Has any one else noticed that SME 5.6 Update 3 has big problems? it is so slow that it barely functions as a file server.
When I first updated my test server two nights ago I noticed the rpoblem so I downed the thing and reloaded from scratch, adding no contributed modules and still it runs like a tortoise through treacle.
I'm engaged in processing a very large archive of multipage G4 tiff files at the moment. Working at a WIndows XP professional station, I split each file in a given directory on the server into its component pages with a bat file and a splitter utility. Then I remove all pages less than a certain file size. Then I recombine the pages with another bat file and a joiner utility. Last of all I load Scansoft PaperPort and duplicate each tiff file as a native PaperPort *.max file.
All of the processes involved run notably slower under Update 3 but that last process, the duplication to *.max, shows the nature of the problem. under SME 5.6 update 2, and more so under the original release without updates, each duplication ran with a steady continuous movement of the progress meter and insufficient time for the system to display individual pages as they were processed. Under the Update 3 system the duplication runs very slowly with each page displayed as an icon while it is processed. After a short time the system seems to get its act together and the progress meter will move rapidly for each of the remaining files as they process, but the next set of files starts slowly again. Under Update 2, and the non-updated version, the system would go slowly on the first conversion of the day and then kick into gear and run rapidly for every file from that point on.
It's as though the system is failing to set or read cache details correctly.
The other noticeable symptom is that the hard disk will suddenly begin whirring loudly and all communication with the server ceases until it stops.
The same inability to talk to the fileserver occurs when the modem dials up for a mail shout.
My system is a Duron 850 on a VIA chipset board with 256MB RAm and fast disk. It has always run speedily and glitch free up till now and the hardware is in perfect condition.
I've reported the bug to Mitel.
Ed Form