Slow LAN, please help

rustedearth · 12-10-2008, 06:03 PM

I have a question I hope someone may be able to help me out. I have a small office with 3 computers on a WIRED network. I know my old D-Link Router d104? is old, but here is my problem and setup.

Computer 1> Win XP, decent speed P4 3ghz. All of the files are located on this computer. 99% of all the work done is thru Microsoft Access. Generally 2-4 access files opened, all day long. Working on this computer is fast and beautiful. The Access program automatically backs up the work every 2 mins? And every time you unfilter/filter.

Computer 2> Decent speed also LAPTOP, internet connection is a little slower than on computer 1, but not a huge issue. This computer accesses computer 1 to also work on the same Access files. When doing so, it is sllooooooooooow. Every time you try to do something, even simple, like filter a column from A to Z, it has a long delay and you have to wait for "Queue" on the bottom left, and it pauses alot as you're updating the file. Its slow enough to make the user frequently wait and "sigh" while it does its thing.

Computer 3> Least used computer, duo-core, Vista (blech). Same exact running speed as computer 2 when utilizing the LAN.

I've tried different settings, different duplexes, etc, but I have a feeling that the router itself is just slow as crap. I would like all 3 systems to run fast. Am I missing something or should I simply get a better router? If so, what router would you recommend for this setup? I don't want to go Cisco, I want to be able to setup things myself and I'm decent with networking, except this problem obviously.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

-Rusted

**johnwill** · 12-10-2008, 06:18 PM

Well, if you are mostly concerned about LAN speed sharing files between computers, the router really doesn't enter into the picture. You could do something like stick a gigabit switch in front of the router and connect all the computers to that switch. If they don't have gigabit NIC's, it's easy to fit the desktops with them.

As far as Internet speed goes, the clear choice would be to simply upgrade the router to see if that helps, they're dirt cheap nowadays. Of course, it might just be your ISP and nothing to do with any of your equipment.

rustedearth · 12-10-2008, 06:19 PM

If I connect the computers to the switch, and the switch to the router? Will all the computer also have internet access at the same time?

12-10-2008, 06:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
rustedearth Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Xp sp3	Slow LAN, please help I have a question I hope someone may be able to help me out. I have a small office with 3 computers on a WIRED network. I know my old D-Link Router d104? is old, but here is my problem and setup. Computer 1> Win XP, decent speed P4 3ghz. All of the files are located on this computer. 99% of all the work done is thru Microsoft Access. Generally 2-4 access files opened, all day long. Working on this computer is fast and beautiful. The Access program automatically backs up the work every 2 mins? And every time you unfilter/filter. Computer 2> Decent speed also LAPTOP, internet connection is a little slower than on computer 1, but not a huge issue. This computer accesses computer 1 to also work on the same Access files. When doing so, it is sllooooooooooow. Every time you try to do something, even simple, like filter a column from A to Z, it has a long delay and you have to wait for "Queue" on the bottom left, and it pauses alot as you're updating the file. Its slow enough to make the user frequently wait and "sigh" while it does its thing. Computer 3> Least used computer, duo-core, Vista (blech). Same exact running speed as computer 2 when utilizing the LAN. I've tried different settings, different duplexes, etc, but I have a feeling that the router itself is just slow as crap. I would like all 3 systems to run fast. Am I missing something or should I simply get a better router? If so, what router would you recommend for this setup? I don't want to go Cisco, I want to be able to setup things myself and I'm decent with networking, except this problem obviously. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. -Rusted

12-10-2008, 06:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,922 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Slow LAN, please help Well, if you are mostly concerned about LAN speed sharing files between computers, the router really doesn't enter into the picture. You could do something like stick a gigabit switch in front of the router and connect all the computers to that switch. If they don't have gigabit NIC's, it's easy to fit the desktops with them. As far as Internet speed goes, the clear choice would be to simply upgrade the router to see if that helps, they're dirt cheap nowadays. Of course, it might just be your ISP and nothing to do with any of your equipment. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-10-2008, 06:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
rustedearth Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Xp sp3	Re: Slow LAN, please help If I connect the computers to the switch, and the switch to the router? Will all the computer also have internet access at the same time?