpful for you to put numbers with words like Slow fast whatever.

Try to use this may be you would find were the slow downs are.

http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#qcheck

.

[wja777]

Thanks CAT6, i was looking for some software that maybe able to shed some light.

I don't really have any hard numbers as of now, i just know that we are running access on the network and while in access and trying to open a query or place a table in a query it is usually really fast (no noticable slow down). At times these same functions can take upwards to 30 seconds+, but it is not all of the time.

On friday when we had this issue happen, i powered down my router, main unmanaged switch and then powered them back on. This seemed to resolve the problem.... I am wondering if I just need to make sure that i "reboot" the networking equipment on a regular basis?

[AllGamer]

how about enabling QoS in all the machines, through the network?

that was the purpose of QoS in the first place

[cat6]

Qos is a solution when the whole network works as expected and you want to allocate resources.

If some thing is wrong on the netwok, using Qos would make it worse.

[wja777]

Thanks both AllGamer and Cat6.

The slow downs have subsided somewhat since I have rebooted both the switch and the router. My first guess would be that there is a problem with the router. I do have another one that i can switch out with it for a test, but I am going to have to wait until the weekend. I'll know on Friday (our busiest user# day as well as the day we have an access programmer in house) if the issue comes up again.

I keep you posted, but the fire seems to be under control for now, but i know there is still an ember somewhere....