Super Slow sharing

[fustercluck]

Have had this problem for a couple years, and haven't been able to figure out the problem (not even with the help of brainiac forum goers). Let me explain. There are 3 computers in this house

A. Main Computer
B. My Computer
C. Other guy's computer

A, using a cable modem and a linksys router (BEFSR41) connects to B and C using 2 different cords. When the other guy's computer (C) transfers files from and to computer A, it's as fast as it should be. When B transfers files from and to computer A, it's very slow, much slower than it should be. For example.

Transferring a 400 MB file from computer A to:
Computer B: 17 Minutes
Computer C: 1 minute tops

Why such a difference? It's annoying, but not a huge problem since i don't transfer stuff (then again, maybe i would if it wasn't so damn slow). I think it's something to do with the cord or connection, and not settings here on my computer (tried a lot of different stuff), though i could be wrong. Everything else seems fast, like i get real good pings in games, and browsing is fine as well, it's just sharing from computer B to computer A that's messed up. Can ye help?

 

[spidey07]

most likely cabling. you can check by getting new cables.

Also make sure the network cards are set to "auto speed and auto duplex" Messing with these settings most times yields poor performance.

 

[blemoine]

Have had this problem for a couple years, and haven't been able to figure out the problem (not even with the help of brainiac forum goers). Let me explain. There are 3 computers in this house

WOW this is a long time to have such a simple problem and not have it solved.
It is either software or hardware related. Start by eliminating software. reload your OS then install only drivers & OS updates. Check and see if your transfer speed is any better. Next eliminate hardware by replacing different parts with known working parts. i would change switch, then cat5 cable(use a pre made cable), network card, Hard drive, hard drive cable, Ram, processor, motherboard, hard drive controller. the root of your problem will surface i promise. obviously you would check your transfer rate after each part you replace. Don't say "i ran a diagnostic and the hardware is fine or the software is fine" diagnostics can and will make a liar out of you.

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: blemoine

Have had this problem for a couple years, and haven't been able to figure out the problem (not even with the help of brainiac forum goers). Let me explain. There are 3 computers in this house

WOW this is a long time to have such a simple problem and not have it solved.
It is either software or hardware related. Start by eliminating software. reload your OS then install only drivers & OS updates. Check and see if your transfer speed is any better. Next eliminate hardware by replacing different parts with known working parts. i would change switch, then cat5 cable(use a pre made cable), network card, Hard drive, hard drive cable, Ram, processor, motherboard, hard drive controller. the root of your problem will surface i promise. obviously you would check your transfer rate after each part you replace. Don't say "i ran a diagnostic and the hardware is fine or the software is fine" diagnostics can and will make a liar out of you.

It's not so simple, and like i said i don't share between computers much. Anything that is simple doesn't include "reload your OS then install only drivers & OS updates." That would be a huge hassle for such a little thing i don't even do much. Then you say to replace all my hardware . You say it's simple and then suggest things that would take days to do

I just found that funny, that's all. Thanks for the help anyways. I do want to fix it, but not if i have to spend a lot of time on it.

I guess i could try a different cable or switch cables with computer C and see if that helps. Like i said though, everything else internet-wise is fine.

 

[nweaver]

Spidey hit this one on the head. Start with layer 1(physical). Swap cables and ports on the bad PC. Then layer 2 (Duplex/speed, drivers)

troubleshooting networks, it's almost ALWAYS the physical that I get complaints about.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: nweaver
Spidey hit this one on the head. Start with layer 1(physical). Swap cables and ports on the bad PC. Then layer 2 (Duplex/speed, drivers)

troubleshooting networks, it's almost ALWAYS the physical that I get complaints about.

hehe...

"don't fvck with the physcial layer"
trademark, spideyism.

Here's another one....

OSI model,
learn it, live it, love it

 

[Fardringle]

To follow-up on what nweaver said, start with the easiest steps and move on from there. Reinstalling the OS is NEVER the first (or even close to the first) step when troubleshooting an issue on a computer unless the system simply will not load the OS at all, and even then you should check the hardware first...


Completely swap network cables between the two connections and see if transfer speeds to computer B improve. If so, you know it's the cable and simply need to replace the bad cable.

If there isn't any difference when you swap cables, connect computer B to the NIC in the server that computer C is normally connected to and try another file transfer. If it works properly this time, then you know that there is a problem with the NIC in the server that is normally connected to computer B. (You can connect C to B's adapter in the server to confirm this as well). Try uninstalling and reinstalling the "B" network adapter in the server to see if it fixes the problem. If not, then you might need to replace the slow/defective NIC in the server.

If there isn't any difference in transfer speeds when you swap cables and NIC connections on the server, then the problem has to be somewhere (software or hardware) on computer B itself.

To troubleshoot the connection on computer B, start by completely uninstalling and reinstalling the network adapter in the computer and try again. This includes physically removing the adapter from the computer, making sure all pins on the adapter are clean, and reseating the network adapter firmly in the PCI slot in the motherboard. Also, make sure that the connection speed in the network adapter properties is set to Auto, or Auto-negotiation, so that the adapter automatically picks the best speed available on the connection.

If that doesn't fix the problem, try exchanging the NIC in computer B with a different one that you know works. If you don't have a spare available, try taking the one out of computer C and installing it in computer B to see what happens. Use a different PCI slot in computer B when you do this just to make sure it isn't a problem with the slot on the motherboard.

If you still get the same results even with a different NIC card in computer B then the problem is most likely with the networking components of the operating system on the computer. You might be able to fix this by completely removing all networking components from the OS (network adapter, TCP/IP protocol, File and Printer Sharing, Client for Microsoft Networks, etc.) and reinstalling them. If that does not work then you may have to reinstall the OS to fix the problem but I personally wouldn't go that far if the system works otherwise and this is ony a minor annoyance that you've been dealing with for years...

 

[spidey07]

fardangle gets mucho kudos for doing proper troubleshooting

my first guess is a bad recieve pair on computer B.

and if we haven't pounded it enough....

Most all network problems are a result of a layer1 problem (read - cabling) we're talking like 80-90% of all network problems. it's almost always the cable.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: spidey07
fardangle gets mucho kudos for doing proper troubleshooting

my first guess is a bad recieve pair on computer B.

and if we haven't pounded it enough....

Most all network problems are a result of a layer1 problem (read - cabling) we're talking like 80-90% of all network problems. it's almost always the cable.

and the physical is almost always screwed up by some wannabe doing something stupid! (at least around here, and only until us network guys beat them to a bloody pulp a few times).

Of course...I once had a crossover dangling down, and just plugged it into the other dropdown port from the ceiling, not realizing the port was punched down onto the switch. Goodbye blinky blinky, hello solid yellow!

Spanning tree is your friend

 

[fustercluck]

This thing still has me stumped, but i've sort of made some progress. Just not sure how to explain any of this crap. Anyways, sharing is super slow, but if i change the port of the router that connects to my computer, it will usually speed up. Though if i try to send something a few days later, sharing will be super slow and i have to change the port it's in again. For some reason then it's back to being fast again. I guess i'll just keep switching ports whenever it's slow. *shrug*. I'll probably just buy a new router, i'm pretty sure that would solve the problem.

 

[nweaver]

what have you done? anything we told you to?

If no...see above posts

if yes...get another driver for your card, or better yet, get another card, best would be a well known performer. You can get 3com 3c905 based cards cheap (think we just threw 150 or so away) and they work well.

 

[TheSophist]

we just threw 150 or so away) and they work well.

I am assuming they were bad NICs. If not, is there any way
you can make donations? I volunteer for many non-profit
organizations and I am always looking for good equipment.



TheSophist

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: TheSophist

we just threw 150 or so away) and they work well.

I am assuming they were bad NICs. If not, is there any way
you can make donations? I volunteer for many non-profit
organizations and I am always looking for good equipment.



TheSophist

we tried giveing them away...to schools, churchs, etc. We threw away 200 P2 300's too.