Question re: Advanced performance options on a server

[joeMan]

Question regarding Advanced Performance Options, found here:

START> Control Panel> System> Advanced Tab> Under Performance click "Settings"> Advanced Tab>...Processor Scheduling, and Memory Usage.

I always set both of these to "Programs" when I tweak PC's for performance.

But what about a server? In that case, these should be set to "Background Services" and "System Cache" respectively shouldn't they?

[dr_hardware]

Yes, on a server you should set the proc. priority for background services.

[joeMan]

Thanks Doc. What about the setting on Memory Usage to "System Cache"?

[BB_One]

Very dependent on what the server is used for in my opinion. Regular office environment hence a mail server or print server or file storage....I would suspect Foreground to be more efficient. Although I never really tested it on my Win2000 Advance server.

MS does suggest back ground for Heavier used servers such as Data center....here is a small read.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=259025


The following might be helpfull in terms of your question as it pertains to Memory use and caching - as you will see server environment do need tweaking and also some analysis performed before making a decision - important to understand the destinty of that server....
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/tips/w2mem.mspx

Hope it helps get you in the right direction...

[joeMan]

Wow, that first one got a little deep...the quantum stuff and all...but informative none the less. The second one was very helpful. I am going to run Performance monitor and have a look at what's going on.

This server is primarily a file server. All they do is grab files to their local workstation, work on them there, then copy the updated file back to the server to replace the old version. They were previously using it as a file AND an application server - I think this is where they got themselves into trouble because some people were:

1 - Accessing files across the network and opening them and working on them server based.
2 - Accessing a copy of the file as described earlier, then copying the updated version back to the server.
3 - Utilizing application AND files on the server across the network from their local workstation.

Maybe one of these options is more ideal than another given the circumstances, but I feel sure that all three attempting to occur simultaneously was wreaking havok. I advised them until further notice to please copy a file over to their workstation, make revisions, then save back to the server. Also I advised them until the "disappearing files" problem is rectified to save a current copy of everything important locally and to NOT just rely on the server alone.

So far the server is behaving well. I am keeping on eye on it though and will continue to fine tune it to their specific needs as described in the second article.

[joeMan]

Wow, that first one got a little deep...the quantum stuff and all...but informative none the less. The second one was very helpful. I am going to run Performance monitor and have a look at what's going on.

This server is primarily a file server. All they do is grab files to their local workstation, work on them there, then copy the updated file back to the server to replace the old version. They were previously using it as a file AND an application server - I think this is where they got themselves into trouble because some people were:

1 - Accessing files across the network and opening them and working on them server based.
2 - Accessing a copy of the file as described earlier, then copying the updated version back to the server.
3 - Utilizing application AND files on the server across the network from their local workstation.

Maybe one of these options is more ideal than another given the circumstances, but I feel sure that all three attempting to occur simultaneously was wreaking havok. I advised them until further notice to please copy a file over to their workstation, make revisions, then save back to the server. Also I advised them until the "disappearing files" problem is rectified to save a current copy of everything important locally and to NOT just rely on the server alone.

So far the server is behaving well. I am keeping on eye on it though and will continue to fine tune it to their specific needs as described in the second article.

[BB_One]

1 - Accessing files across the network and opening them and working on them server based. <--- Needs special server base proggie to do that and ensure file consistency - Collaboration and Sharing ( Lotus now IBM or Oracle can't recall who bought them - used to have a great one)

2 - Accessing a copy of the file as described earlier, then copying the updated version back to the server. <--- Worst possible setup if said files / documents is to be shared among many people - Accuracy and reliability of information totally lost. That setup MUST be avoided at all cost.

3 - Utilizing application AND files on the server across the network from their local workstation. <---- Refer to number 1

[joeMan]

Thanks BB. This thread topic is evolving, but I'll stick with it since it is all related...here is my next quandery:

Employee John Graphics Designer needs to open a PowerPoint presentation and revise it to reflect a more current company design template. The file lives on the server (as do ALL such files for the entire office/company). He opens his locally installed PowerPoint application, then from within PowerPoint browses across the network to the server and opens that file and proceeds to revise.

Meanwhile, unbeknowst to John Graphics Designer, employee Jane Research Manager needs to open that very same PowerPoint presentation and update it with the latest recent survey results. She opens her locally installed PowerPoint application, then from within PowerPoint browses across the network to the server and wants to open and use the same file John is currently working on...

What happens?

Can they both work on the files simultaneously, or does the "early bird get the worm" so to speak and Jane has to wait until John is finished?


(feel like part2 of the A+ exam...:lol: :scratch: :hide: ).

[BB_One]

Provided they both access the same file from the SERVER - the Sharing and Collaboration software will inform both parties that 2 users are accessing the file and will let both party work on the file - with the Lotus solution it went one step further and allowed a whiteboard to be open between the 2 users . So both could look and modify the file and share text idea on what if we do this and what if we do that on page 5 and this on 11 etc....

Was actually how I worked with building my power point presentations with remote countries that needed to localized the content. Very handy and productive way of working.

Other scenario:

Both users can modify and make changes to the file - 2 copies of said files is saved in temp and the content of the 2 temp files merged into the master file once approved. Said merge can be automatic or under the control and approval of the file owner who happens to be user number 3 receiving an email informing him that modifications have been submitted and awaiting approval and review prior to being merged into master file.Under such a scenario user 3 is presented with the modified content from user 1 and from user 2 hence not having to go through the 300 pages of whatever document and try to figure out what was modified.

Collaboration and Sharing - very powerfull and productive application.

BTW: Product was called Lotus Notes back then - not sure how far it has eveolved in last 6 years last time I used it - and the company bought by IBM....

http://www-306.ibm.com/software/lotus/

[joeMan]

Thanks for bearing with me here. I appreciate it. As you can tell I am just getting in to this server/domain arena and perhaps should recommend they get a Network/MCSE Certified guy in there...until then I am just reading and asking questions and learning as fast as I can.

Well I am just baffled because they are not using any such collaboration software (that I am aware of), because I inspected the Add/Remove Progs list in Server 2000 and saw no such thing...:scratch: So how have they been simultaneously accessing files? And could that somehow be why some of the files were disappearing on them? Or why they'd report the files "reverting back" to the old version within moments after being updated and saved? Perhaps they were just simultaneously accessing the file(s), then whoever saved last was the one who overwrote all the changes done that day by others who had saved earlier...:scratch: :beat:

Here's a little more background, forgive the lengthy post please. You see, they called me because the other company who worked on their stuff repeatedly sent these guys in who did not speak english, AT ALL. They would just nod their heads and say yes to everything. I said to the new client - "come on, you're kidding, right?"
They said "no, we're serious, they would say yes like they understood our problem, and yes like they fixed it, and yet the problems were ongoing so we finally decided to try someone else..."

Let me be very clear that I don't say that to bash any ethnic tech professionals because every one I've ever met can work (and think) circles around me. I say it to illustrate the point that neither I , nor the client has ANY reference point to begin diagnosing what has happened prior to my arriving a week and a half ago. So it is beyond me how they have made it this long working in that kind of UN-administered 2000 Server domain environment. Apparently these guys set them up initially, changed permissions as both employees and PC's came and went, and other than that would only come over when problems flared up. NO maintenance, NO administration in the office because nobody knows squat about how anything is configured.

I also just found out Friday that of the four XP users, only 3 are Pro - one is Home and therefore not compatible with the domain setup of the 2000 server/XP Pro users...then there's the fifth worksation running OS X on a powerbook...:beat: And ironically she LOVES it and is never wrong about anything, and can be very obstinate according to one of her peers - hillarious :thumbs: . Another irony, the Mac user is the research/results consultant updating content, and the graphics design guy is the one on XP Home...:yikes: You'd think it the other way around wouldn't you?

I think I am going to recommend a new server, dual core, plenty of memory and everybody Gigabit LAN. Then I will recommend they bail on all the various DELL incarnations of XP (with their various "Wizards" and "Updaters" and "Limited Trial" versions of crap :smash: ) and allow me to fresh install XP Pro on all workstations and reconfigure the whole shabang.

[BB_One]

Well I am just baffled because they are not using any such collaboration software (that I am aware of), because I inspected the Add/Remove Progs list in Server 2000 and saw no such thing... So how have they been simultaneously accessing files? And could that somehow be why some of the files were disappearing on them? Or why they'd report the files "reverting back" to the old version within moments after being updated and saved? Perhaps they were just simultaneously accessing the file(s), then whoever saved last was the one who overwrote all the changes done that day by others who had saved earlier...

Look no further Joe - you have just identified the exact scenario - last one who hit enter is the one version of the file that's been saved on the server and if that one person happens to have hit delete by mistake well goner it will be. (Refer to number 2 in previous post)

As for their IT infrastructure and the support - NOTHING new there my friend typical Small / Remote Office environment - get this and that - get the seller to install it and then YOU'R on your own. 95% of small business is that way, let alone the fact that most users know enough about their work station to hit the power button and open Word in Microsoft Office / Power Point beyond that; brewww me not know Sir.

''I know for sure the server is screwed up my file was there and now it is not and no way in highway would anyone have hit the delete file by mistake !!''

Recommending changes you've mention not quite sure if you are serious or joking, but ain't going to change much frankly even all new, except for the Home edition of XP. Furthermore customer might not follow with your suggestion and change tech support instead - will be cheaper lol!

May be a good clean and then for you to look into user Policy setup on the server, that's another way of securing the files and making it harder to delete files - some reading to do my friend joe.

To bad you are way at other end of country - I have a 30 pound 4 book set of MSCE NT 4 Server barely use that I would send your way - would do great for what you are getting involve with. Sadly shipping from this end to your end probably cost a fortune .
But maybe you can find a used set your end for cheap. information still very valid in that set - just short of the XP work station or 2003 server.

Look for MSCE Core Requirements Study Guides for
70-058 Networking Essentials
70-073 NT WorkStation 4
70-067 NT Server 4
70-068 NT Server 4 in the Enterprise

Maybe with luck you can find something on ebay, this for example in CBT format at $20.00 US as I post is an unbelievable price considering it is worth well over $500.00 and is one step up covering Win 2003 and XP

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Complete-Microsoft-MCSE-2003-Certification-CBT_W0QQitemZ9709593333QQcategoryZ3517QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[BB_One]

Often forgotten is the needs to do a Business Process analysis, the way they do things might not be the right way of doing it - given the tools or lack of tools they have.

So solving the problem might just be a recommandation to change some business process, such as file sharing for example not being allowed anymore. Hence anyone who needs to do some changes can grab the file on the server , but saves it on his pc and send the modified files to the owner who reviews and puts it on the server...

Etc etc....sometimes people do things because that's how they were told to do it or because they do not know any better - Understanding their needs might provide for alternative ways of doing stuff.

[joeMan]

Indeed an analysis of their work flow is in dire need. I will discuss this with them next time I'm over there. But I am such a hardware whore, and when things are this far gone I like to get in htere and bring them up to date h/w wise and hit the reset button on everything. Back it up, burn it down, and rebuild it from ashes.

I was there for most of Friday working on the office mgr's Palm TREO 650...she was ready to :smash: it against the wall. I said, don't panic - hand it over and go away - I will take care of it. Turns out the TREO had two profiles on it; 'Vicki' and 'vicki's email'. And then two profiles on her PC for it as well; 'Vicki' and 'user2' :lol: . I backed up, flashed the TREO to the latest firmware/software which wiped it clean as if new from the box, and uninstalled and regCleaned her desktop of the Palm s/w as well - reinstalling the latest available there too. Then reconfigured both devices to have only ONE profile that matched. All was well by 4:15 p.m. (I started at 9:30 a.m. for cripe sakes).

While there I resolved two seperate "The printer's not printing!" incidents, as well as perfoming more tweaks/optimizations on the boss lady's notebook per her request. One guy said to me "I can't print on the network printers - any of them!" - I said "Are you logged in?". He said - "Oh, no I guess I hadn't loged in yet today. Thanks. It works now." :yikes: :lol: :rock: He was unshaven, wearing a Zildjian t-shirt and had bloodshot eyes...:hide:

Check out that eBay link now...I have a bid in on it.