Slow performance with Novell 5.1

[Coopfab]

We have upgraded our Novell server to NWSB 5.1 sp3 from NWSB 4.11 SP8. Our workstations have not changed. All workstations run Windows 98 second addition.

After upgrading, importing files is EXTREMELY SLOW, as is running reports and changing accounting periods. When importing our sales journal while running 4.11 the asterisks would run quite quickly across the window. Now, each asterisk takes at least 30 seconds or longer. I followed the instructions in PeachFacts KnowledgeBase on how to set up Peachtree on a Novell version 5 server; (Files=150 in config.sys, drive is mapped properly, and write behind caching for all drives is Disabled), and none of this helped. Also, our server is not running SQL.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks for your interest.

M. Cooper

[Jacky Tse]

There can be many different reasons. Is it just happened to Peachtree?

Try to check the followings:
- check the network statistics, normal?
- network driver, most up-to-date? how about the settings of the network driver?
- what protocol you're using? is it set correctly?
- any bottlenecks because of the upgrade? what's the hardware configuration of the server?

[Coopfab]

Thank you for your interest.

The slowness is most noticeable with Peachtree, but other programs are affected as well. It takes longer to save files, in Word, Excel, etc., to the server and to print heavily formatted labels and documents.

· Network status is normal
· By network driver we assume you mean the driver for the network cards. They are the latest available and are working properly. The Hub is 10/100 and all cards are operating at 100.
· We're using IPX only
· There are no bottlenecks and the utilization is very low, 3-5%. The server is a Dell Poweredge 1400SC with dual Pentium III 850 processors and a 20 meg 10,000 rev scsi hard drive

Again, thanks for your interest and look forward to any suggestions you have.

Michael Cooper

[Robert Walraven]

Sounds like you need to defragment your systems.

[Jacky Tse]

Configuration looks ok.

A fragmented disk certainly will affect performance.

How about at the client side? "Novell Client for Windows 9x" The most up-to-date version is 3.31 I think.

[Coopfab]

We are running the latest client and will defragment our server HD as soon as I can find a program that works on a network. Win98 defrag. doesn't see the network.

I'll let you know how we make out.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Michael

[Unregistered]

Novell 5.1 does that because of the underlying database engine(Btrieve).Btrieve was first created by Novella dn then sold to Pervasive. Novell stoped incorporating Btrive(or pervasive) until the release of Novel 5.1. Novell 5.1 uses Pervasive 2000 and Ptree Uses Btrieve 6.15 and they are known to conflict.As a test, take ptree off of the server and set up one of the workstations.Designate the orkstation as Peachtree's server.

[Coopfab]

Thanks for the note about btrieve. It's going to be hard to do as you suggest but I will within the next week. In the meantime, what happens if it's a lot faster on the workstation? Are there any remedies to match Peachtree's btrieve with Novell 5.1?

Looking forward to your continued help.

Michael

[Coopfab]

In looking at our btreive module, it is version 7.51.001. Is this Pervasive 2000?

Michael