Optimizing Network Performance

Windows 98 automatically adjusts system parameters to accommodate users’ demands and various network configurations. For example, it alters the size of the system paging file and cache buffer as memory requirements change, and automatically tunes network time-out values to fit varying local area network (LAN) topologies.

With few exceptions, manual tuning of operating system parameters is not required to improve network performance. However, you can take several other measures that can increase file-sharing performance, such as reconfiguring or changing hardware components. This section summarizes these measures.

• Use a 32-bit, protected-mode network client.

  For example, the Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks significantly out-performs the Virtual Loadable Module (VLM) or NetWare 3.x workstation shell (NETX) version of the NetWare client.

• Do not add unnecessary protocols.

  If you can see all network connections with only Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) loaded, do not manually add Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX). Doing so only creates system overhead, which slows down network connections and consumes additional system memory.

• Use the new network driver interface specification (NDIS) version 3.1 or later network adapter drivers provided with Windows 98.
• If your system does not have a modem (or if you have one and do not use it), and you do not use Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), remove all Dial-Up Networking components.
• Install a new network adapter. The adapters currently available provide markedly better performance than earlier models. If possible, select an adapter that matches the computer bus. For more information, see Chapter 15, "Network Adapters and Protocols."

  Network adapters have become exceptionally reliable and inexpensive. The low costs of Ethernet adapters, including new Plug and Play hardware, means that usually the most cost-effective way to improve network performance is to replace an older network adapter with a new model. The cost for the new hardware is offset almost immediately by savings in support time and improved performance.

The following measures can help you obtain the best performance from computers that provide file and printer sharing services:

• Let Windows 98 determine the right size for the swap file.
• Make sure the computer has enough memory, depending on the size of your network and the number of users who will be accessing the peer server.
• In the System option in Control Panel, set the typical role of the computer to Network server, as described in "Optimizing File System Performance with Profiles" earlier in this chapter.
• Install a high-performance network adapter on the peer server. If the computer uses an 8-bit adapter, you can increase performance significantly by replacing it with a high-performance 16-bit or 32-bit adapter.
• Disable rarely used network adapters. This improves overall network performance by decreasing the number of broadcast packets on the network. Each broadcast packet must be processed by every active adapter on the network. High broadcast rates adversely affect LAN performance by increasing network connection time. You can disable a network adapter by disabling its binding to protocols in the Network option in Control Panel.
• Install faster hard drives or disk controllers (or both). Typically, when setting up peer servers, you will want to choose computers configured with the best-performing hardware.
• On a computer running File and Printer Sharing for NetWare Networks, set the read-only attribute on shared files wherever possible. The network client can take better advantage of file caching with read-only files, improving network performance and reducing the load on the server.