30 seconds is a reasonable target - however, this assumes a high performance network with no bottlenecks (e.g. gbit backbone, 100Mbit switched, multiple subnets/VLANs to minimise collision/broadcast traffic). Introduce wireless and 2 minutes is more likely.

Other things to consider - virus/worm/spyware infection, DNS issues, overly large profiles (like >2Mb), RM CC use...

Not using PaintShop Pro by any chance?

Cheers

Chris


-----Original Message-----
From:   David Bowles [mailto:dbowles@educationsupport.fsnet.co.uk]
Sent:   Tue 6/1/2004 3:12 AM
To:     SuSE Linux UK Schools
Cc:    
Subject:        [suse-linux-uk-schools] XP Boot and network Logon times
Not directly related to Linux, but hopefully the feedback you give
might help me to persuade this school I am working with to explore the
Linux server route.

At present this school has some 200 oe so XP-Pro based workstations
that have a modest but not inadequate spec. At the server end they are
running three well speced Xenon based Raid-5 systems. The server
software is RM CC3 (Community Connect Three), which is based on
Windows Server 2000 with RM's ageing proprietary management / security
overlay.

Now here's the problem: Workstations take about 2.5 minutes to boot up
to the Login prompt -- apparently the CC3 workstation overlay does
loads of checking with the server to implement security settings etc
before the user can log in. Now when I say 2.5 minutes to reach a
Login prompt ...well that's on a good day. On a bad day this can take
a good ten minutes or even longer.

As for the time it takes to get from logging in to being presented
with a usable XP 'Start' menu, well this takes at least another two
minutes ...again on a good day. In practice it sometimes takes
between a quarter-of-an-hour and twenty minutes to get from 'power on'
to a usable 'Start' menu.

OK. So the two managed service providers involved in supporting this
school's site are playing 'pass the buck'. Meanwhile the school
management is gradually waking up to the fact this level of
performance isn't actually normal!

So what I want to know from the good members of this list is how long
in practice does it take you to boot a networked XP workstation to
Logon and thereafter to a usable menu ...talking to either a Linux
(Samba) server or a Windows 2000 / 2003 server?  Note that all users
of this school network use 'roaming profiles'.

Also if anyone on this list can get access to a RM CC3 based network,
what sort of boot / logon / Start Menu times are you commonly
achieving with this setup in practice?

Thanks in advance.


David Bowles


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