win XP and NT4 machines bogging down network

[JCROCCO]

Running NT4 on 4 machines, and added a new XP Prof machine recently.

Engineering office running Autocad, and using a file server (snapserver) to access shared files (data and startup files only) not a server or sharing applications.

We seem to have a slowdown when opening autocad drawings or even just the application only sometimes, but everytime XP has been using autocad. No other network degradation is obvious.

I do have a set of files that AUTOCAD loads as part of its startup proceedure that is on the server that is used by all. Was wondering if this itself could be casuing problems, and wondered if anyone knows of complications of XP trying to lock out or Lock onto files it uses.

Similarly, on XP, tried to rename a folder on the server, and it wouldnt allow us to rename it, it stated it was beeing used, even though there was no uses on any other computer, and went to an NT machine and renamed it without problem.

Another weird thing is I have all NT computers loging onto the snapserver as administrators, but can only get the XP to log on as a user, even though everything is the same, and the logon for the XP machine is as administrator.

Is there problems with XP and NT? Are they not that compatible? WOuld a network of all XP be better?

Open to comments or suggestions, thank you.

 

[mboy]

I am running an NT 4 domain (yes still) with about 40+ XP pro machines, a few 98's an Nt 4 and believe it or not some 95 machines. Their is no compatibility issue inherent with NT$ domain and XP workstations (altho bringing up printers on old 10mbs print servers on the LAN takes forever.

Are u running a peer-to-peer or is your AUTOCAD server an actual domain controller as well?

 

[JCROCCO]

Running pier to pier, no actual "server".

also, Autocad isnt a network version, ALl application files are on each machine, just accessing the startup files, template file, default drawing, etc from a store server (snapserver)

 

[owensdj]

I've seen networks with a mix of both NT 4.0 Workstation and XP Professional machine, and they didn't have any problems.

What network protocols are you using? Just TCP/IP, or do you use NWLink(IPX/SPX) or NetBEUI?

Did you make sure that all computers have the same workgroup name? Are you logging onto the XP machine with the exact same user name/password as in the user list on the server? If you haven't already, disable the "Welcome Screen" log on on the XP machine.

 

[JCROCCO]

Well, I'm not using a server, and all machines are pier to pier using tcp/ip only. All settings are identicle. The network itself seems to be ok, just autocad is slow. When its slow loading, sometimes a few minutes, you can go to other areas of YOUR computer, open up network paths, and view across the network without problems. Even opening other programs, or emails are all ok, just not while opening, saving autocad.