IGEL Awarded the Energy Star Eco-label for IGEL one, UD2 and UD3

12 de Diciembre de 2009
IGEL Thin Clients Offer Significant Power Savings, Shrinking Both Carbon Footprints and IT CostsReading, UK, December 8, 2009 – IGEL Technology, the world’s third largest thin client vendor (2009 by revenue, IDC), today announced its thin client devices have been awarded Energy Star 5.0 certification for environmentally friendly computer equipment. The IGEL one and IGEL Universal Desktop 2 and 3 series have been awarded the Energy Star certification for units with the embedded Linux and Microsoft® Windows® Embedded Standard operating systems.

High Energy Efficiency The Energy Star label confirms that the certified IGEL models use no more than 15W of power in idle mode. In stand-by mode (sleep mode) or when shut off, these units, which can be remotely started over a network connection (wake-on-LAN), must not consume more than 2.7W of power. The entry-level IGEL one model, designed especially for use in SMEs, far exceeds these requirements using only 8.5W at idle.70-270 || 70-642 || 70-640 || 70-293

A Leader in Energy Management IGEL is the only thin client provider with a Linux-based solution offering an energy-saving sleep mode. The unique energy-management system on the Linux devices allows IGEL thin clients to be brought into stand-by mode (suspend to RAM) within seconds and then be fully awakened just as fast. This feature not only saves energy, but also increases user convenience by almost completely eliminating annoying, time-wasting boot-ups.

“The inclusion of our thin clients in the Energy Star product catalog underscores the great significance of thin client computing for the environment and climate protection,” notes Simon Richards, IGEL’s UK General Manager. “The fact that a large portion of our product range now bears the Energy Star label emphasizes our continuing efforts to make thin client computing even more efficient than it already is.”

The UD3 units come Energy Star certified as standard. The IGEL one and UD2 devices can be requested with Energy Star certification at no extra charge. These units are then supplied with the latest energy efficient power supply.

The Energy Star label identifies office equipment that has been shown to be particularly energy efficient. Only the top 25% of a given product group are able to meet these stringent performance guidelines, which are reviewed and revised every two years. The current Energy Star Version 5.0 certifies thin clients for the first time, in addition to other devices such as computers, notebooks, monitors, printers, copiers, multifunction units and external power converters. For more information on the Energy Star program, please go to70-270 || 70-642 || 70-640 || 70-293

12 de Diciembre de 2009

The Cisco training is intended for individuals who want to learn about network switches and routers. Routers join up computer networks via the internet or lines dedicated for that purpose. It’s a good idea that you should start with your CCNA. It’s not advisable to launch directly into the CCNP as it is very advanced – and you should gain some working knowledge before you take this on.

Achieving this qualification will most likely see you working for large commercial ventures who have many locations, but need their computer networks to talk to each other. On the other hand, you might end up joining internet service providers. These jobs are well paid and in demand.

Qualifying up to the CCNA level is all you need at this stage – don’t be pushed into attempting your CCNP straight away. Once you’ve worked for a few years you’ll know if this next level is for you. If it is, you’ll have significantly improved your chances of success – as your experience will help you greatly.

Many men and women presume that the traditional school, college or university system is still the most effective. So why is commercial certification becoming more in demand? With fees and living expenses for university students climbing ever higher, together with the industry’s general opinion that corporate based study most often has much more commercial relevance, we’ve seen a great increase in Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA accredited training paths that provide key skills to an employee at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time. They do this by focusing on the skills that are really needed (alongside a proportionate degree of related knowledge,) as opposed to going into the heightened depths of background ‘padding’ that academic courses are prone to get tied up in – to fill a three or four year course.70-270 || 70-642 || 70-640 || 70-293

When an employer understands what work they need doing, then they just need to look for someone with a specific qualification. Commercial syllabuses are set to meet an exact requirement and do not vary between trainers (in the way that degree courses can).

A service provided by many trainers is a Job Placement Assistance program. It’s intention is to steer you into your first IT role. Don’t get overly impressed with this service – it isn’t unusual for training companies to make it sound harder than it is. At the end of the day, the need for well trained IT people in the United Kingdom is the reason you’ll find a job.

Nevertheless, don’t wait till you’ve qualified before getting your CV updated. As soon as you start studying, 70-270 || 70-642 || 70-640 || 70-293mark down what you’re doing and tell people about it! It’s not uncommon to find that junior support jobs have been offered to students who’re still on their course and haven’t even passed a single exam yet. At the very least this will get you into the ‘maybe’ pile of CV’s – rather than the ‘No’ pile. Generally, you’ll receive quicker results from an independent and specialised local recruitment consultancy than you’ll get from a training company’s recruitment division, because they’ll know the area better.

A good number of people, it seems, conscientiously work through their course materials (for years sometimes), only to give up at the first hurdle when trying to get a job. Sell yourself… Work hard to get in front of employers. Don’t think a job’s just going to jump out in front of you.

A lot of training providers will only provide support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. Find a good quality service with help available at all hours of the day and night (even if it’s early hours on Sunday morning!) You’ll need direct access to tutors, and not a message system as this will slow you down – parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back when it’s convenient for them.

Keep your eyes open for providers that incorporate three or four individual support centres active in different time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to provide a single interface as well as round-the-clock access, when it’s convenient for you, with the minimum of hassle. Seek out a trainer that offers this level of study support. As only true live 24×7 support delivers what is required.

So many training providers are all about the certification, and completely miss why you’re doing this – getting yourself a new job or career. Always begin with the end in mind – don’t make the journey more important than where you want to get to. You could be training for only a year and end up doing a job for a lifetime. Don’t make the error of finding what seems like a very ‘interesting’ program only to spend 20 years doing an unrewarding career!

It’s a good idea to understand what expectations industry may have of you. What particular qualifications you’ll be required to have and how to gain experience. You should also spend a little time assessing how far you’d like to progress your career as often it can control your selection of certifications. Your likely to need help from a professional that can best explain the market you think may suit you, and will be able to provide ‘A day in the life of’ outline of the job being considered. These things are essential because you need to know if you’re barking up the wrong tree.70-270 || 70-642 || 70-640 || 70-293

Discover the Practical Benefits of Microsoft Exchange Hosting

12 de Diciembre de 2009

Companies throughout the world are discovering the advantages of getting managed Microsoft Exchange hosting services. Managed hosting solutions for Exchange Server 2010 can provide tremendous benefits especially for small and medium sized businesses. By outsourcing the hosting solution, you can substantially reduce the upfront costs for establishing your communication platform. The ongoing cost of maintenance will be cheaper also. Most importantly, managed hosting services provide the necessary technical expertise to run Microsoft exchange smoothly. Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 is a cutting edge communication and messaging platform. It is a very powerful solution that is being used by the majority of companies around the world. Microsoft Exchange is packed with lots of productivity features that can optimize your business. Some of its powerful features include file synchronization, contact integration, and efficient calendaring and organizer systems. This messaging platform uses sophisticated technology to interface with mobile devices and smart phones. By using the Exchange platform, your company will certainly enhance its electronic communication systems which could help improve performance. This platform however needs expert administration and maintenance. That is why you will be better off getting a managed Microsoft Exchange hosting service. For small and medium sized companies, running an in-house Exchange Server 2010 is very cost prohibitive. The upfront expense for setting up and establishing Exchange server is close to $10,000. This figure does not include the cost of hiring a server administrator, training of personnel, and the cost of server maintenance. That is why more and more companies are getting the services of managed Microsoft Exchange hosting. It is substantially cheaper to outsource server hosting rather than shoulder the burden of maintaining the platform. Most importantly, the hosting provider has the right expertise to keep your communication platform running 24/7. By outsourcing Microsoft Exchange hosting, your company will enjoy enterprise class messaging platform system at a fraction of the cost. It is not difficult to find providers of Microsoft Exchange hosting service. The challenging part is to find a hosting provider that can give quality services. System security is the first thing that you have to consider when choosing 70-270 || 70-642 || 70-640 || 70-293Exchange Server 2010 hosting provider. The hosting service should also provide 100 percent uptime guarantee so you can avoid severe messaging disruptions. You must also ensure that the hosting service has sophisticated data centers and technical expertise so you can fully maximize Exchange. Most importantly, a hosting provider for Exchange Server should be a Gold Partner of Microsoft. This certification guarantees that the provider is capable of running Exchange. One of the best providers of managed services for Microsoft Exchange is Computer Support of San Diego. This company is a certified gold partner of Microsoft and has plenty of experience in providing hosted solutions for small and larger enterprises. If you get managed hosting services for Exchange, then your IT staff can focus on other critical tasks of your company. Instead of burdening your IT staff in maintaining the smooth operation of Exchange, you can simply outsource the service so that your own personnel can start new IT projects.70-270 || 70-642 || 70-640 || 70-293

Managing and Maintaining a MS Win Server 2003 Environment

9 de Diciembre de 2009

1. You are the network administrator for your company. All network servers run Windows Server 2003.
A member server named Server1 is configured to run shadow copies without a storage limit. Server1 has the disk configuration shown in the following table.
You need to create additional free space on DATA1. You also need to improve the performance of Server1 and ensure that it has sufficient space for shadow copies in the future.
Which two actions should you perform? (Each correct answer presents part of the solution. Choose two.)
A. Delete the shadow copies on DATA1.
B. Delete Backup.bkf on DATA3.
C. In the properties of DATA1, relocate the shadow copies to DATA2.
D. In the properties of DATA1, relocate the shadow copies to DATA3.
E. Delete DATA3 and extend the DATA1 partition to include the space on DATA3.
Answer: AD

2. You are a network administrator for your company. The network consists of a single Active Directory domain.
A user named Mary works in the information technology (IT) security department. Mary is a member of the ITSecurity global group. Mary reports that no one in the ITSecurity global group can access the security log from the console of a computer named Server1.
You need to grant the ITSecurity global group the minimum rights necessary to view the security log on Server1.
How should you modify the local security policy?
A. Assign the Generate security audits user right to the ITSecurity global group.
B. Assign the Manage auditing and security logs user right to the ITSecurity global group.
C. Assign the Allow logon through Terminal Services user right to the ITSecurity global group.
D. Assign the Act as part of the operating system user right to the ITSecurity global group.
Answer: B

3. You are the network administrator for your company. The network originally consists of a single Windows NT 4.0 domain.
You upgrade the domain to a single Active Directory domain. All network servers now run Windows Server 2003, and all client computers run Windows XP Professional.
Your staff provides technical support to the network. They frequently establish Remote Desktop connections with a domain controller named DC1.
You hire 25 new support specialists for your staff. You use Csvde.exe to create Active Directory user accounts for all 25.
A new support specialist named Paul reports that he cannot establish a Remote Desktop connection with DC1. He receives the message shown in the Logon Message exhibit. (Click the Exhibit button.)
You open Gpedit.msc on DC1. You see the display shown in the Security Policy exhibit. (Click the Exhibit button.)
You need to ensure that Paul can establish Remote Desktop connections with DC1.
What should you do?
A. Direct Paul to establish a VPN connection with DC1 before he starts Remote Desktop Connection.
B. Direct Paul to set a password for his user account before he starts Remote Desktop Connection.
C. In the local security policy of DC1, disable the Require strong (Windows 2000 or later) session key setting.
D. In the local security policy of DC1, enable the Disable machine account password changes setting.
Answer: B

4. You are the network administrator for your company. The network consists of a single Active Directory domain. All network servers run Windows Server 2003, and all are members of the domain. All client computers run Windows XP Professional.
Five Web servers host the content for the internal network. Each one runs IIS and has Remote Desktop connections enabled. Web developers are frequently required to update content on the Web servers.
You need to ensure that the Web developers can use Remote Desktop Connection to transfer Web documents from their client computers to the five Web servers.
What should you do?
A. Install the Terminal Server option on all five Web servers. Use Terminal Services Configuration Manager to modify the session directory setting.
B. Install the Terminal Server option on all five Web servers. Use Terminal Services Configuration Manager to create a new Microsoft RDP 5.2 connection.
C. On each Web developer’s client computer, select the Disk Drives check box in the properties of Remote Desktop Connection.
D. On each Web developer’s client computer, select the Allow users to connect remotely to this computer check box in the System Properties dialog box.
Answer: C

5. You are the domain administrator for your company’s Active Directory domain. All client computers run Windows 2000 Professional.
You recently deployed 10 new servers that run Windows Server 2003. You placed the servers in a new organizational unit (OU) named W2K3Servers.
Anne is another network administrator.
You need to configure the appropriate permissions to allow Anne to manage the new servers by using Terminal Services from her client computer. You need to assign Anne only the permissions she needs to perform her job.
What should you do?
A. Add Anne’s user account to the local Power Users group on each server that runs Windows Server 2003.
B. Add Anne’s user account to the Remote Desktop Users group on each server that runs Windows Server 2003.
C. Assign Anne’s user account the Allow – Read and the Allow – Write permissions for the W2K3Servers OU.
D. Configure the Managed By property for the W2K3Servers OU to Anne’s user account.
Answer: B

6. You are a network administrator for your company. All servers run Windows Server 200
You manage a server that functions as a file server. The data volume on the server is mirrored. Each physical disk is on a separate controller. One of the hard disks that contains the data volume fails. You discover that the failure was caused by a faulty SCSI controller. You replace the SCSI controller.
You need to restore the data volume to its previous state. You need to achieve this goal by using the minimum amount of administrative effort.
What should you do?
A. Run the diskpart active command to activate the failed volume.
B. Convert both disks to basic disks, and then restore the data.
C. Break the mirror, and then re-create the mirror.
D. Select a disk in the mirror, and then reactivate the volume.
Answer: D

7. You are the network administrator for your company. The network consists of a single Active Directory domain. All network servers run Windows Server 2003.
You install the Remote Administration tools on a server named Server1, selecting all default settings.
In Internet Explorer, you type https://server1/admin. You receive the following error message:
“HTTP Error 404 – File or directory not found.”
You open IIS Manager and see the configuration shown in the exhibit. (Click the Exhibit button.)
You need to ensure that you can use Internet Explorer to administer Server1.
What should you do?
A. In Internet Explorer, type http://server1:8099.
B. In Internet Explorer, type http://server1.
C. Install the Remote Desktop Web Connection subcomponent of the World Wide Web services.
D. In Internet Explorer, type https://server1.
E. In Internet Explorer, type https://server1:8098.
Answer: E

8. You are the network administrator for your company. The network consists of a single Active Directory domain. All network servers run Windows Server 2003, and all client computers run Windows XP Professional.
A user named Peter uses a client computer named Client1. This computer has a locally attached tape device.
You grant Peter the necessary permissions to perform backups of a member server named Server1. Peter runs the Backup utility on Client1 to back up the files located on Server1.
You need use your client computer to view the most recent backup logs for Server1.
What should you do?
A. Use Notepad to view the contents of the backup report located on Server1.
B. Use Notepad to view the contents of the backup report located on Client1.
C. Use Event Viewer to view the contents of the application log located on Server1.
D. Use Event Viewer to view the contents of the application log located on Client1.
Answer: B

IBM certifications II 000-594 exam

20 de Noviembre de 2009

1. An administrator is tasked with deploying the non-TME event adapter for SNMP for the first time on an AIX server. What should the administrator do first to ensure a successful install?

A. issue tar -xvf /cdrom_mount_point/NON_TME/AIX4-R1/SNMP.tar

B. import tecad_snmp.baroc into the assigned rulebase

C. import tecad_hpov.baroc into the assigned rulebase

D. edit the tecad_snmp.conf file with the current server port connection parameter

Answer: A

2. What are two reasons to shut down the TEC Event Server prior to using the wtdbclear command? (Choose two.)

A. Events that are being processed by the rules engine are deleted.

B. The wtdbclear command exits if the Event Server is running.

C. The wtdbclear command shuts down the Event Server and removes events from the database tables.

D. The wtdbclear command could put a write lock on the event repository so any requests by the dispatch process are queued.

E. The wtdbclear command only clears out events from the disk-based files. It is necessary to cycle the Event Server to clear out events from the rules cache.

Answer: DE

3. Which database table is updated first when TEC is starting?

A. tec_t_isa

B. tec_t_evt_rep

C. tec_t_slots_evt

D. tec_t_evt_rec_log

Answer: A

4. Which option on the Windows adapter filters the Windows event logs prior to adapter processing?

A. Filter

B. PreFilter

C. FirstFilter

D. This option is not available for the Windows adapter.

Answer: B

5. What happens to an adapter’s event handling if Filter mode is set to IN and no filters are specified in the configuration file?

A. No events are forwarded to the Event Server.

B. The events are cached until a filter is specified.

C. All recognized events are forwarded to the Event Server.

D. Only events matching those in the adapter’s .fmt file are sent to the event adapter.

Answer: A

6. Which free form SQL filter creates an event group to filter only Effect events?

A. effect_event = 1

B. cause_date_receptn <> 0

C. effect_event_receptn = 1

D. cause_date_reception > 0

Answer: B

7. Click the Exhibit button.

What happens when the rules engine processes the events in the exhibit?

A. Both events are processed because the classes are different on the events.

B. Both events are processed because the second event’s city does not match the first event’s city.

C. The second event is dropped because the name or the employee number is the same on both events.

D. The second event is dropped because the name and the employee number are the same on both events.

Answer: A

8. What is the result of executing the wrb -crtrb -path /usr/local/Tivoli/ESI ESI command?

A. A new rule base called ESI, with appropriate sub-directories, is created within the /usr/local/Tivoli/ESI/ directory.

B. A new rule base called ESI, with appropriate sub-directories, is created within the /usr/local/Tivoli/ESI/ESI directory.

C. A new rule base called ESI, with appropriate sub-directories, is created within the /usr/local/Tivoli/ESI/rulebase directory.

D. A new rule base called ESI, with appropriate sub-directories, is copied from /usr/local/Tivoli/ESI to $DBDIR/TME/TEC/rb_dir directory.

Answer: A

Backing Up and Restoring Cisco Switch Settings

17 de Noviembre de 2009

Much like with Cisco routers, it’s generally a good idea to back up the configuration of your switches as well. The syntax to copy the configuration of a Catalyst 1900 series to a TFTP server is different than on a router, although it does following a similar “copy from to” format. The example below shows the configuration of a Catalyst 1912 being backed up to a TFTP server at address 192.168.1.31.

Cisco1912#copy nvram tftp://192.168.1.31/config-1912
Configuration upload is successfully completed

In this example, the contents of NVRAM (the configuration file) are copied to a TFTP server at 192.168.1.31, with a filename of config-1912. The command to copy this same configuration file from the TFTP server back to the switch is shown below.

Cisco1912#copy tftp://192.168.1.31/config-1912 nvram
TFTP successfully downloaded configuration file

Unlike with a Cisco router, a Cisco 1900 series switch does not allow you to upload its IOS image to a TFTP server. However, it does allow you to download a new IOS image from a TFTP server. The command to do so is listed below.

Cisco1912#copy tftp://192.168.1.31/cat1900EN_9_00.bin opcode

In this example, the image to be downloaded from the TFTP server is named cat1900EN_9_00.bin. The opcode command is used to instruct the switch to download the file into Flash memory.

Remove Soft Soldier – Perform A Soft Soldier Removal In Minutes

12 de Noviembre de 2009

Look out for Soft Soldier. Looks can be deceiving, it “pretends” to be an antivirus program but it is not. In fact it does the opposite. The rogue program will install a bunch of viruses and infections throughout your system.
Don’t let it stay on your computer. Not only will it slow down your system and mess with your settings, it can also steal private information right off your hard drive.
Before learning to remove the virus you should know how it infiltrates your system. Knowing the source, will help you avert future problems. The most common methods of infection are:
* You installed a fake “video codec” from a multimedia file downloaded off the web or P2P network. Never install codecs from files downloaded off the net.
* Downloading shareware or freeware programs. Be careful you only download things from trusted providers.
* Checking out a malicious website that hijacked your web browser and snuck the virus into your computer. This can happen pretty often without active antivirus protection.
Soft Soldier Removal
To get rid of the virus you need to access various directories and and do the following
1. Delete EXE, BAT, or other process files (example Soft Soldier.exe)
2. Delete DLL and LNK files that are silently operating in the background
3. Delete registry entries that have been infected.
Make sure you delete the entire virus at once. Otherwise these sneaky infections will just regenerate themselves when you reboot.
I only recommend manual removal for folks who have are computer experts. It can be quite challenging and dangerous to remove Soft Soldier if you do not know precisely what you are doing. Remove the wrong files from the registry and you can cause further damage to your system.
What you need is a Soft Soldier removal software. A program that can eliminate the infection automatically with a few clicks of the mouse. Not only have I found software that can remove Soft Soldier, it also offers real time defense against potential threats. You can try a free scan below and see what it comes up with.
Tired of viruses infecting your computer? Want to surf the web with the peace of mind that your computer is safe and secure? Get your free scan from the top virus protection and remove Soft Soldier.

DirectAccess Takes the Place of VPN for Windows 7

11 de Noviembre de 2009
Microsoft has released DirectAccess for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, programs that remotely connect users to their office as if they were right there. Establishing two-way connectivity with the user’s enterprise network, this solution keeps them connected to the office, creating a connection whenever the user’s computer – provided it’s enabled by DirectAccess – is connected to the internet.With the information age evolving at an incredible rate, the needs of an organization adapt accordingly. Increasingly, employees are working from remote locations, the advances in internet technology affording them the ability to work from an off-site location – home, business meeting abroad, etc.

The mobility of our workforce has helped lead to the success of those companies driving our economy, with new technologies permitting the uninterrupted productivity of employees whose presence in the office is no longer a necessary component in the operations of an efficient and profitable enterprise. By 2011, the number of mobile workers is expected to have increased by 30.4 percent (IDC, “Worldwide Mobile Worker Population 2007-2011 Forecast,” Doc #209813, Dec 2007).

While technology has contributed to an outgrowth of wireless communication, with the internet providing the backbone for those gains, corporate security – specifically, firewalls – obstruct the accessibility of those resources which are native to an office. This poses a number of issues, not the least of which being access to the network from those IT professionals tasked with managing the corporation’s network.

In the past, VPN (Virtual Private Network) has been the solution employed for that purpose. However, as any IT professional will tell you, the use of a VPN can prove complicated. VPN requires users to wait for authentication, a process that can see the end user waiting for what has commonly amounted to several minutes. If the connection to the internet fails, the VPN connection will also be lost, requiring the user to repeat the authentication process. With the only available alternatives providing even less functionality and more hurdles to overcome, VPN has become the de facto solution, its issues notwithstanding.

Overcoming the challenges inherent to VPN, DirectAccess immediately creates a bi-directional link between the user’s computer and their office’s network. Using Windows 7, the DirectAccess client detects its connection to a network. The DirectAccess client will then connect to an intranet website designated during the initial configuration of DirectAccess. The process is seamless and automatic. Unlike VPN, which requires authentication with each use, DirectAccess authenticates the computer before the user even attempts to access the network.

Simpler to use than VPN, the efficiency of DirectAccess is a boon to the productivity of an enterprise’s workforce. With a transparent connection to their corporate network, employees will no longer find themselves enduring the bothersome process that has soured many on the use of VPN. Using DirectAccess, the information on their work network – intranet, applications, file-shares – is accessible wherever the employee can access an internet connection for their portable computer, not just from their home connection.

SQL Server 2005: Restoring the backup of a database that uses encryption

5 de Noviembre de 2009

I have addressed this topic in previous threads and comments (here, here, and here, for example), both on this blog and on various forums, but it looks like when you need the answer, it can be hard to dig out. So I’m hoping that by placing these steps in a dedicated post, they will become easier to find.

When you restore a database that uses encryption features, there is only one thing you need to take care off – if the database master key (DbMK) needs a service master key (SMK) encryption, you need to regenerate this encryption. Note that this encryption is made by default when you create the DbMK, but it may be intentionally dropped, if you want tighter control of access to the encrypted data. Anyway, if you did have such SMK encryption for the DbMK, the steps to regenerate it are the following:

OPEN MASTER KEY DECRYPTION BY PASSWORD = ‘password’
ALTER MASTER KEY ADD ENCRYPTION BY SERVICE MASTER KEY
CLOSE MASTER KEY

That’s it – the database encryption features should now work as when the backup was taken. Also note that it doesn’t matter if you restore the database on the server where the backup was taken or elsewhere. The only thing that matters for this procedure is that you know one of the passwords protecting the DbMK (yes, there can be more than one – see this post).

Slow Team Foundation Project Creation or operation? Check your NIC settings

4 de Noviembre de 2009

We had a minor firestorm today as we saw major performance degredation trying to create new Team Projects on pretty speedy server configuration. We all panicked for a while until a few folks remembered we’d seen something like it before and checked the NIC settings…

Basically when the NIC settings on one of the machines doesn’t match the NIC settings on the other, things go badly wrong. So, if one NIC is set to be 100 MBPs full duplex, and another is set to Auto Detect, you end up with one of the NICs queuing up packets while it is hunting for the correct speed. If you have a NIC which invokes the autodetection process frequently, you end up with delayed packets and sometimes timeouts and failovers.

This is not the first time we’ve lost significant time debugging this issue – and it’s a pretty common problem. Dennis Habib found some knowledge base articles that could be useful if you think you might be experiencing similar slowdowns:

I searched around for a while and found an article describing some issues with the ‘auto-sense/auto-detect’ mode on some network adapters, specifically:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/174812/

There’s a good article about how auto-negotiation works (and some warnings that some cards/drivers don’t do it correctly resulting in poor performance) at:

http://www.cites.uiuc.edu/network/autosense.html

Most of the articles I read suggest manually setting this item may be necessary depending on the switches/hubs/NICs in the network environment.

We’ve been hit by this problem several times internally, so I have to assume that people outside of Microsoft might be impacted by this issue too. It’s going to be most obvious when you’re trying to create a Team Project – especially when creating the Sharepoint Portal because this is the most network intensive part of the project creation process. However, it will impact any team foundation operations with significant network traffic – could be publishing work items in Excel (especially pre-Beta 3) or Source Control operations etc.

Bill Essary, our architect, has been doing a lot of work on measuring the limits of our system – which was how we discovered the issue today, and ended up using tools to measure the network bandwidth on each computer (AT, DT, Client) to see if they were roughly as expected. I can’t remember the details of the conversation exactly, but we’re using a gigabit network and were seeing something like 3 MBps performance :-)

If you’re looking for tools to do something similar Bill did a quick hunt here on CNet. We haven’t tested any of these tools, so I can’t vouch for them in any way…