Network configuration for file sharing

mandylynn · 07-14-2004, 09:02 AM

Hi all,
We are running a custom written program in MS Fox Base and Fox Pro on a Blue & White G3, which our users connect to and use the files. The actual program is run on the user's machine (which are all G4 iMacs running Classic from OS X 10.3.4). There are some reports that are running very slowly over the network, and also if we do multiple line updates it is very slow. These things run very fast on the G3, but not remotely and I was wondering if that could be any of the network settings?
Oh, another thing with the G3...I have it set to connect automatically and do a backup through DataBackupX. That connection seems to be taking a long time to be established... The other backups are all G4 iMacs and they are quick. Thanks for any help

yellow · 07-14-2004, 09:05 AM

How do the G4s talk to the database on the G3? What protocol?

mandylynn · 07-14-2004, 09:32 AM

I have an alias made to the G3, which the users use to connect via the Network connection dialog. Then the actual program is used on the G4's and in the program it accesses files on the G3 through the share. I do not know alot about the code, I do know that at the beginning it associates the name of the share to the G3 to the program and the files are then used from that share.

yellow · 07-14-2004, 09:41 AM

So it's probably using Appletalk to connect to the G3 and share the files. That's a pretty darned slow interface. It won't really matter how fast it runs on the G3 or the G4, you're being bottlenecked by your network. So how fast is the network? 10Mb? 100Mb? 1000Mb?

mandylynn · 07-14-2004, 10:01 AM

My boss thinks it is 100Mb...is there a test or utility I can run to be sure?

yellow · 07-14-2004, 10:09 AM

Quick clarification:

The G3 is running what OS?

The app that you are running on the G4s is running under Classic?

These shares, are they browsed shares, or are the specified by a IP address?

mandylynn · 07-14-2004, 11:51 AM

The G3 is running 9.2.2 (we found it was necessary to run the 'server' computer in Classic).

Yes, the app on the G4's runs in the Classic window of OS X.

The G3 share has to be browsered through the Network connection of the Finder...it won't let me 'cmd-k' by ip to the 9.2.2 G3. For some reason that cmd-k won't let me connect to any of our older machines that are running 9.x.

yellow · 07-14-2004, 11:57 AM

Then your share appears to be using the slowest of slow network protocols, namely AppleTalk. Try going into the Chooser in Classic on one of the G4s, select AppleShare, click the "Server IP Address" button and enter the IP of the G3 server. Create your share that way. That, at least, is using AFPoverTCP, which is faster then straight AppleTalk. Test and see if that's any faster.

mandylynn · 07-14-2004, 01:08 PM

When I do that I'm getting the same type of error that I get in OS X when I try to cmd-k to the G3.

In OS X the message is:
Connection Failed
No response from the server. Please try again.

In Classic using the IP connection:
No response from the server. Please try again.

?? Thanks for the help by the way!!

yellow · 07-14-2004, 01:37 PM

Is there a firewall on the server, or between the server and the G4? If so, you need to let port 548 through.

mandylynn · 07-15-2004, 06:45 AM

Unless there is a firewall included with OS 9.2.2 (and it somehow got turned on and configured) there is no firewall between these connections.

yellow · 07-15-2004, 07:19 AM

And how are they connected? Router? Hub? Switch?

mandylynn · 07-15-2004, 08:32 AM

Switch which my boss thinks is 100Mb. Is there any way of testing network speed or tracking bottlenecks?

yellow · 07-15-2004, 09:44 AM

Dunno.. old fashioned way?
Copying a file from point A -> point B and timing it multiple times, averaging.
Copying a file from point A -> point C and timing it multiple times, averaging.
Etc..

07-14-2004, 09:02 AM	#1
mandylynn Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 82	Network configuration for file sharing Hi all, We are running a custom written program in MS Fox Base and Fox Pro on a Blue & White G3, which our users connect to and use the files. The actual program is run on the user's machine (which are all G4 iMacs running Classic from OS X 10.3.4). There are some reports that are running very slowly over the network, and also if we do multiple line updates it is very slow. These things run very fast on the G3, but not remotely and I was wondering if that could be any of the network settings? Oh, another thing with the G3...I have it set to connect automatically and do a backup through DataBackupX. That connection seems to be taking a long time to be established... The other backups are all G4 iMacs and they are quick. Thanks for any help

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07-14-2004, 09:05 AM	#2
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	How do the G4s talk to the database on the G3? What protocol?

07-14-2004, 09:32 AM	#3
mandylynn Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 82	I have an alias made to the G3, which the users use to connect via the Network connection dialog. Then the actual program is used on the G4's and in the program it accesses files on the G3 through the share. I do not know alot about the code, I do know that at the beginning it associates the name of the share to the G3 to the program and the files are then used from that share.

07-14-2004, 09:41 AM	#4
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	So it's probably using Appletalk to connect to the G3 and share the files. That's a pretty darned slow interface. It won't really matter how fast it runs on the G3 or the G4, you're being bottlenecked by your network. So how fast is the network? 10Mb? 100Mb? 1000Mb?

07-14-2004, 10:01 AM	#5
mandylynn Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 82	My boss thinks it is 100Mb...is there a test or utility I can run to be sure?

07-14-2004, 10:09 AM	#6
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	Quick clarification: The G3 is running what OS? The app that you are running on the G4s is running under Classic? These shares, are they browsed shares, or are the specified by a IP address?

07-14-2004, 11:51 AM	#7
mandylynn Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 82	The G3 is running 9.2.2 (we found it was necessary to run the 'server' computer in Classic). Yes, the app on the G4's runs in the Classic window of OS X. The G3 share has to be browsered through the Network connection of the Finder...it won't let me 'cmd-k' by ip to the 9.2.2 G3. For some reason that cmd-k won't let me connect to any of our older machines that are running 9.x.

07-14-2004, 11:57 AM	#8
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	Then your share appears to be using the slowest of slow network protocols, namely AppleTalk. Try going into the Chooser in Classic on one of the G4s, select AppleShare, click the "Server IP Address" button and enter the IP of the G3 server. Create your share that way. That, at least, is using AFPoverTCP, which is faster then straight AppleTalk. Test and see if that's any faster.

07-14-2004, 01:08 PM	#9
mandylynn Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 82	When I do that I'm getting the same type of error that I get in OS X when I try to cmd-k to the G3. In OS X the message is: Connection Failed No response from the server. Please try again. In Classic using the IP connection: No response from the server. Please try again. ?? Thanks for the help by the way!!

07-14-2004, 01:37 PM	#10
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	Is there a firewall on the server, or between the server and the G4? If so, you need to let port 548 through.

07-15-2004, 06:45 AM	#11
mandylynn Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 82	Unless there is a firewall included with OS 9.2.2 (and it somehow got turned on and configured) there is no firewall between these connections.

07-15-2004, 07:19 AM	#12
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	And how are they connected? Router? Hub? Switch?

07-15-2004, 08:32 AM	#13
mandylynn Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 82	Switch which my boss thinks is 100Mb. Is there any way of testing network speed or tracking bottlenecks?

07-15-2004, 09:44 AM	#14
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	Dunno.. old fashioned way? Copying a file from point A -> point B and timing it multiple times, averaging. Copying a file from point A -> point C and timing it multiple times, averaging. Etc..