Method to optimize remote desktop performance and reduce server load.

[Dolke]

Hi guys,

I would take a minute to write our current network configuration:

We have several PCs in the company and those are distributed on 3 physically separate locations.
2 retails stores and 3rd location is our HQ office.

In each store we have a PC that runs windows XP SP3 x86.

In our HQ we have 6 PCs most of which are running windows 7 professional x86, but we also have one that runs x64 as well as one running older XP SP3.

All these PCs are part of hamachi VPN network and in addition, PCs in our HQ are connected via LAN.

One PC in our HQ is a server PC and it has ability to receive concurrent RDCs.
Each week day (for almost 12h) both retail stores are connected to this server and use its resources and yet there is a employee working on that same server on his user account simultaneously.

Even though server is quite powerful machine (i7 processor) its quite loaded when all users are working on it especially when some excel computing is done or similar. Problem is server runs on x86 platform so it has only 4 gb of DDR3 ram (of which 3 gb is available) and reason for that is due limitation of our ERP software which only operates under 32bit architecture.

From all above you noticed that I dont have room for RAM upgrade.
Im also using one 8gb flash drive and windows 7 ReadyBoost feature but effect of that is most likely non.

My question is how can I optimize RDC to be lighter, so some programs are not opened when user from our retails stores opens his RDC towards the server? How can I disable certain programs for retail store users but our colleague from the HQ can still have these active on his user account?

Any thoughts, ideas and suggestions are highly appreciated.

Thanks
Dean

 

[gregrocker]

The best thing you can do for performance besides upgrading the RAM if you can find a way to run 64 bit, is to turn off absolutely everything from starting with Windows that doesn't need to be doing so. On most consumer rigs this means everything except the AV, although some have sync, gadgets, stickies, etc they want.

Otherwise there are other optimizations here including one I use on all 4gb RAM 32 bit installs to edit animation, sliding, fading, dragging intact, and selection rectangle from Visual Effects to also reduce RAM load: Optimize Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums.

In your case having corei7 with 4gb RAM has got to be a huge mismatch. If you watch the Resource Monitor under load you will see what I mean.

 

[Dolke]

Thanks for replaying.

For now, there is no way I can switch to x64. Reason is quite simple, our business application which we use on a daily basis is not running under x64 os. There is x64 bit version though but they are asking we pay for additional x64 licence which is the something I cant afford at the moment.

When you said that we can optimize windows by disabling some gadgets, apps and visual effects do you mean optimizing
the main account or accounts which are used by remote users who are connecting remotely via RDC, or both?

Thank you for the link I will certainly check it out.

If you have some other suggestions for me go for it
For example, how to reduce the size of the RAM that windows 7 is reserving and which is not user available?
Right now we only have around 3 GB available. On my laptop for example I have 3.86 GB available for user applications which is more acceptable then the server case.

Thanks
Dean

 

[gregrocker]

Again, the best optimizations I can recommend is turning off everything that doesn't need to start with Windows, and editing Visual Effects as shown in that tutorial but limiting to the ones I mentioned to avoid really ugly Win2000 graphics if too much is unchecked.

Others may have better suggestions. We are mainly a consumer forums here but we do have some IT pro volunteers.

You can still use a 64 bit OS even if all programs don't run in 64 bit since it will install those programs to a 32bit Program File, but otherwise they will run fine while the rest of the system will be unleashed to use more RAM.

 

[Dolke]

gregrocker, thanks again.

So if I do this under main account which has administrator privileges changes should be applied to all other user accounts right?

Although I'm familiar with 32bit applications working under x64, program vendor is asking us to apply some new licence file and in order to do that we need to pay for it... believe me, if I could afford such an upgrade atm I would.

Its probably trick by program manufacturer (local company here in Serbia) in order to buy new licences even though it would work fine as is...

Also another quite big problem is fact that we would need to make a new, clean install of the x64 windows even if we had new licence as there is no upgrade available when switching from x86 to x64 windows 7.

I get headache just from thinking about that

 

[gregrocker]

You can reactivate 64 bit Win7 with the same OS license used for 32 bit, and vice versa. It does require doing a Clean Reinstall Windows 7 .

Yes, you should be able to apply the optimizations as Admin and have them apply across all accounts. But check to be sure.

 

[Dolke]

Great info about the licence. I might have knew that but like you reminded me.

 

[Dolke]

Hi,

I would like to reopen this topic as I haven't learned anything about 2nd problem that I'm having and that is how
to optimize RDC performance.

For example, there are 2 remote users that connects to this single server PC using RDC simultaneously.
That makes these 2 connections concurrent.

In the same time, server is a desktop PC and there is user sitting in front of it and working on its own user account making 3 users working on the same PC at the same time.

These 2 users that are using RDC in order to connect, when they are logged in, run certain programs.
There are programs on both that should not need to be running like Norton Ghost, Skype some gadgets etc...

How can I turn off these programs for those RDC users in order to spare memory and gain performance as much as I can as user sitting in front of server PC has problems with performance on everyday basics.

Thanks
Dean

 

[Dolke]

Hi,

Can anyone give me some directions and advice regarding this last post?

Thank you.

 

[gregrocker]

You might get better help for that at TechNet since this is more of a consumer forum while TechNet is for IT Pro issues like RDC.

Otherwise make sure you have a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7.
The link compiles everything that works best in tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here since beta, and has been used by over 1.5 million consumers without a single issue.

If a factory install you can't replace, then Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

Both tutorials contain the optimizations that count most. But there are the same and others here in Optimize Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums.

You can also ask in our Networking forum if you don't get the help you need here. My MVP colleague 2xg is about the best there is with networking issues if you want to message her to look at the thread.

 

[Dolke]

Hi guys,

I wanted to add to this topic (Im original poster) if installing SSD disk instead of regular HDD should affect RDC performance by great % for all users?

What are your thoughts?

Cheers
Dean

 

[Dolke]

...

 

[Layback Bear]

Any time you use a SSD rather than a Hard Drive your performance will increase by leaps and bounds.

Greg is no longer with this forum.