Architek2008

Q: Slow Connection to Yosemite Server

Hi guys,

 

Im running a small architectural office, which is currently experiencing slow connections to our local server, the initial connection will take at least 2 minutes and sometimes up to 5 minutes.

Once the server is connected and all mapped out it is generally ok.

However we previously did not experience this lag when running on OS X 10.9 (Mavericks Server).


The lag has occurred after upgrading the server to a new Mac Mini which came preinstalled with Yosemite, and thus was a complete new server (not upgraded, and not migrated from the old server using time machine). And leaves us with no option to downgrade software.

 

The office specs are as follows:-

OSX 10.10.1. Server Version 4, Server is running on a new Mac Mini (Late 2014) 2.6Ghz 8gb. 1TB.

Cat 6 cabling throughout the whole office.

Netgear switch (GS724T).
Approximately 10x 27” iMacs ranging from 2010 -2014 models on OS 10.9 (1 on OS 10.10). All users are experiencing the same issue.

The storage of all files on the server is approximately 200gb.

 

We are not using the server for anything but file sharing locally, and have unable all of the file sharing options other than file sharing.

The server is telling us we are connecting using smb.

 

Any advice on connection speeds will be greatly appreciated.

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), Server 4

Posted on Jan 12, 2015 5:10 PM

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Q: Slow Connection to Yosemite Server

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  • by Architek2008,

    Architek2008 Architek2008 Jan 13, 2015 5:11 PM in response to Architek2008
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 13, 2015 5:11 PM in response to Architek2008

    We are now experimenting by turning off 'File Sharing' on each of the computers on our network.

    Apple in Menu Help advised that the Dock could be used to hold a 'shortcut' but this still has the same problem of taking too long to mount.

  • by Architek2008,

    Architek2008 Architek2008 Jan 14, 2015 6:26 PM in response to Architek2008
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 14, 2015 6:26 PM in response to Architek2008

    We have now added the server as a users login item - so that the server is generally loaded and ready to be used by the time the computer is working.

    However, the connection still lags.. and this problem still persists.

     

    i'd be interesting in hearing if anyone else is experiencing these issues, and the steps you might be taking to resolve the issue.

    Or even anyones else suggestions on the matter?

  • by buckster,

    buckster buckster Jan 15, 2015 7:47 AM in response to Architek2008
    Level 4 (2,814 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 15, 2015 7:47 AM in response to Architek2008

    Sounds to me like a DNS problem.

     

    Do you have an internal DNS server? Is that DNS server the only DNS server configured on the clients?

     

    If the clients need to wrok through several DNS servers before finding the correct address this could cause this problem.

     

    Also, you might try flushing the DNS cache on a client to see if that helps OS X: How to reset the DNS cache - Apple Support

     

    b.

  • by jepping,

    jepping jepping Jan 15, 2015 11:53 AM in response to buckster
    Level 2 (430 points)
    Jan 15, 2015 11:53 AM in response to buckster

    If all clients get a DHCP lease with a wrong DNS setup, then it does take a while to get a connection.

     

    What DNS address does the server have? And what DHCP/DNS settings do the iMacs get?

     

    Jeffrey

  • by Architek2008,

    Architek2008 Architek2008 Jan 20, 2015 12:00 AM in response to jepping
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 20, 2015 12:00 AM in response to jepping

    Hi Jepping.

    Sorry for delay, have been trying anything and everything to get this working....

     

    The Cable modem gets the dans servers from the Telstra NSW Cable service Search Domain ns.bigpond.net.au and with dns server  192.168.0.1

    Cheers David

  • by Architek2008,

    Architek2008 Architek2008 Jan 20, 2015 12:02 AM in response to Architek2008
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 20, 2015 12:02 AM in response to Architek2008

    The Cable modem is working with DNS Server numbers:

    61.9.194.49

    61.9.195.193

     

    Cheers David

  • by jepping,

    jepping jepping Jan 20, 2015 4:48 AM in response to Architek2008
    Level 2 (430 points)
    Jan 20, 2015 4:48 AM in response to Architek2008

    So it seems that all clients connect to a modem with DNS settings that go to the internet directly.

    You should change the DNS settings in the Cable modem, when possible, so that the first DNS address in those DNS settings is the local server.

    Then in the server you can setup DNS and provide both addresses: 61.9.194.49, 61.9.195.193 as forwarding servers.


    So clients ask all DNS related questions to your server first, so the local connection should improve drastically. Also using the server direct IP address should work just as good, but when you want to add features to your server later on, a good DNS setup is key.


    If changing DNS is not an option, another router or an Airport Extreme acting as a router would be needed to create this setup.

    Or setup DHCP on your yosemite server and disable DHCP in your router.

    Goodluck


    Jeffrey

  • by HC2010,

    HC2010 HC2010 Apr 20, 2015 5:14 PM in response to Architek2008
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 20, 2015 5:14 PM in response to Architek2008

    Not sure if you still need help.

    Firstly I would check all basic connections, i.e. replace ethernet cable etc.

     

    Failing that, I have seen this issue before. I have run a number of mac minis as servers over the last 4 or so years.

     

    Ok 2 problems I have seen.

    1. The airport or wireless connection somehow messes with the wired connection.

    You can set a service order in network preferences, however even though Ethernet connection was above Wifi, it still caused a few issues.

     

    Try: Turn Wifi off so that only the Ethernet connection is active. (on the server, however if some clients also use a ethernet connection as well rather than just wifi then on the client too.)

     

    2. The internal ethernet network port might be dodgy. I have seen this on 2 Mac Minis.

    This one is a strange one as it will connect up and work intermitantly, but then it goes off and it drives you nuts.

     

    Solution: Get an Apple Thunderbolt to Ethernet adaptor and use that to by pass the internal network port. I have run one server like this for over 2 years now without any problem.

    Good luck. These type of problems are so frustrating!

  • by jlgtx,

    jlgtx jlgtx Jun 1, 2015 12:48 PM in response to Architek2008
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2015 12:48 PM in response to Architek2008

    On the mini, are the user accounts "Local Users" or "Local Network Users"? IOW, are you using the OpenDirectory service on the mini (in the "Advanced" section of Server.app), or are all the users listed in the "Users & Groups" system preferences?

     

    I ask because I recently moved ~350 users out of OpenDirectory and made them all Local Users, because OpenDirectory tends to get hosed during upgrades and I've been bitten by that one too many times. But once I made this switch, authentication slowed down radically, across the board. Every service is slow to authenticate--file sharing, mail, VPN, everything.

  • by stevenboyce,

    stevenboyce stevenboyce Jul 30, 2015 7:51 AM in response to Architek2008
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 30, 2015 7:51 AM in response to Architek2008

    I'm having intermittent connection issues, i have 8 iMacs connecting to a mac mini running OSX version 4 all on Yosemite 10.10.1

     

    We don't have issues connecting but every now and then the connection runs really slowly, the files take ages to open. I have turned off wifi on all machines, i have turned off spotlight on the mini and i have changed the ethernet lead. We're running cat6 throughout.

     

    All users are setup with accounts, including the admin account on mini. We're not using open directory. DHCP and DNS are turned off.

     

    I'm at the end of my tether and would really appreciate some help.

     

    many thanks

     

    Steve

  • by alan berrigan,

    alan berrigan alan berrigan Aug 4, 2015 6:30 AM in response to stevenboyce
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Aug 4, 2015 6:30 AM in response to stevenboyce

    I've two different customer sites reporting issues the same as Steve's. New Mac Mini's running only File Sharing on Yosemite server. Intermittently throughout the day connected clients experience slow connections. A restart of the server temporarily resolves issue. Initally I suspected a network cabling fault but I've ruled this out. I've asked both sites to connect via WI-FI to see if that makes a difference, I wait the results. Again like Steve we're not using open directory, DHCP and DNS off, so it's quite a simple config yet this problem occurs.

     

    Help required

     

    Alan

  • by the__fox,

    the__fox the__fox Sep 24, 2015 12:13 PM in response to alan berrigan
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 24, 2015 12:13 PM in response to alan berrigan

    Anyone solve this issue? We're having the same problem as Steve and Alan in our 12-person ad agency. Upgraded a trash can Mac Pro to Yosemite and now client connections randomly slow to a crawl throughout the day.

  • by alan berrigan,

    alan berrigan alan berrigan Sep 25, 2015 3:26 AM in response to the__fox
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Sep 25, 2015 3:26 AM in response to the__fox

    I've turned off share over SMB and for the past week I've had no complaints from either of the two sites.  Fingers crossed.