[NTLUG:Discuss] OT: internet access/download speeds different between os

Thu Feb 21 10:48:40 CST 2002

I imagine this is sort of off topic, but I am stumped.

We use the following operating systems to access the internet:

SGI Irix 6.5.13f (Onyx2, Octane, Indigo2)
RedHat 7.2 (2 different generic platforms)
Apple OS 9.1  (imac, G3 & G4)
Apple OS 8.6  (imac and G3)
Windows NT 4.0
Netgear router/gateway
Extended Systems internet access server

We have 2 T1 circuits.

Okay.  Before we changed service providers, we were getting average download
speeds of around 100 to 120kbps, peaked at around 150kbps.  We would get
that speed on all of our boxes.  Now, we only get these speeds on our
Windows NT boxes and our old Apple imacs running 8.6.  All of our other
boxes are getting an average of 25kbps, and that speed falls off to a stall
during large (10meg or higher) downloads.  If we unhook the entire network
from the router, and just plug in on computer, it makes no difference in the
speeds.

We are displeased.

However, people accessing our ftp site (which runs on linux) from "the
cloud" are getting speeds of 120kbps or better.)

We access the WAN through Cisco 2610 routers that were supplied by our new
service provider.  We have talked to the provider's tech support with no
luck.  They seem to not have a clue.  All they could point to is our
internal network speeds are not set at 10baseT/half duplex.  They seem to
require our entire network to run at that speed.  (Except for the Windows
boxes.)  We can't figure it out.  We have also gone to a web site that
checks connect speeds, and it reports back 1.3Mbps.  It seems that "bursts"
of data, like surfing uncomplicated sites, is fine.  Only when we try to
move moderate amounts of data does things fall apart.

Our new provider supplied us with T1 frame relay (which slipped past us
unknowingly).  Our previous providers were point-to-point, or so we
understand.  That is the only difference there is.  We have not changed any
part of our LAN.

Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks for your time.

Monty

Monty Shinn
Assistant Chief Engineer
Video Post & Transfer
Dallas, Texas
direct: 214-561-7260
main: 214-350-2676
fax: 214-352-1427
email: montys at videopost.com <mailto:montys at videopost.com> 

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