Why is my network slower

I've been trying to figure this out and I'm stumped.

System1:
Dell 9400 Laptop
Intel Core 2 Duo T7400
2GB Ram
7200 rpm HDD
Gigabit Express Card

System2:
Dell 2650 Laptop
Intell 1.7 P4
512 MB Ram
5400 RPM HDD
100Mb Integrated NIC

System 3 (Hosting PC)
Dell 2400 Desktop
Intel P4 2.8
1GB ram
Gigabit PCI NIC
10K RPM eSata external drive connected via PCI SATA Card

Network
Linksys Gigabit
Cat6 wire


Overal tests speeds seem up to PAR around 25MBps, with the exception of system2 (10MBps) in file transfers. So, I'm pretty happy with this.

The main reason I upgraded a year ago to a Gigabit Network was to allow me to load my Pictures for processing anywhere in the house quickly. The way I do this is use the software (Canon Digital Photo Pro) that came with my camera to simply navigate to the networked drive hosting them and wait for them to load. BTW, these are all RAW images, not JPGs. Average file size 10MB each.
On system 3, ofcourse these load almost instantly into the software (local). System 2 (across the network), which is a pretty slow system with 100mbps connection loads them really well. System 1, sucks. I literally sit there and watch each thumbnail load maybe 1 1/2 seconds.

I've tried to figure out what may be limiting System 1, but I can't figure it out. When I use the Integrated 10/100 NIC, it loads them exactly the same, No difference, between it and the Gigabit connection. I would think its a limitation on the software and it accessing images on a network, but system two loads them at speeds I would prefer.

I would really appreciate any thoughts on this as I have no idea what's happening. I hope I've provided enough info for you guys.

 

Well one reason why GigE isn't faster than 100 is on your desktop you PCI bus is limited to around 133mbs.

Another problem might be how the Cat6 is routed. It's pretty sensitive to power lines and the like.

Also if you're not using FTP, the protocol to transfer within Explorer has a lot of overhead. So assuming your harddrive has about 60megs of continuous throughput and adjusting for the overhead which could be anywhere between 30%-70% efficiency you're about par for the course. Also if you're not using jumbo frames that's another loss of efficiency.

My figuring would point to the desktop as big source of the speed problems. Slow down at the PCI GigE card, PCI bus limitation (possible crap chipset). The eSATA if it's a PCI card, (Crap chipset) and PCI bus limitation, external enclosure (another possible location of a crap chipset).

To get the GigE limit you're looking at RAID 0 with 2-4 Drives, built-in or PCI-E GigE with a good chipset (Intel based Server level card) and that should saturate the network. Also what kind of Router/switch is it? If it's a router it could be that it's not able to push the data fast enough.

Trailed off a little. What OS are you running on Sys1. I noticed a lot of network stuff was faster on XP. Vista does a check for DRM which causes the slow down. And did you mention that sys 1 was using a Expresscard based GigE card? Because some of the cheap cards use a USB interface which is 60mbs but the effective is much lower. Also the chipset on the card might just be crap.

 

Thanks for the reply. If the problem is the Desktop, why would the slower laptop (system2) access the same files much faster and it's connected to 10/100?

The router is a Linksys 10/100 with a Linksys Gigabit switch connected All PC's (except system2) are networked via the Gigabit switch.

Running XP Home.

Remember, I am getting fine file transfer speeds on all. It's when I use the image software on the system 1 that there is an issue.

BTW- Maybe you're onto something tho. When I put the images in a share doc on system 1....Access from system 3 to system 1 is slow, but when I access the same files from system 2 (10/100), its much faster.

also- the PCI bus is 133MB, not 133mb..right? Huge difference.

Here is a quick diagram of what I have:
http://www.groovydos.com/Tom/My Network.pdf
system 1 is Laptop 1
system 2 is Laptop 2
system 3 is Office PC

 

Ah I see I got a better picture now.

As I said I trailed off, the beginning of my post was addressing why you're not getting a gain on speed over 100T.

So you're using an external card on Sys 1? Most of the EC GigE or USB GigE are garbage due to the chipset. Then you hit roadblock 2 the interface most use USB because it's cheaper than using a EC chipset.

Note on switch: some switches will down the speed to the slowest of all connections you say your router is 100mbs and so are some of the computers so while it connects at 1000 on the lights and in windows the actual speed of the traffic is actually at 100 it's done to minimize packet errors and dropped frames.

When you go GigE it's best to do ALL of them.

 

Yes, System 1 is using an Belkin Express Card, but In test the transfer sppeds of files if fine, double the 10/100.

I don't have the 10/100 laptop connected to the Gig switch. It's connected to the router. However, I do have the router (obviously) connected to the switch for the internet. Hopefully the diagram helps. Sorry if I'm not being clear. Thanks again for trying to help me.

 

Yeh I meant 133megs. GigE has about 125Megs but again overhead.

Ah I see it's just the program that's the problem. I was confused at first.

Have you tried setting up mapped networked worked drives?

 

Yep, these are all mapped. I think I have a bottleneck in my wonderful fast laptop. It's really driving me nuts.

appreciate any other thoughts

 

First try all connections off of your switch and see if that make a difference. Then Turn off IP6 on the Gige port on the nb, reboot. Now if you have a FW running add a rule that makes your network a save zone. If your using norton, it requires a huge overhead, I would uninstall it, and use something else. Remember all of the cpu power is sucked up by vista, any gain you though you would get is killed by MS and Norton (if installed).

 

thanks. Not running Vista or Norton. I'm using the MS FW and the performance is the same with it disables on both PCs.

Not sure what you mean by turn off IP6 on the gig port on the nb?

Here is the Network Configuration (Belkin Gigabit Expresscard) on the System 1 (the one loading the pictures slow). I don't know what some of this stuff is and have no idea the ideal config:

802.1p Support - off
flow control - on
hardware checksumming -on
interrupt moderation - on
jumbo frames - disabled
log status messages -status messages
max IRQ per sec - 5000
network address - not present
number of receive buffers -256
number of transmit buffers -256
speed and duplex- auto-sense
TCP Segmentation - enabled
wake from shutdown - on
wake up capabilities - none


Here are a couple snaps of Network Performance using system 1:
I think this tells me that when using the software both network cards are slow, infact the very same speed. Neither of which is close to what its capable of. So if there is no difference in the network cards, then what the hell can it be. The laptop configuration?

This one is using the software to access the images. The top is with the gigabit and bottom is with 10/100


This one is with my network speed tool accessing a 350MB file on the same networked drive. When using my network tool, Both network cards perform well.

 

IP6 is a vista thing.

As far as performance if you have hardware that supports Jumbo frames use it. As far as performance, I do not like or recommend Belkin, I have had nothing but trouble from any of there hardware. At times they were bad out of the box or died in less than a month. And/or required resets constantly.

As for as measuring performance test you need to use large files size will give you a better idea as what is going on. Also Use AnologX Netstat Live to measure your performance, better than MS junk. Your best speeds will be done using FTP this eliminates SMB (MS) overhead. You will also found out when you all GigE, drivers have a huge impact. Just because it's newer does not make it better.