Slow Transfers with Telefinder?

Rusty Tucker of Spider Island Software responds:  Without knowing the exact details of your system, I can only offer the following bits on insight.


Slow transfer rates are due to:

 general

1- The Server CPU is overloaded.  Maybe too many CPU hogging processes are running with the server.  Eliminate the CPU hogs, or move the server to a CPU that can handle all the load.

2- Disk space is very low, or very fragmented.  Get a new bigger HD or optimize what you've got.


 direct modem connections

1- The modems are connecting at a speed less than their theoretical maximum.  See the modem manufacturer for help on this.

2- Re-transmits are slowing down the tranfers.  This means that the cable or settings are wrong, or the serial port is slow.  Fix the appropriate item.

3- 56K modems are really 33.6 modems when uploading.  Get ISDN.

4- 56K modem are really 33.6 modems, unless connecting to a special digital modem that only ISPs have in a t1 modem bank.   Get ISDN.


 network connections

1- Your pipe is too small.  TCP connections multiplex the available bandwidth among the concurrent users.  If you have 8 users downloading over a 56K connection, that comes out to just 9600 bps each.  Get a faster connection.

2- Your ISPs pipe is too small.  All ISPs "overbook" their avaialable bandwidth. If they overbook too much, and at peak usage times, there is not enough bandwidth to go around.  So even if you're paying for 56K, there may be times you only get 14.4.  Get a new ISP that doesn't overbook as much.

3- The whole internet is overloaded.  Especially the "choke" points like US->Euro and US-Japan.  Forget the Internet and use direct ISDN connections.


Rusty Tucker
Spider Island

P.S. - The Headgap Transfer rates are generally above average.  This is due to the superior Supra modems and the ASCEND to ASCEND Router connections I have to the net.  If you are having slow rates drop me a line and let's optimize your connection.