New iMacs runing slow on network

[Bagpuss66]

We are upgrading our iMacs in our music suite, they are all the latest specification. i5,256 ssd , 8gb ram all running hi-sierra 2018 models.

At the moment we are using a mini mac using the mac OS server, the iMacs we have at the moment are using the golden triangle way of accessing our AD.

We will be moving to Jamf pro next year, but at the moment we will have to use this setup.

Problem we have is the moment we add the iMacs to the network , they slow down and we get the spinning beachball on running most programs.

This obviously wont help the students as this is what we are experiencing with the older iMacs.

My solution would be to create a generic music login for students and for them to save their work on a USB, the iMacs work perfectly when we set them up this way.

But the Music teachers are demanding we run it through the network.

Any ideas?

[FN-GM]

I would agree with what the music teachers say. A generic account isn't suitable.

 

To start a couple of basic things would be to check the DNS and also check the clocks are all correct on the Windows, Macs and Mac server.

[3s-gtech]

Macs, when set up and working nicely through AD, shouldn't run slowly. Magic Triangle dates back to the Workgroup Manager days - I haven't used this for years and if you are doing so it's not supported. The AD/PM or other MDM route does work well, but your DNS needs to be solid, you need local home directories (you can add network ones too, but you should tick the box to force local home directory for speed's sake) and you need a fast/healthy network. Edited October 29, 2018 by 3s-gtech

[Bagpuss66]

Thank you for the suggestions so far, hopefully a lot of the problems will be ironed out when we move to Jamfpro.

[AntonioRocco]

Don't mean to rain on your parade but moving to Jamfpro won't iron out any existing network issues you see with your macs. Not only is gigabit to desktop a must but DNS is crucial especially if you're using .local for the domain TLD. If your Windows domain is built around this, and depending on the namespace you've used, your Macs will be unreliable.

 

Besides any 'Mac Management' software will require DNS to be as rock solid as it can be for your Mac estate irrespective of which one you decide to use. Having said that, your issues could be down to the applications used. Most applications of my experience are not 'designed' to work over a network. I don't know of any Music or Graphic Design applications that do. The fact that some do (mainly) is a happy bonus and probably due to using a gigabit network and internal DNS services not based around .local. For your sake I hope I'm wrong as JamfPro is a hefty investment to make if it proves not to improve things for you Macs.

[Bagpuss66]

Jamfpro is part of the academies trust idea spread over various schools. I agree I'm sure the performance problem issue is just that macs don't work well on a Windows based network.