NIC speed issue with SBS 2008

[Mick]

I look after a win 2008 SBS server with a mix of macs and PCs as clients - fourteen in all. This server is hooked up to a Netgear GS724T smart switch and has a dual-port Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet NIC installed (only one port in use). The internal network is all Cat 5e cabling. Until recently, all was running well, but after receiving a call from the client about 'poor speeds', I noticed the card is only runing at 100 Mbps, whereas it has always previously run at 1 Gbps. Problem is, I cannot get it to run any faster than this. I've re-installed the drivers and set it to auto-negotiate (which it was at anyway) . I've also checked device manager - no problems shown. There have been no hardware changes to the switch, the card or the server. I don't want to change the card unless it is definitely at fault (i.e. that this condition is not caused by other possible factors), but I'm running out of ideas. Any help/suggestions appreciated.

 

[TAPtech]

Try swapping the NIC cat5e with another cable or preferably a cat6 cable. Also try a different port on the switch.

 

[Markverhyden]

"Poor speeds" Not very descriptive. What, when, where, how, why? Without more details one thing I have seen many times is someone has somehow hooked up a patch cord with both ends in the switch. This causes slow speeds for everyone.

 

[Mick]

Thanks. I'm due over there later this week - I'll try both.

 

[Mick]

"Poor speeds" Not very descriptive.

Well, that was just the way they described it to me by phone. And, when I checked, it was indeed a general service deterioration - slow access to/from their NAS box, emails taking a while to send, websites slow to load etc. Effectively, just what you'd expect if a card's speed had changed to 100Mbps from 1Gbps.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

you'll want to troubleshoot this onsite..not remotely, due to possibility of disconnection.

I don't like broadcom NICs...I always spec out servers with the Intel Pro upgrade for the NIC.

But some things to try..
*New patch cable, as noted above.
*Different port in switch, as noted above
*A better grade switch..or just another to quickly test, for giggles.
*Manually set it for 1 gig
*Try the other NIC. Course this will take reconfiguring, and bouncing the server at least once...to allow all the services to settle down. That first reboot will take a long time.

 

[Markverhyden]

Well, that was just the way they described it to me by phone. And, when I checked, it was indeed a general service deterioration - slow access to/from their NAS box, emails taking a while to send, websites slow to load etc. Effectively, just what you'd expect if a card's speed had changed to 100Mbps from 1Gbps.

Is this only the server or the clients as well?

To be honest most people cannot tell the difference in performance between 100mbs and 1gb because their ISP is much slower. Also NAS's, unless you got an expensive unit, will also be under 100mbs for LAN performance. The only difference you would see is if users were performing very large file transfers between the client and server on a regular basis. I'm talking several hundred MB's.

Another potential culprit might be DNS.

 

[Mick]

@StoneCat: Thanks for the advice. Interestingly, I don't have the option of setting to 1 Gb manually. I can choose from 10, 100 or auto. I had assumed 'auto' meant 'up to 1Gb where possible' but maybe not?

@Mark: Thanks. The clients are fine until they do something which involves LAN usage. They (the firm) are publishers, so do move a lot of very large files around the network. DNS is set to the address of the DHCP server (that is, to the windows box). I appreciate there may be other issues on top of this one - but this is the one I'm stuck on right now! I'm due over there tomorrow, so will post back with an update.

 

[mr m]

That is normal behavior dictated by design. You're correct, if both the NIC and switch have Gb/s capability they will auto negotiate to 1 Gb/s, full duplex if left in auto mode.

 

[Martyn]

That is normal behavior dictated by design. You're correct, if both the NIC and switch have Gb/s capability they will auto negotiate to 1 Gb/s, full duplex if left in auto mode.

Yes providing the cabling is good.

 

[Mick]

Thanks both. Will see how I get on tomorrow!

 

[mr m]

Yes providing the cabling is good.

And plugged in!

 

[Martyn]

And plugged in!

Oh I forgot

 

[mr m]

Thanks both. Will see how I get on tomorrow!

Are all users experiencing slower speeds?

 

[Mick]

Are all users experiencing slower speeds?

Yes - seems to be a general problem (or, at least, they say it is), although there are a couple of machines not normally in use that I haven't tried yet.

 

[mr m]

Yes - seems to be a general problem (or, at least, they say it is), although there are a couple of machines not normally in use that I haven't tried yet.

Not much you can do until you get there tomorrow. If there is a patch panel between the NIC and switch check those connections also. Good luck!

 

[Mick]

Turned out that a new cable fixed it - thanks to all.