New network, Download speed to server Sucks miserably . Is Linksys or ZyXel the problem?

[wallsfd949]

Background
I have been running my own mail/web/ftp server for a little over 8 months successfully with win2k server, mailenable, and BPFTP. I run this over my home cable connection on a dynamic IP. I have setup a linux server to handle web requests and have a friend with a static IP on a business connection so I figure send the w2k box to him to handle mail on a staic IP.

Once I get the server to his house, plug everything in, and turn it on, everything 'seems' ok. Mail transfers, terminal server works, etc. After I get home I see major problems. Download speed to the server is HORIBLE.

If I'm logged in via terminal services and I want to download a prog from a website to the server, transfer is intermittent and says ~120 bytes /sec. If I log in via ftp and try and upload a file from my workstation to the server transfer speed is ~120 bytes /sec. However, if I am downloading something over http from the server to my workstation, transfer speed is ~80-90KB/sec. Transfer with FTP to workstation is roughly the same 80-90KB/sec.

I ran this server sucessfully from my house with no problems so here is a comparison of my network to his.

Comparison

• Mine
• Linksys BefSx41 - firewall/router (latest firmware)
• DHCP from router starting at 100
• Server to obtain 192.168.1.20 (static)
• Machines on network - XP, Linux Slack9, w2k (server)
  
  His
• Linksys BefVp41 - VPN Router (tried 3 firmwares currently 1.41.0)
• DHCP disabled.
• Server was set to obtain 192.168.1.20 = above problem, set to 192.168.1.120 = still above problem
• Machines on network - win98 x 2 , Mac G4, w2k (server)

I do know that he is using appletalk or something like that on the network, but I have a hard time believing that it is causing this problem.

I have also noticed by using linksys' logviewer program that even though the server's IP is 192.168.1.120, that HTTP requests, and Terminal Server requests show to go to 192.168.1.30 : port. Could the router be forwarding packets to 192.168.1.30 first even though I specified the right ports?

This problem exists from any machine I try to connect to it with. My network, his LAN, my office, etc. Server is running headless. Very slow transfer to the server (DL speed) from anywhere.

Any ideas on this sloowww problem? Also maybe a link to some network testing tools.

[edit]
I dumped the server into the DMZ, still no go.
[/edit]

 

[AFB]

Check the cables ?

 

[wallsfd949]

I didn't realize this at the time (I was in a hurry to get to work) but he has a ZyXel Prestige 944s in the loop as well..

Looks like this:

ZyXel (Zygate) 944s Modem/Router?
. . . . . . . | . . . .
. . .Linksys BefVp41
. . . | . . . . | . . . . | . . . . | . . .
. .. PC . . PC . . Mac . .Server


I don't think the Linksys BefVp41 is necessary because it appears the ZyXel is a Router/Switch. We do not need any VPN.

I have also mentioned this to one of our IT-network guys and he suggested that the ARP Routing tables were messed up on the linksys because of the log viewer showing requests that should be going to 192.168.1.120 going to 192.168.1.30

Any agreement on removing the Linksys and running only on the ZyXel?

 

[AFB]

Disable routing in the ZyXel if possible and do a hard reset of the linksys.

 

[wallsfd949]

You think I should leave the linksys in line?

 

[AFB]

Yes, I think maybe a hard reset might help. Try in the modem config to diable NAT or routing and set it in to bridge mode.

 

[wallsfd949]

Currently within the linksys router config the IP is set as Static and is his WAN IP.

Specify WAN IP xx.xx.xx.254
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Gateway xx.xx.xx.253

I'm assuming that is a good indication that the router is in bridge mode. We'll try a hard reset and see what happens.

 

[wallsfd949]

I spent 3+ hrs today at his house tearing down and rebuilding his network. We got rid of PcMclan in favor of DAVE for the mac.

After a hard/factory reset of the router, and just the server connected to the router, DL speed was still horible. Removed the router from the loop, re-configured the server for his WAN IP and plugged directly to the ZyXel with RR tech support on the phone. Attempted a few site hits and pings, RR tech indicated that there was traffic but it was very minimal. Websites didn't come up and pings returned 50%-75% loss. Plugged a workstation directly into the router and had no problems at all - good speeds.

Could the NIC be bad?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: wallsfd949
I spent 3+ hrs today at his house tearing down and rebuilding his network. We got rid of PcMclan in favor of DAVE for the mac.

After a hard/factory reset of the router, and just the server connected to the router, DL speed was still horible. Removed the router from the loop, re-configured the server for his WAN IP and plugged directly to the ZyXel with RR tech support on the phone. Attempted a few site hits and pings, RR tech indicated that there was traffic but it was very minimal. Websites didn't come up and pings returned 50%-75% loss. Plugged a workstation directly into the router and had no problems at all - good speeds.

Could the NIC be bad?

if one host works great directly to the modem and another one doesn't then I'd focus all my attention on the bad host.

set the nic to auto speed/duplex. swap cables. replace nic

 

[AFB]

NICs are cheap if its a PC.

 

[wallsfd949]

So I bring the w2k server back home, plug it into my network and fire it up - no problems.

Speeds are back to normal and I'm on my LAN. I'm so confused.. We swapped cables, bypased the router - direct to modem (ZyXel in brige mode), but no matter what we did, if we were on his cable connection the server had crappy (<100 bytes a sec) connection speed. All other machines function fine. :|

I called RR tech support (thankfully business class has 24hr support) and talked to them. The offered a suggestion - within device manager->Network Adapters->3Com Etherlink 10/100 there is an advanced tab that says "Media Type" and I have 4 options - Hardware Default (current), 100BaseTx, 10BaseTx, and Auto Select. They suggested I play with those settings while it is on his network. I'm not really happy with that but I guess we'll go back to his house and spend another 3 hrs cussing the ZyXel. I'm more inclined to believe that they have something dorked within the ZyXel configuration but they won't let me telnet in because I might uncap the connection speed.

NIC Card settings, anyone agree?

 

[spidey07]

as posted earlier you almost always want the nic to auto-dected media type (speed) and duplex.

set it to auto.

 

[drquest]

If you have access to the inside of the Zyxel take a look at what the CPU usage is at. I see the same Zyxel's having issues when their CPU usage is above 60%. Sometimes the usage goes up because of the number of hosts, sometimes it goes up because of virus activity on the client side. Also there's several different firmwares out for those and some do a better job than others.

Are you doing portmapping to the ftp machine? Is RR routing a static IP through the Linksys?

mrpeabody

 

[wallsfd949]

I am not allowed to telnet into the ZyXel according to RR - they indicated it was for 'security issues' but they will telnet into it while I'm on the phone so I guess I could get them to check it out for me.

I have been running NAV with the latest virus defs for a while now so viruses are unlikely to be a cause. I am forwarding 21, 80, and several others to the server through the linksys router. The problem is not upload speed, the problem is download speed. Whenever I view a webpage, DL a file, or transfer something to the server I experience very slow transfer rates. If someone is viewing one of my webpages, downloading a file, or listening to streaming audio (my server would be uploading them the file/stream) transfer speeds are good.

RR has the ZyXel set to what the call 'bridge' mode. They say it's just acting as a cable modem. (I say give me a cable modem then, not a router/cable modem)