Performance problems

[Andrew McRobert]

hi all

I'm having problems with the performance of my Samba server here @ work. I
would like to switch all my users (say 20-25) to the Samba box as a
centralised file server. However, the response time of the server is too
slow for me to justify the switch at present. For example, opening an MS
Word document from the server takes about 30-60 secs (for a very moderately
sized document).

I was hoping that someone might know why the server is so slow, and perhaps
have some tips on how to improve its performance. I've included my smb.conf
file for reference. Many thanks.

-------------------------------------------------
# Samba config file created using SWAT
# from [My Desktop Computer's IP]
# Date: 2000/05/29 11:49:51

# Global parameters
[global]
	coding system =
	client code page = 850
	workgroup = LAW
	netbios name = LAWPC34
	netbios aliases =
	netbios scope =
	server string = %h server (Samba %v)
	interfaces = eth0
	bind interfaces only = No
	security = DOMAIN
	encrypt passwords = Yes
	update encrypted = No
	allow trusted domains = Yes
	hosts equiv =
	min password length = 5
	map to guest = Never
	null passwords = Yes
	password server = [password server's IP is specified here]
	smb passwd file = /etc/samba/smbpasswd
	root directory = /
	passwd program = /bin/passwd
	passwd chat = *Enter*new*UNIX*password* %n\n *Retype*new*UNIX*password*
%n\n *
	passwd chat debug = Yes
	username map = /etc/samba/usermap
	password level = 0
	username level = 0
	unix password sync = Yes
	restrict anonymous = No
	use rhosts = No
	debug level = 1
	syslog = 1
	syslog only = No
	log file =
	max log size = 5000
	debug timestamp = Yes
	debug hires timestamp = No
	debug pid = No
	debug uid = No
	protocol = NT1
	read bmpx = No
	read raw = Yes
	write raw = Yes
	nt smb support = Yes
	nt pipe support = Yes
	nt acl support = Yes
	announce version = 4.2
	announce as = NT
	max mux = 50
	max xmit = 65535
	name resolve order = lmhosts host wins bcast
	max ttl = 259200
	max wins ttl = 518400
	min wins ttl = 21600
	time server = No
	change notify timeout = 60
	deadtime = 0
	getwd cache = Yes
	keepalive = 300
	lpq cache time = 10
	max disk size = 0
	max open files = 10000
	read prediction = No
	read size = 16384
	shared mem size = 1048576
	socket options = TCP_NODELAY
	stat cache size = 50
	load printers = Yes
	printcap name = /etc/printcap
	printer driver file = /etc/samba/printers.def
	strip dot = No
	character set =
	mangled stack = 50
	stat cache = Yes
	domain groups =
	domain admin group =
	domain guest group =
	domain admin users =
	domain guest users =
	machine password timeout = 604800
	add user script =
	delete user script =
	logon script =
	logon path = \\%N\%U\profile
	logon drive =
	logon home = \\%N\%U
	domain logons = No
	os level = 20
	lm announce = Auto
	lm interval = 60
	preferred master = No
	local master = Yes
	domain master = No
	browse list = Yes
	dns proxy = Yes
	wins proxy = No
	wins server = [WINS server IP is specified]
	wins support = No
	wins hook =
	kernel oplocks = Yes
	ole locking compatibility = Yes
	oplock break wait time = 10
	smbrun = /usr/bin/smbrun
	config file =
	auto services =
	lock directory = /var/samba
	utmp directory =
	wtmp directory =
	utmp hostname = %m
	utmp consolidate = No
	default service =
	message command =
	dfree command =
	valid chars =
	remote announce =
	remote browse sync =
	socket address = 0.0.0.0
	homedir map =
	time offset = 0
	unix realname = No
	NIS homedir = No
	source environment =
	panic action =
	comment =
	path =
	revalidate = No
	username =
	guest account =
	invalid users =
	valid users =
	admin users = mcrobert
	read list =
	write list =
	force user =
	force group =
	writeable = No
	create mask = 0744
	force create mode = 00
	security mask = -1
	force security mode = -1
	directory mask = 0755
	force directory mode = 00
	directory security mask = -1
	force directory security mode = -1
	inherit permissions = No
	guest only = No
	guest ok = No
	only user = No
	hosts allow =
	hosts deny =
	status = Yes
	max connections = 0
	min print space = 0
	strict sync = No
	sync always = No
	write cache size = 0
	printable = No
	postscript = No
	printing = bsd
	print command = lpr -r -P%p %s
	lpq command = lpq -P%p
	lprm command = lprm -P%p %j
	lppause command =
	lpresume command =
	queuepause command =
	queueresume command =
	printer =
	printer driver = NULL
	printer driver location =
	default case = lower
	case sensitive = No
	preserve case = Yes
	short preserve case = Yes
	mangle case = No
	mangling char = ~
	hide dot files = Yes
	delete veto files = No
	veto files =
	hide files =
	veto oplock files =
	map system = No
	map hidden = No
	map archive = Yes
	mangled names = Yes
	mangled map =
	browseable = Yes
	blocking locks = Yes
	fake oplocks = No
	locking = Yes
	utmp = No
	oplocks = Yes
	level2 oplocks = No
	oplock contention limit = 2
	strict locking = No
	share modes = Yes
	copy =
	include =
	preexec =
	preexec close = No
	postexec =
	root preexec =
	root preexec close = No
	root postexec =
	available = Yes
	volume =
	fstype = NTFS
	set directory = No
	wide links = Yes
	follow symlinks = Yes
	dont descend =
	magic script =
	magic output =
	delete readonly = No
	dos filetimes = No
	dos filetime resolution = No
	fake directory create times = No

[users]
	comment = Law Staff Home Directories
	path = /sdb/users
	valid users = @lawstaff
	writeable = Yes


-------------------------------------------------
Andrew McRobert LLB B.Sc(Comp. Sci)
IT Officer, School of Law
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY
Ph: 9360 6479
Fax: 9310 6671
e-mail: mcrobert at central.murdoch.edu.au