AccuBuild is a client-server application where the AccuBuild Program and Database files are installed on the file server and launched from the workstation desktop via a shortcut link to a mapped drive on the file server. This means that the performance of the program will be dependent on the speed of the network it is running on. The following information is provided as a guide to help you troubleshoot problems when your AccuBuild program is not performing at optimum speed due to network performance issues.
Determine Source of Problem – The first step in troubleshooting performance issues is to determine if the problem resides on the client side (at the user's workstation) or at the server side. You can usually determine if the problem is a workstation issue by looking at other workstations on the network and determining if they are having the same performance issues. If all workstations are running slow, then it could be a server problem. If only one or two workstations have the issue, then it is usually the workstation.
However, even if you suspect that it is a file server issue, the best test will be to set up a remote desktop connection and run AccuBuild from the server side. Your IT Consultant should be able to help you configure this and it will require that a drive mapping is set up on the server desktop (same as workstation) and that the client install of AccuBuild be run on the server. If the AccuBuild Program performance is good from the remote desktop connection, then the problem is NOT with the file server hardware but rather the network layer (cabling, switches, heavy network traffic etc.) or the workstation itself. If it is the network layer, then it will most likely be affecting all workstations on the network to some degree, otherwise it will be a problem with the individual workstation(s) hardware or software configuration environment.
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File Server and Network Issues |
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Workstation Issues |
File Server and Network Issues
•File Server Hardware – If you are running on older equipment for your file server, your IT consultant should be able to recommend replacement equipment. You will want to contact AccuBuild Technical Support before moving to a new file server so that your program and data are moved properly.
•Networking – If the problem is in the network, where it seems that all workstations are having performance issues then here are some things to look at
• Switches & NICs – If you have a Fast Ethernet (10/100 mbps) switch or a 10/100 network interface card (NIC), then it's time to upgrade to gigabit. As of 2009, Gigabit NICs are standard on almost all desktop and server computers. Most likely the switch will need to be upgraded. A slow switch at the file server or slow network interface cards on workstations will create bottlenecks and upgrading to gigabit speed will increase performance on your system.
•Heavy Network Traffic – Sometimes the problem is simply too much network traffic which causes data collisions on your network cable and data must be sent multiple times in order to arrive at the workstation successfully. Remember that everything you access from your workstation must come across the network cable including everything you do on the internet. The most common problems of heavy network traffic include the following:
•Streaming Data over the Internet – If anyone on your network (not just an AccuBuild user) is using the internet to stream data over the internet which includes listening to radio talk shows, music, movies etc. get them to do this at home and not in the office. The streaming data is being sent over the same cable that your AccuBuild data is traveling which will slow down the process and in some cases cause your workstation to lock up due to timeout problems.
•Large Print / Plotter Jobs – If you have a shared printer or plotter on your network that is printing large jobs such as CAD Drawings, this can cause heavy network traffic but only while the jobs are being printed. If nothing is being printed and your network is still running slow then this would NOT be the problem.
•Running a Wireless Connection – Wireless connections are going to cause issues and you should always be running AccuBuild over a wired connection and NOT wireless.
•Network Monitoring / Anti Virus Scanning – Some network installations will include network monitoring and/or anti-virus software that is interfering or slowing down network performance. If you suspect this, simply disable the suspected software temporarily and see if network performance improves. If this is the cause of your problems, then check with your IT Consultant or the software provider to see if there are any configuration settings that will allow the process to run without degrading your network traffic.
| Note: Be sure to check workstation anti-virus settings to ensure that the network drives are NOT being scanned from each workstation. This is a standard setting for most anti-virus software and you do NOT want the anti-virus software to scan network drives - that is a job for the anti-virus software running on the server itself. When workstations have anti-virus software scanning network drives, it has a drastic effect on network performance. |
•Local Disk Space – make sure you have plenty of free disk space on your local hard drive – at least a few gigabytes of free space or more. The Windows operating system needs room to work and store temporary data and the AccuBuild Program uses local disk space for temporary data files, report queries etc.
•RAM Memory – make sure you have plenty of memory on your workstations. We recommend 2 to 4 Gigabytes or more. When there is not enough memory on your workstation, Windows has to constantly swap data and programs in and out of memory to get the work done and this is a very time consuming process.
•Anti-virus software – Check with your IT Consultant to make sure your anti-virus software is configured correctly. Here are some setting recommendations:
•NEVER set the anti-virus software to scan Network Drives – only scan local and/or removable drives. When workstations have anti-virus software scanning network drives, it has a drastic effect on network performance.
•The AccuBld8 Folder (AccuBuild Program Folder) on your file server should be marked as a "safe" folder as well as the programs, files, and subfolders within this folder.
•The following AccuBuild Program file extensions can be marked as "safe" which include:
•"add", "am", "ai" Advantage Data Dictionary Files
•"adt","adi","adm" Advantage Data Files
•"dqy" Microsoft ODBC schema files
•Scheduled Disk Drive Scanning - Make sure any automatic disk drive scanning is scheduled for non-business hours – if your anti-virus software is scanning your local hard drive while you are trying to work, it will be very slow and non-responsive.