Slow Windows 7 Network Access to 2012 Server

[russpg]

Has anyone else come across an issue where your windows 7 clients (all except 1st to connect) are very slow to access the network.

 

This includes, logging in, access mapped drives and network start menu's.

My 1st client will log in within 10 seconds the rest take up to a minuet. If i was to set a local desktop rather than network desktop they are all equally fast.

Once they have logged in and I hit start on the machines, the 1st menu will load, the rest are slow as above.

 

This is a Primary Network with 1 x Server 2012 Server running all services.

If i add a second server as a member server and transfer the data to this system there are no issues.

[FN-GM]

When you say data what data do you mean?

 

We have 8 2012 boxes here and all seems fine.

[russpg]

Documents, Pictures Music etc.. even with just shortcuts.

 

Yeah that's seems to be the problem it only does it when I use one server for everything. Because of the size of the site 2 servers would be over kill.

If I create a separate file server and point my redirection policies to that its fine.

I've even Imaged some machines with Win7 x86 enterprise, from the original media in the computers container and created a user in a new ou that only has folder redirection policies. So I know its not a Policy issue at either the user or computer side. I haven't changed the Default Domain Policy or Default Domain Computers Policy.

[FN-GM]

Can you see the server name in DNS?

 

Do you have De-duplication enabled?

[russpg]

No DNS errors, server responds fine.

I'm in the process of flattening my test server and re-installing from scratch, I'm not going to import any of my policies this time and add minimal roles to create a basic setup.

[russpg]

So...

1. Installed 2012 from scratch, promoted to DC, other roles are DNS obviously and DHCP.

2. Installed Windows 7 on several PC's and joined to domain in computers container.

3. Created 1 User in a new OU and attached an empty Policy, then created a folder redirect for the desktop.

4. Typed username & password in all machines and ran round and pressed enter, all log on in order quickly.

5. Added .txt file to desktop and repeated step 4, all log on in order quickly.

6. Added .lnk file to desktop and repeated step 4, 1st one logs on fast all others are delayed for around 35/40 seconds then logs on simultaneously. ***

7. Kept both .txt and .lnk file on desktop, logged on the 1st one, waited 1 minuet before quickly logging on the rest, the others then log on fast and in order.

 

Seems to be an issue with the 1st Machine locking the .lnk file for a while. It doesn't matter if the .lnk points to a local folder or .exe or a UNC or Drive letter, even pointing to an I.P.

If I add a second 2012 server as a file server and redirect desktop to this machine and repeat steps 4-7, there are no issues at all.

This also occurs when you redirect start menu/favourites etc.. as well.

[chrisc543]

BUMP, have you every figured out? having a similar issue. tried to send PM but cant.

[psydii]

DC's shouldn't be file servers. This has always been true, however recently Microsoft have been making it harder and harder to run small sites, or more accurately they have stopped spending engineering time making their stuff work in environments that are constrained by the number of servers they have. This is to drive people to the Office365 etc.

 

Have you tried Hyper-V? Run inside it two VMs, one a DC and one the Fileserver? I believe that you can run up to 4 VMs on one box with the Standard Server licence. That way you don't have to spend time trying to troubleshoot a scenario that is at best discouraged by MS.

[russpg]

The workaround we used in the end and have had no issues since is to disable SMB3.

[Arcath]

The workaround we used in the end and have had no issues since is to disable SMB3.

 

How'd you do that? I just tried and lost all ability to connect to shares on the server. (Deleted the key and its fine again)

[psydii]

Before you do that:

 

Install the enterprise hotfix rollup for windows 7 (and the additionally listed hotfixes in the KB article):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2775511

 

Install the recommended hotfixes for file services for windows 7:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2473205

 

Install all the update rollups from WU on the windows 2012 server:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askpfeplat/archive/2013/05/13/update-rollups-for-windows-server-2012-and-windows-8-explained.aspx

Edited February 20, 2014 by psydii