[Samba] Profile loading/saving on gigabit network only runs at fast ethernet speeds! Help!

[Adam Williams]

where are you saving the VM at?  My documents?  you can redirect my 
documents as well as most folders under c:\documents and settings\user

Jonathan Bougher wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I could really use some help trying to diagnose a tricky issue within the
> domain
> I have set up.
>
> I am using samba-3.0.28-1.el5_2.1 and openldap-2.3.27-8.el5_2.4 on a server
> running Centos 5.1.
>
> I have everything working properly within the domain, users can log in,
> netlogon
> scripts are run, their profile is loaded, etc.
>
> I have been extremely happy with this software and can't thank the makers
> enough
> - great work!
>
> The issue I am having is with the speed of profile loading/saving. This
> network
> is hosted on a Gigabit Lan - this is a classroom environment where students
> must
> save large files in their profile (virtual machines actually = ~3-4GB per
> profile & will grow...).
>
> I know the best option is to save the work elsewhere, like their mapped home
> directory, but it would be highly inconvenient to copy the VM back and forth
> every time they wanted to use it (although much faster than the logon/logoff
> speeds).
>
> Let me elaborate: I have done speed tests transferring files and directories
> directly to writable shares. I have monitored the network speeds with iptraf
> on
> the server while downloading/uploading a 1 GB or file or large directory on
> the
> relevant interface (there are 4 local interfaces) and these are my
> approximate
> results:
>
> DL from Samba Share: 300,000 - 400,000 kb/s
> UPL to Samba Share: 300,000 - 400,000 kb/s
>
> These speeds are GREAT! I was blown away! -- But then take a look at the
> speeds
> at which the network operates when loading/saving a user's profile while
> logging
> in/out:
>
> Profile Logoff: 50,000 kb/s (a ~3GB profile takes roughly 10 min to load)
> Profile Logon: Not Tested - but observed to take about 10 minutes
>
> So my dilemma is that, while the networking is functioning exceptionally
> well in
> all other areas, it just takes so long to login/logoff! The users need to
> have
> roaming profiles (they do switch machines sometimes) & I would like them to
> be
> able to store a lot of data inside their profile without speed becoming too
> much
> of an issue like it is now.
>
> I have messed around with a few tweaking options in the smb.conf file, but
> they
> have not helped so far. So, I just went back to using TCP_NODELAY. I have
> turned
> off oplocks as well.
>
> I am not sure how to proceed now and I am pretty much taking random stabs in
> the
> dark with this issue, any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
>
> Thank you all,
>
> Jonathan
>