Bad performance help

[luisfsmonteiro]

Hello All,


We are working in an MS project Server 2003 environment and we are
having problems with slow performance when trying to save large
schedules.


Our shcedules usually have more than 1.500 lines, with a few outline
codes and about 8 - 20 allocated resources.

Lines Saving Time (minutes)
105 0,5
201 1
373 2
531 2
568 2
1246 5,5
1795 8,5

Do you have any ideia or verification points that I should check?

Thanks,

Luis Felipe

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Luis:

In order to take stabs at this, we'd need to have a complete description of
your system and how you're using it. Without the background information,
anything anyone tells you is pure SWAG. Sometimes degrading performance can
be caused by file bloat. If this is the case, you can quickly find out by
performing some therapy on a couple of projects and see if it helps. Try
following these directions:

http://www.projectserverexperts.com/Shared Documents/BinaryRebuild.htm

If you don't see improvements, give us more information.

 

[luisfsmonteiro]

Gary,

I tried to directions you sugested but with no positive results.
I am describind our Project Server environmet below for furter
analisys.

Server Hardware:
Server Processor Processador: 823519R 2x PIII 1,13 GHz
Mem: 2 GB RAM
HD: 72 GB

Server Software:
Project Server 2003
Number os Schedules: 158
Number of resorces in the resource pool: 174
SQL Server version: 2000 (running on the same server)
Windows Server 2003

Workstation Software:
Project Professional 2003
Windows 2000 Professional
Processor: Intel 2,26 Ghz
Mem: 512 Mb RAM


Is there anything else you want to know?

Thanks,

Luis Felipe

 

[MDWigs]

Gary,

Do you have any Enterprise Custom Fields for these projects?

Regards,
MDWigs

 

[MDWigs]

Luis,

Do your projects have any Enterprise Custom Fields and if so what are
they?

Regards,
MDWigs

 

[luisfsmonteiro]

Yes we are using the Enterprise Custom Fileds listed below:

- Enterprise Task Outline Code 1
- Enterprise Task Outline Code 2
- Enterprise Task Outline Code 30
- Enterprise Resourse Outline Code 1 - linked
- Enterprise Resourse Outline Code 3
- Enterprise Resourse Outline Code 4 - linked
- Enterprise Resourse Outline Code 20 - shared
- RBS
- Enterprise Project Outline Code 2
- Enterprise Project Outline Code 3
- Enterprise Project Outline Code 4
- Enterprise Project Outline Code 5
- Enterprise Project Outline Code 6
- Enterprise Project Outline Code 7
- Enterprise Project Outline Code 8
- Enterprise Project Outline Code 9

Are them related to project saving performance?

Regards,

Luis Felipe

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Luis:

Your server is rather weak for the portfolio you describe, plus it appears
you're using one rather small hard drive. Can you move this to a better box?
Do you have SP1 installed for Project and Project Server?

Given the number of Resources and projects, and I suspect that many of the
resources are on many of the projects, you really need a better platform.
Boosting RAM on your workstations could help as well, particularly for the
people managing the larger projects. You're simply way under-powered.

 

[luisfsmonteiro]

The server is a dual processor platform (2x Pentium III 1,13 Ghz), with
2GB RAM, isn´t it enough for a Project Server environment?
Which of this resources is most used (or if changed should give better
performance improvement):
- RAM
- HD
- Processor

The fact that Project Server and SQL Server are in the same machine is
a problem? Would be better if I split them in different servers?

Regards,

Luis Felipe

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Luis:

All of them need improving in your case. A current machine with Dual Xeon
3.0+ Ghz, 2 - 3 gb RAM. RAID array.




The server is a dual processor platform (2x Pentium III 1,13 Ghz), with
2GB RAM, isn´t it enough for a Project Server environment?
Which of this resources is most used (or if changed should give better
performance improvement):
- RAM
- HD
- Processor

The fact that Project Server and SQL Server are in the same machine is
a problem? Would be better if I split them in different servers?

Regards,

Luis Felipe

 

[luisfsmonteiro]

Gary,

We don´t have Service Pack 1 installed on Project Server and Project
Professional workstations.

If installed would it benefit performance?

Luis Felipe

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Yes, to some degree.




Gary,

We don´t have Service Pack 1 installed on Project Server and Project
Professional workstations.

If installed would it benefit performance?

Luis Felipe

 

[luisfsmonteiro]

Gary,

Do you see any problem if I suggest the PMs to save the schedule
offline (File->Save offline) in order to solve the saving performance
problem while they are planning activities?

And then they need to publish they will have to save it back online.

Regards,

Luis Felipe

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

It's an excellent strategy, especially for heavily trafficked networks and
those with latency issues.