Date: March 27, 2003 Bulletin Number: Subject: Sluggish Performance on DocSTAR v3.x Systems Supersedes: None

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1 Date: March 27, 2003 Bulletin Number: 6025 Subject: Sluggish Performance on DocSTAR v3.x Systems Supersedes: None The following Service Bulletin should be copied and distributed to all technicians and inserted into your service bulletin binder. Importance: Normal This Information Applies to: All Series 3 DocSTAR Systems and systems upgraded to DocSTAR v3.x Summary: There have been several reports of DocSTAR v3.x Host systems performing sluggishly while moving between screens or performing certain actions within DocSTAR. This sluggishness often occurs when database calls are made to the DocSTAR database. There are several network and system configurations that can produce this type of behavior. This bulletin will describe several optimizations you can perform to alleviate sluggish performance. Details: Symptoms: DocSTAR Host system responds sluggishly moving between screens or seems to take an extraordinarily long time to file documents. The sluggishness may only happen at peak database access times such as filing a large number of documents. Customer Impact: Customer may notice sluggish response when switching between screens or a noticeable slowdown when filing large numbers of documents as opposed to filing a few documents at offpeak times, when it seems normal. Cause: There are various network settings and local Database access settings that can slow the database access speed, this varies per specific environment that the DocSTAR Host is integrated into. Recommended Course of Action: The following sections outline multiple optimization techniques that can improve Database access speed. Either one of these modifications individually or in some combination can provide optimum performance. Please read and understand each of the modifications as they are applied. The DocSTAR provided utility, DSNETINF.EXE will be very instrumental in determining the best combination of techniques for a particular situation. Please note: Some of these techniques can actually reduce performance in certain situations, not every technique listed in this bulletin needs to be applied to improve performance. Testing should be performed after each modification to determine its impact on performance. DSNETINF.EXE Network information Utility Run the DSNETINF.EXE utility on the Host system to get a benchmark database access speed. This utility is found in the C:\DOCSTAR\TECHDISK folder. Run the simple test, then run the speed test this will provide benchmark numbers for the IP test and the DB test or fail altogether rerun this speed test after making each of the changes outlined in this bulletin so that changes in the database connection speed can be observed. The combination of settings that produce the best DB access results should be retained for optimum performance. The DSNETINF.EXE utility attempts to connect to the host share 1000 times and it attempts to connect to the database 1000 times. The utility then reports the amount of time it averaged over the 1000 attempts. DB Access speeds of 20 seconds or less are considered good (the lower the better). DB access DocSTAR National Service Page 1 of 6 SVCBS6025

2 speeds of 20 seconds or greater can lead to sluggish performance or inability to connect at all. DB access speeds of 60 seconds or greater are reported as a failure by the utility. When the utility is run, a screen similar to the one below will appear. Client SQL Network Configuration Utility 1. Launch the Client SQL Network Configuration Utility on the Host, this utility is in the C:\DOCSTAR\TECHDISK folder. 2. Verify that there are 4 tabs across the top of the window (General, Alias, DB-Library Options, Network Libraries) if there are only 2 tabs then MDAC 2.6 will need to be installed first. To install MDAC 2.6, go to the C:\DOCSTAR\DATABASE\SETUP\MDAC folder and run mdac_typ 2.6.exe. After installing MDAC 2.6, reboot the system and continue with the following steps. 3. Select the General Tab and check which protocols are enabled. There may be one, multiple, or no protocols listed by default. At this point, selecting TCP/IP, Named Pipes, or Multiprotocol may be the optimum selection for the environment. However, testing (with DSNETINF.EXE), after selecting one at a time for use and applying the change will help determine the optimum setting. DocSTAR National Service Page 2 of 6 SVCBS6025

3 4. Select the Alias tab and if there is an Alias listed, select edit to write down the settings. After recording the settings remove the alias from the list and test this modification along with the modification made above. If the DB access speed improves, then retain the setting. If the DB access speed degrades, recreate the Alias by adding it and setting the parameters noted before removing it. IP Address Configuration It is strongly recommended that the Network Administrator be involved for this procedure. This will help ensure that you have all of the configurations set correctly for their network. 1. Before starting record the current IP address configuration. Launch a command prompt window (by selecting Start Menu\Run, type CMD and press ENTER). Type in the following command: C:\ipconfig /all Among the results, the following will be displayed: a. IP Address b. Subnet Mask c. Default Gateway d. DNS Server (location of the primary DNS server should be in the LAN, if the primary DNS server is located at an ISP or outside of the LAN this will also slow down performance) e. DHCP Server (If one is assigned) DocSTAR National Service Page 3 of 6 SVCBS6025

4 The IP Configuration window will look similar to the one pictured below: How to set the IP address: 1. From the Windows desktop, right-click on My Network Places. 2. Left-click Properties. 3. Double-click on Local Area Connection. 4. Left click on the Properties button 5. Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). 6. Click on the Properties button. 7. Select Use the following IP address. DocSTAR National Service Page 4 of 6 SVCBS6025

5 Changes to the DSHOST.INI file 1. Open the DSHOST.INI file with notepad. DSHOST.INI is located in the C:\WINNT directory. 2. Modify the Host= line to read the IP address of the DocSTAR Host rather than the name. DocSTAR National Service Page 5 of 6 SVCBS6025

6 (Example) Host=DOCSTAR Host= Modify the Connect= line to read the IP address of the DocSTAR Host rather than the name. (Example) Connect=Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Server=DOCSTAR;Database=DOCSTAR Connect=Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Server= ;Database=DOCSTAR 4. After completing modifications to the DSHOST.INI, restart the Host Service from the administration program and test the modifications. More Information: For additional clarification, assistance, or if sluggish performance persists even after following these steps, please contact DocSTAR Technical Support. DocSTAR National Service Page 6 of 6 SVCBS6025