Large Files slowing network

[tebbisch]

Greetings from Malaysia! I have some questions about restructuring a network at a school. There are 750 students and 100 faculty, server access has been slow in past weeks. User data is stored on one Xserve, users use LDAP when logging onto the school network. Logon has become slow in the past few weeks (anywhere up to 15 mins), any ideas on how to track down the problem?
Students use iMovie to work on projects - large files are eating up bandwidth, any ideas on how to store these (preferably not locally) so that they can be accessed in two computer labs? Would setting up a NAS connected via a managed switch help? Is using a SAN an option?

Any advice much appreciated

 

[woststr]

Salve tebbisch,

What was done about QoS (Quality of Service)? Even if you have a lot of network traffic, you should be able to priorize by TOS, proto and port used, src/dest IP address, TCP ACKs. Your network infra-structure may need attention, perhaps some managed switchs like the new enterasys models.

It helps a lot if you take a tcpdump to "see" what is going on your network.
Could we presume no virus/trojan activities?

If you are sure iMovie large files are eating up bw, this traffic should get marked and queued, controlling the servers output. A firewall/router* could isolate/intercept/mark all traffic between your students/intranet and your servers, so QoS is in scene.

*): if this firewall stops, everything stops, so have a backup one, or 2 or more firewalls with CARP ;-)