Here's the deal: I’m a GIS specialist/programmer that recently started a new job and because I have a background in technology, it’s assumed that I’m very knowledgeable in network issues—which isn’t the case. I have a file server in a branch office that is used to store spatial data (mostly ESRI shapefiles, AutoCAD drawings, and high-res aerial imagery). When accessing files on this server, the redraw/draw time is extremely slow. I don’t think the problem is hardware related; processor utilization does not break 30% and page file utilization is no higher than 40%. The box has a dual gigabit Ethernet card so I don’t think that’s problem. This branch office has a megabit backbone, which made me immediately think that the bandwidth was the problem as our central office has a gigabit backbone. However, when I’m monitoring the box network utilization is no higher than 20%. So what do you guys think the problem is? Bandwidth? Hardware? A setting within Windows 2003 Server that I need to re-configure? Thanks in advance for your help!

I should also mention that the problem is also exprienced in the branch office where the server is located.

Page file utilization of 40%. That seems high to me. Maybe the problem is low memory on the file server. Compaq Presario SR1720NX Desktop Computer AT&T SBC Yahoo DSL Home Linksys Router/2 computers

if the server specs are 512meg ram and Celeron, the problem is the server. I would never consider a celeron for a server. 512meg.. I have workstations with more ram. I bet there is only a single drive for data and OS which causes disk io contention. Server specs: Fastest Zeon or Opteron processor you can afford Max out the memory to 4gig if 03 standard. 8gig if enterprise. 15,000 rpm scsi drives in Raid1 for OS and raid5/10 for data. Don't even consider SATA drives. They have HALF the io flops per second scsi does. Sata doesn't hold up under multiple accesses. Dual gigabit is great IF THE SWITCH SUPPORTS TEAMING. You must team the nics to gain the most bandwidth. Knowing the correct answer and giving a correct answer, are two different things

It could be as simple as speed/duplex issues between the server nics and whatever switch they are attached to . You would need to look at the nics to see how they are set and then compare to the switch they are attached to , if the server nics are set as auto then the switch must be auto also otherwise you will end up with speed mismatches and very slow response times .