RL> As a final note and not mean to through flames out RL> here but the simple i/o of data stream via sockets RL> is not such a difficult task.
Don't kid yourself, writing bullet-proof, multi-threaded, I/O-intensive software like Imail is NOT a trivial task. Give Ipswitch programmers credit for creating a terrifically robust, feature-rich, easy-to-manage server that (usually) works VERY well, with MILLIONS of users and thousands of satisified administrators! But as Todd, myself, and others have been able to determine, the ONLY app affected with these issues is Imail--and apparently only when ALL these conditions are present: 1. Fast CPU (P4 specific?) 2. Windows 2000 (only) 3. Intel Pro100 and/or Gigabit NIC's 4. Dell (?) Given the speed, cacheing, and processing power of the MoBo, RAM, and NIC's in question, I now suspect it is some bizarre timing-related sockets issue with Imail that's the source of the intermittent unresponsiveness. This kind of bug can be incredibly difficult to track down. Debug builds run slower, and may not be able to duplicate the conditions causing it. >A good starting point for troubleshooting nic problems >would be to 1st ensure that the most updated nic >drivers are installed for your operating system. For >us Dell users it is also a good idea to routinely >check the Dell site for updated/upgraded bios too. This is excellent advice, and in my opinion Dell has the most user-friendly site for verifying that a specific box is up-to-date. I've configured dozens of Dells, and none leave my hands without the latest BIOS flash and updated hardware drivers. (On new OEM boxes, I ALWAYS wipe the drive and install the OS from scratch. It's the only way to ensure a 'spyware-free' box for security-conscious firms.) > There is a massive amount of imformation within the > ipswitch kb's or this lists archives for the tuning > and set up of imail on w2k servers too. Boy, don't I know it! Over the last 3 years, I've read all 780+ of the Imail bulletins. The relevant ones are also in a three-ring binder with the network documentation. (We also run a couple of WS_FTP Server sites. I've read all of those bulletins, too.) :-) A side note: A hearty THANK YOU to Ipswitch for a fast, informative, easy-to-use KB! Boos and hisses to companies like SonicWall and NAI who now make you jump through complex and frustrating login and JavaScript hoops just to do a search! > The difficulties arise when that 'pure laboratory > grade stream' gets slammed with DDos, ping floods, > icmp slams and other non essential protocols trying > to share the path. Also very true. But the frustrating thing here is that glitchy WebMail performance often occured in an isolated lab environment too, with just ONE user logged on, and no other traffic on the wire. > gets slammed with DDos, ping floods, icmp slams Yikes! If you don't have it already, you may want to consider a good SPI firewall with a DMZ to block all that nastiness from getting to your mail server in the first place! :) Regards, Dev -------------- Dev Anand, MCSE,CCNA,A+ Network Manager Biomorphic VLSI, Inc. Westlake Village, CA 91362 dev_at_biomorphic_dot_com pcpro_at_vcnet_dot_com Friday, December 13, 2002, 6:25:48 PM, you wrote: RL> Here's an interesting article from toms hardware: RL> http://www6.tomshardware.com/network/20010820/nic-08.html which they have RL> done some test of various nics. I believe that Dell based servers, with the RL> intel nic's, all have had options to upgrade the intel drivers. It was my RL> understanding that the intel nic chipsets were off loading tasks faster than RL> the older Dell's could keep up with. I also think that Intel has driver RL> updates to fix/patch many of these concerns. I personally, with much RL> supportive information, prefer to us 3Com nics for servers and business RL> based workstations. I have had more problems with 'drivers' for most nic RL> cards either 3com, Intel, linksys, d-link, etc. than any other 'hardware' RL> related nic problem. A good starting point for troubleshooting nic problems RL> would be to 1st ensure that the most updated nic drivers are installed for RL> your operating system. For us Dell users it is also a good idea to RL> routinely check the Dell site for updated/upgraded bios too. I had updated RL> a dell server from A05 to A11 yesterday and it solved A Lot of network RL> problems. A good 'fine' tuning of your w2k server is also essential to it's RL> performance or failure. w2k will run 'out of the box' but you should take RL> the time to properly set it up and 'tune' it for what it's being used for. RL> There are many resources available for tuning a w2k server here are some: RL> www.regedit.com www.is-it-true.org www.pureperformance.com RL> www.speedguide.net and many many others. There is a massive amount of RL> imformation within the ipswitch kb's or this lists archives for the tuning RL> and set up of imail on w2k servers too. RL> As a final note and not mean to through flames out here but the simple i/o RL> of data stream via sockets is not such a difficult task. The difficulties RL> arise when that 'pure laboratory grade stream' gets slammed with DDos, ping RL> floods, icmp slams and other non essential protocols trying to share the RL> path. Huh.. today we had a company that didn't understand why web ramp with RL> 2 phone lines wasn't enough to support his business.. so the journey RL> begins.. RL> ~Rick RL> ----- Original Message ----- RL> From: "Dev" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> RL> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> RL> Sent: Friday, December 13, 2002 6:19 PM - SATCOM RL> Subject: Re: [IMail Forum] FIXED! Imail SLOW When Running On Fast W2K RL> Hardware >> >> Wednesday, December 11, 2002, 2:17 PM, Joseph Mann >> (Ipswitch) wrote with a straight face: >> >> > As you probably are aware I just wanted to mention >> > that IMail doesn't interact directly with hardware. >> >> You're kidding, right? Maybe in an MS Press book it >> doesn't interact with hardware. In real life, software >> breaks when it is fed the unanticipated--even through a >> driver and Hardware Abstraction Layer! >> >> A very simple example: Not too long ago, some Win32 >> apps began having their installation routines bomb. >> Why? Because of TOO MUCH disk free space being reported >> back by the driver on new large capacity disks (causing >> an overflow condition). That installer software >> "doesn't directly interact with the hardware" either, >> but a bigger harddisk than the programmers ever >> imagined possible broke it just the same. >> >> Coding for unanticipated conditions has always been a >> challenge. How many remember programs that were >> hard-wired to install and run only on the C: drive? >> Heck, how many remember the timing loops used to >> control execution speed in some 8088 DOS programs, and >> that those programs became instantly unusable when run >> on a 386? >> >> Look, I really like Imail's administrative simplicity >> and functional elegance. That's why--when wearing my >> consultant hat--I've recommended it to many clients. >> >> But with all due respect, the userbase experience here >> is clear: Imail has issues running on some popular >> server hardware. If not, how is it that dozens of other >> commercial mail daemons, and Win2K itself, work >> absolutely flawlessly with these allegedly "faulty >> buffering" NICs? >> >> My intuition tells me that Imail probably has an aging >> core codebase that is in need of a rewrite for today's >> realities. Loyal supporters like me hope you are hard >> it work on it. >> >> In the meantime, perhaps Ipswitch programmers could >> check if any of the user-tweakable Intel NIC driver >> settings would help Imail function more reliably. >> >> Several posters here have expended a lot of time and >> effort to help define and narrow the problem. Now get >> to work and FIX IT so I can continue recommending Imail >> solutions to outside clients! :) >> >> >> Regards, >> >> Dev >> >> -------------- >> Dev Anand, MCSE,CCNA,A+ >> Network Manager >> Biomorphic VLSI, Inc. >> Westlake Village, CA 91362 >> dev_at_biomorphic_dot_com >> pcpro_at_vcnet_dot_com >> To Unsubscribe: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html List Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ Knowledge Base/FAQ: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/IMail/
