[OPLINTECH] Internet Problems

[Bob Neeper]

Not an expert but..

As resetting the browser sometimes fixes it I would think it's pc related.
Some things to check follow.
They may not help but shouldn't hurt and may provide a clue

Is anti-virus up-to-date and a recent scan performed.
Ditto for spyware. We use Spybot. scan & immunize

Only have one virus scanner active.

Check windows task manager ~ Performance for total commit, vs. physical
memory.
If you don't have enough memory there will be a lot of file swapping to the
drive.

See if the cpu is getting slammed.
Sort Process's by CPU to check for a hog.

Don't run so many user started applications that they hog the CPU

Turn off un-needed services via  Services and Applications
 (UPS control,  Fax Service, etc.)

Check to see when the anti-virus is set for a full scan.
Once a week may be enough
Then set for scan on access.
Probably could set to ignore certain dir's or files or network.
Symantec seems to uses a lot of resources during scans.

Clean up the pc. Temp dir's, Windows '$xxx' files (if you don't plan to back
out updates).
Clean up the browser cache and history
Defrag the disk. Chkdsk or Spinrite it.
Make sure the firewall is on. A remote firewall is nice also.

Verify MS security updates are up-to-date.



R. W. (Bob) Neeper     Cell: (740)-407-3572
Community Library
44 Burrer Dr.
Sunbury, Oh 43074
Tel:  (740)-965-3901

-----Original Message-----
From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org]On
Behalf Of shivelri at oplin.org
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 5:52 PM
To: oplintech at oplin.org
Subject: [OPLINTECH] Internet Problems


Ok, here goes. I work for a small library in Greenville Ohio, we are
having a problem with our Internet since moving into our temporary
location. The problem is that occasionally when using the Internet the
browser seems to lose connection and no longer can navigate to pages. It
is important to note that some of these computers are running an RDP for
our remotely hosted catalog, the RDP still will work when this happens
on them. The remedy to this problem is normally to reset the connect via
restart or repair connection, some times all it takes is closing the
browser and re-opening it. These problems are sporadic making them
extremely a pain in the butt. It's as though only the application layer
of the connection is effected.

Solutions I have tried:
I have replaced the previous switch with a new one (needed to do this
anyway it was old and I think was hit by a power surge).
I have checked all the CAT5e cables with a cable tester, they were fine.
I have had OPLIN run a usage test for me, we are not using that much of
our bandwith.
The only thing effected systems have in common program wise is the OS,
MS Windows XP.
Checked the switch, no restrictive setting are set there.
Also check to make sure there was no Cables running against florescent
light fixtures, there aren't.

If you have any ideas I would love to hear them.

PS
A thought just accrued to me, that when we first came into this building
we had a similar problem with our wireless connections. To solve the
problem I upped the transmitting frequency of the wireless router, it
fixed the problem. I assumed that a satellite dish or other such device
was causing the interference. Could this also be the case with the wired
connection? If so what can I do about that?

--
Richard Shively
IT/Webmaster