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Multi user environment

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    #1

    Multi user environment

    Has anyone experienced a tremendous slowdown of three or more users on a network ? We are also finding constant data corruption. We can be working fine for a few weeks and them we have file corruption. We are running Alpha 5, version 5 with shadow databases, on a seperate server. We have opportunistic data blocking controled, but are still having issues. This does not happen when we work individually. Any suggestions....
    Tags: None
    #2
    RE: Multi user environment

    What kind of server OS do you have??

    The Mexican
    The Mexican

    Comment

      #3
      RE: Multi user environment

      Not trying to sound crazy, but are you running a multi-user pack from alpha, or 3 individual single-user programs? We have a very large network system, and definitely do not encounter your scenario.

      We have Win'98, XP, and Win2k workstations, and a win2k server.

      Our users run a shadowed version of the program on their PC's, and all of our databases are on the server.

      Is your database originally from the server before you shadowed it?

      Pardon all the questions, but I just want to know the environment before I make any off-the-wall statements.

      Tom

      Comment

        #4
        RE: Multi user environment

        Tom,

        I have been helping Charlie with this problem. Your situation sounds very similar to Charlie's. They are running mostly Win2k work stations. I think the server is Win 2k as well Yes, the database was originally from the server before it was shadowed to each work station.

        My conclusion has been that this is a network problem most likely caused by viruses and/or spyware/adware. Do you have any ideas? Any feedback would be most welcome.

        Howard
        Howard G. Cornett, Independent Consultant

        Comment

          #5
          RE: Multi user environment

          Make sure that you turn OFF virus protection on the server for the tables in use. We have actually disabled the antivirus protection for our database folders. We noticed that there was a DRASTIC slowdown unless we had it shut off. I know that it is flying in the face of conventional thinking, but the antivirus software used to protect you can actually cripple you in a multi-user environment. Be sure you have a firewall up and running, screen all incoming e-mail, and be careful of the sites that you allow your users to get to.

          Tom

          Comment

            #6
            RE: Multi user environment

            Tom,

            When you say "turn OFF virus protection" do you mean automatic scanning on the server only or on all work stations that will be accessing the database? And you mean to virus monitor software, right? We should still scan for viruses overnight when no one is using the database, yes? We have turned off monitoring on the server but I do not know about the work stations.

            Howard
            Howard G. Cornett, Independent Consultant

            Comment

              #7
              RE: Multi user environment

              Thanks,
              We have the virus software turned off, but we are still having issues.

              Comment

                #8
                RE: Multi user environment

                Only on the work stations.

                Comment

                  #9
                  RE: Multi user environment

                  We have the real-time virus scanning turned OFF on the
                  -SERVER- for the specific Alpha Database file folders. Yes, there is a "batch" scan that occurs, but NOT when anyone is around.

                  Tom

                  Comment

                    #10
                    RE: Multi user environment

                    Tom, What company are you from?
                    Can I have my IT guy call you for info?

                    Comment

                      #11
                      RE: Multi user environment

                      I've responded via direct e-mail.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        RE: Multi user environment

                        Tom,

                        Has this issue been resolved, and if so, what was the cause of the problem? I just thought it might help the rest of us who might run into this issue.

                        Thanks.
                        --Michael

                        Comment

                          #13
                          RE: Multi user environment

                          Michael,

                          The problem is their network. It was taking around 70 seconds for the database to open. Then each keystroke or mouse click would take another 70 seconds to respond. I tried running a different app over the network from the same computer. Same lag time, so the problem is not Alpha.

                          They had a lot of spyware on the computers in that department, so I used Ad-Aware to remove it from them. The network lag reduced to 58 seconds. So we still have a problem, but we know it is not an Alpha problem.

                          Howard Cornett
                          Howard G. Cornett, Independent Consultant

                          Comment

                            #14
                            RE: Multi user environment

                            Howard,
                            Thanks so much for the update. From what I can see in this thread, Charles is running Win2K (non-server) on the machine he's using as a server. Do you think Win2K server would make a difference on his network? Other posts I've read here seem to indicate that Win2K and XP Pro work fine for an Alpha5 multi-user system, but perhaps there are other applications running which would be better served by Win2K server. Just a thought.

                            --Michael

                            Comment

                              #15
                              RE: Multi user environment

                              Chek the network configurations. Sometimes, protocols can be very "chatty". If possible, reduce to ONE protocol. We found IPX/SPX to be be one of our issues. When we removed it, things got a little better. Straight TCP/IP is cleanest, but we are also running netbeui because we started that way, and its tought to let go of the ewasy drive mapping that netbeui allows us.

                              Your servers should have clear access directly to a switch, not a hub or router. It will reduce hops over the network. They should also be using the highest speed available. (ours have 2 network cards running at 100 Mbps)

                              Remember that your servers really don't do all that much processing with Alpha. They just store the information and "serve" it to the user workstations. High speed disk access is paramount. You can have a really powerful processor, but if the disk drives are only so-so, then all is for naught.

                              Networking is a whole world unto itself, and it may actually pay to have a certified network consultant review the layout to find the bottlenecks.

                              These are just a few tips. I'm sure others will be able to add many more.

                              Tom

                              Comment

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