We recently upgraded our server and one workstation with fast Intel Core Duo 6600 computers with Gigabit LAN on the motherboards and changed to CAT 6 cables and a Gigabit network switch and the network speed with Adagio slowed considerably over the old 100BaseTX network between these 2 computers. It is not the switch as we have tried Linksys, Airlink, and D Link switches with no change in performance. There are no connectivity problems listed by Windows XP. If Data Integrity Checking for the CR module is run by the workstation across the Gigabit network, it takes about 15 minutes. If everything remains the same and the old 100BaseTX switch is used with the same computers, this same job takes about 6 minutes. If done locally on the server it takes less than 10 seconds. Windows Task Manager shows less than 1% network utilization when running CR Data Integrity Checking on the Gigabit network and about 25% utilization with the 100BaseTX network. If a 500mb file from the server to the workstation is copied across the network at the same time Data Integrity Checking is running, Gigabit network utilization climbs from below 1% to about 50% and the file is copied in less than 15 seconds so it seems that the network is working fine.

During testing, the server is idle doing no tasks and all monitoring software is off; ie antivirus software, Norton utilities, Windows XP SP2 Firewall etc. are all off. The computers have no virus problems or infections of any kind. CPU usage during testing on the network is very low. When Data Integrity Checking is done locally on the server it climbs to 50-80%.

Has anyone changed to Gigabit network and experienced a speed improvement over the old network or have any suggestions? We have returned to the old 100 BaseTX network switch as it is much quicker for any work in Adagio.

Cable installation is critical for gigabit networks. So are the patch cords. If there is a sharp bend, pinch or kink in either, the network has to keep resending packets, which results in poor performnace.

Hi Rick
I've been using Gigabit network switches & compatible PC's regularly for about a year now. In fact for most of my Adagio installs I spec gigabit networking as a requirement along with the appropriate computers, etc. I find that the performance improvement with Gigabit speed is very noticeable in Adagio, especially when using Job Cost or when running specific reports. It also helps in a gridview environment as well.

I also use a cable diagniostic tool made by Fluke to test the integrity of the cabling (eg, noise on the line, crossed connections etc.) It sounds like you have replaced your cabling, and I am wondering if you mean patch cords into the wall jacks or have you replaced the entire cable thart runs through the wall between the switch and PC?
As I said I have been upgrading my clients to gigabit, however I haven't been replacing the wiring that is run in the walls - that would rarely be cost-effective. I have kept the cabling at Cat5e and have still noticed a significant improvement in performance, but likely not as great an improvement as upgrading all of the cabling to Cat 6.

I recommend that you have someone test the cables (if there are any that you have not replaced) to see if there are any issues there. Sometimes cabling issues are not as noticeable in a 10/100 configuration but will surface in a 10/100/1000 environment.