How to Troubleshoot Slow Windows Server Performance?

Windows Server is one of the efficient and most widely used operating systems developed by Microsoft. Certainly, there are some tips to keep your server humming in the windows infrastructure.

The primary phase of resolving a problem has to be monitoring in detail. A commonly used way for monitoring is to use the great tool “Windows perfmon” effectively but should not be used in Windows 2008 R2 as there is a lack of possibility of saving your settings. Try to achieve a single goal comprehended with all the possible counters needed, with a suitable duration in combination with the suitable configuration of sample values, thus equipped to use on multiple servers. Also, focus on resolving the startup issues and utilize performance advisors. Automation of some tasks which has to be performed regularly accelerates the windows server performance to a great extent. This includes:   

 Efficient DNS management

A well-managed Domain Name Systems always possess an efficient performance. Rather than manually working with zone files or the DNS interface, make use of the cluster of tools available to automate most of the processes dealing with DNS.

Cleaning up Active directoryActive directory gets summed up with non-existent machine references, expired users and full of other junks which never gets cleaned up. Keep the AD tidy by cleaning it up the AD at regular intervals utilizing a number of tools which automate the work.

Automating disk defragmentation

The server gets overloaded with time as a plethora of applications are installed. The System Administrators have to run Disk Defragmenter on a regular basis with the aid of Windows Task Scheduler. Routine defragmentation ensures sequential storage of data blocks in preference to random locations, upgrading overall file-reading efficiently.

Adjust server response

Adjust the server to optimum in order to prioritize the applications running in the background since server applications are not executed from the server console.

Administering an exclusive drive for pagefiles.

As pagefiles are used frequently by Windows, it is highly suggested to place it on a dedicated drive. This assures that your server has a primary access to pagefile data.

Employ New Technology File System (NTFS) being the most secure file system.

Transaction-based (possess security and speed improvement)
Avoid Running 16-bit apps

Running 16-bit apps reduce Windows server performance as independent multitasking models are used for 16, 32, and 64-bit applications.

Set up your Power Plan

Optimize the power plan for Windows Server to attain maximum power efficiency based on the role of the server along with application requirements. It actively increases or reduces the CPU performance while workload changes thereby matching computational capacity to computational demand.

Solving the named pipes puzzle

Invisible pipes are used for communicating with other servers. Interact well with them for transparency of procedures.

Explorer folder options

Some common configurations used for a better performance are mentioned below:

Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”

Uncheck “Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items”

Uncheck “Show preview handlers in preview pane”

Uncheck “Use sharing wizard”

Uncheck “Display file size information in folder tips”

Check “Show hidden files”

Uncheck “Hide empty drives”

Uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types”

Check “Always show menus"

Disable IE Enhanced Security Configuration, at least for administrators, for a better performance.

"Internet options mentioned below are recommended for better server performance.

Launch IE, and configure first-time run options

Set Home Page (set to blank or other)

• Uncheck “Advanced – Enable page transitions”
• Uncheck “Advanced – Reuse windows for launching shortcuts”
• Uncheck “Advanced – Show friendly HTTP error messages”

Hard Disk Compression

Despite the introduction of Cloud, hard disk compression enhances server performance by reducing the time taken to read files from the hard disk. It generally becomes applicable when running a disk-based app which depends on a large number of individual files.

• Disable the Shutdown Event Tracker which is certainly not much necessary for the expected level of performance.
• Turn On SuperFetch which makes the OS more responsive only after making the necessary registry changes.
• Uninstall the Rarely-accessed Utilities and Disable the Rarely-used Services
• This, besides increasing the server performance, enhances security for your systems runs on a reduced number of services. The overall vulnerability of the server is thus reduced.
• Using Microsoft's File Server Migration Toolkit, Windows server tuning template also helps to achieve the desired performance.

All the above-mentioned practices collectively equip you to troubleshoot slow windows server performance.