Performance Optimizing Network Shares (235121)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0, when used with:
    • Microsoft Cluster Server
This article was previously published under Q235121

SUMMARY

On high traffic file servers, you can increase file server throughput by partitioning the workload and segmenting the clients by network and file system volume.

By using the following practices, users with high-traffic file servers can increase the file server throughput.
  1. Partition the workload across multiple network segments. This increases file server throughput by increasing network bandwidth, and improved network partitioning.
  2. Partition the workload across multiple file system volumes on network file shares. This reduces file system contention, resulting in better usage of the server resources. Again, the end result is better file server throughput.

MORE INFORMATION

The following example explains how you can use these practices to increase your file server throughput.

A network file server with 1,000 users, who each have been assigned a network file share to store their work and documents, can increase file server throughput by:
  1. Segmenting the clients across multiple network segments; in this case, a customer can have four network segments with the users divided evenly amongst segments.
  2. Distributing the user file shares across different file system volumes; depending on the number of disks and the amount of disk space, this can vary. Dividing the users evenly amongst volumes would limit any contention that could be caused by a single NTFS volume.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/10/2001
Keywords:kbenv kbinfo KB235121
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