Author Topic: Sawtooth in Net-Graph (Read 471 times)

Purzel · « **on:** December 15, 2004, 08:24:56 AM »

Hi there!

Not sure if I should post it in the hardware-software-forum, so I'll try here first.

I have the problem, that when I connect I often get this saw-tooth-pattern in the net-graph. I really dont know what it is. I have this F-Secure-Anti-Virus-Thingy, but I turn it off before. I am not aware of any services or stuff that is running in the background that I dont need. I read the sticky post at the beginning of this forum.

I have a PC in my living-room which is acting as a router.

The wierd thing is: Often I get these patterns when I log-on first time of the day. Then, when I reboot, the patterns go away. With high probability (I woudnt know of an instance where that didnt help). One time though I had to reboot the router as well, but since that was the case only once I wouldnt see it as a persistent problem.

So, usual problem: I boot the PC, log on after shutting down F-Secure (no backweb-stuff) and get saw-tooth-patterns. I reboot and everything works great.

Its not only that there are these patterns, lag is terrible as well. Else I wouldnt mind.

So, my system-specs:
AMD 3000+XP
1GB RAM
Asus Radeon 9600XT
A7N8X-Deluxe Mainboard.
Windows XP Professional

The Mainboard has 2 Network-cards on board. Both of them behave the same with regards to the AH-Online-Graph. In Other games (online) I didnt notice any problems. But they dont have such a net-graph as well, so maybe I just dont reckognize the problem. No lag there tho.

I have recently updated BIOS, drivers and what else there is, but that didnt change anything.

Does anyone know what could be the cause or cure for this problem?

Thanks a lot!

Schutt · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2004, 08:53:23 AM »

I have nearly the same configuration but i did not notice problems of this kind. I will check the network graph more in future to see it.
However i have some questions that might lead to the problem.

Do you use the onboard sound or a soundcard?
If its a card, which one?

What windows version and servicepack?

Do you have windows firewall enabled/disabled or other firewall?

What do you mean it works after reboot, does it mean the first time you boot every day the problem is there, al the time you boot from shut off comp or everytime you do a hardware reset or shut on the comp?
It disappears when you reboot the system with the windows option, when you reboot with reset button or both?
Does it disappear when you just quit ah2 and start it again or still there?

when you have the system on windows desktop for a while, how much percent does cpu usage and network graph show?

How do you connect to the internet, do you have other computers in a local network, a dsl router that gives you a local ip , hooked the comp to the dsl line or isdn or cable?

Do you have any shared drives on your comp or on other local comps mounted to your comp?

How many processes running in taskmanager, is this number diffrent for the times you get the lag and for the time where you dont (maybe check after ah2 run with trouble?

Sorry for all the questions... of course you dont have to anwser them but take a look at them, there could be lots of problems. For example if you use a add on soundcard should have on board sound disabled. Any unusual usb device you use could have a driver that takes up resources. Network share could cause windows to index it for the search if that is enabled, or other computers mounting yours accessing.

Also if its a network of windos computers the order in which they are started makes a diffrence therefor you might have no problem after reset.

With xp servicepack 2 the windows firewall is enabled automatically, as is windows update... both could give you trouble.

Purzel · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2004, 12:53:51 AM »

Hi Schutt!

I have tested some of the questions you asked, so here it goes:

I use the onboard-soundcard.

Windows XP Professional SP 1.

Tricky one:
- If I power on the PC, then boot, I get these probs.
- If I do a reboot via Windows (soft), theyre usually gone.
- If I shut down the PC, and turn it on again afterwards, there is a good probability that I get these probs.
- Once I get to run AH properly, I seem not to be able to recreate the problem anymore. That means, no matter if I power down, or do a soft reboot, the game runs ok.
- Pressing the reset-button seems to have the same effect as the the shut-down-power-up-sequence.

This is from my testings yesterday evening. The eventlist (not sure how its called in english) doesnt show any errors on booting or somthing like that. Looks ok to me.

When nothing else is running, it shows 0%. Occasionally 2%. But only short burbs, I would say nothing is eating up CPU-time on a mentionable level.

Connection, as I said, I have one PC that acts as a router, there is only 1 other PC in the local net (the AH-PC). There is this network-bridge used, so that both PC can connect to the internet.

I checked the # of Processes, do not remember the number, but they dont seem to differ when I have probs.

Internal Firewall disabled. I have actually 2 Networkdrives on the other computer, but they cannot connect before I enter account. Where can I mess with the settings for the network-drives?

The starting sequence is not the problem, because the router runs always (more or less

) and is therefore the one which is startet first. In any case. The AH-PC starts second always.

The internet connection is a A-DSL-connection., 768/128 or something like that. Not sure. But enough to run AH.

Hmm, Windows update, do you know where I can look that up so I can make sure that its disabled?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Roscoroo · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2004, 04:03:03 AM »

Have you tried running ping plotter while this is happening ???

you may also have a bad network card in your routor/ (gateway) pc ., or something else going on here in this one . you may have to bypass it for troubleshooting .

You did install the updated sound drivers also for your asus a7n8x-deluxe correct ?

hitech · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2004, 08:35:21 AM »

Purzle: You are talking about the top window not the bottom window of net status correct?

HiTech

Purzel · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2004, 01:06:04 PM »

Hi!

Roscoroo:
Here are the Pingplotter results:
With Problems:

Target Name: N/A
IP: 216.91.187.39
Date/Time: 16.12.2004 20:00:08

1 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms 0 ms schaf.mshome.net [192.168.0.1]
2 59 ms 75 ms 72 ms 60 ms 62 ms 61 ms 64 ms 73 ms 63 ms 66 ms [217.5.98.140]
3 57 ms 58 ms 57 ms 58 ms 58 ms 58 ms 58 ms 57 ms 56 ms 58 ms [217.237.156.82]
4 76 ms 79 ms 78 ms 77 ms 77 ms 79 ms 77 ms 77 ms 77 ms 78 ms isp-linx-gw13-o.nmc-m.dtag.de [217.239.38.241]
5 77 ms 77 ms 76 ms 81 ms 77 ms 76 ms 91 ms 79 ms 78 ms 82 ms bcr1-ge-6-1-0.Londonlnx.savvis.net [206.24.169.5]
6 679 ms 684 ms 671 ms 678 ms 681 ms 682 ms 665 ms 671 ms 676 ms 671 ms dcr2-loopback.Chicago.savvis.net [208.172.2.100]
7 679 ms 684 ms 673 ms 679 ms 681 ms 682 ms 666 ms 670 ms 676 ms 672 ms acr2-so-0-0-0.Chicago.savvis.net [208.172.3.82]
8 227 ms 228 ms 227 ms 228 ms 228 ms 228 ms 226 ms 228 ms 226 ms 227 ms [208.172.1.202]
9 228 ms 229 ms 228 ms 227 ms 229 ms 229 ms 227 ms 226 ms 227 ms 228 ms [216.91.187.39]

Without Problems:

Target Name: N/A
IP: 216.91.187.39
Date/Time: 16.12.2004 20:04:36

1 0 ms schaf.mshome.net [192.168.0.1]
2 60 ms [217.5.98.140]
3 69 ms [217.237.156.82]
4 93 ms isp-linx-gw13-o.nmc-m.dtag.de [217.239.38.241]
5 78 ms bcr1-ge-6-1-0.Londonlnx.savvis.net [206.24.169.5]
6 678 ms dcr2-loopback.Chicago.savvis.net [208.172.2.100]
7 672 ms acr2-so-0-0-0.Chicago.savvis.net [208.172.3.82]
8 236 ms [208.172.1.202]
9 227 ms [216.91.187.39]

Both times there are low reply times at savvis, but the two results dont differ much.

I will have a look and install the newest sound-drivers, maybe this will change something.

Hitech:
Yes, I'm talking of the upper window (Variance). The lower doesnt look unusual in any way. Just like a ping graph should look like I guess.

Its really strange, could as well be some temeprature problem? Maybe Ill be the first AH player who heats his PC

Well, I just thought this could be hardware-related and some other user with the same hardware has the same problem. But it seems to be more complicated. And since I just have to reboot I its not a show stopper. It would be problematic and be worth to put much effort into if more ppl had a similar problem. But I suppose I'm the only one, so I will probably have to live with it at least until the next upgrade.

But thanks a lot for all your help!!!

Purzel · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2004, 01:08:24 PM »

EEEEERRRRMMMM...

By looking again at the results, the only do ot differ in the end results. The graphs did look almost the same as well, but what do the many ping times mean in the first result, why are there only single results in the second one?

Does anyone know?

Thanks again!

Roscoroo · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2004, 01:11:46 PM »

we need to involk the powers of Skuzzy on the savvis relay ...

600+ ms ping which probely has packet loss just sux ... im guessing that 's were your problem is.

Schatzi · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2004, 01:40:59 PM »

Since it occurs when you boot cold i beleave its hardware related. Weather new driver fix it, can be but maybe bios or powersupply.

How strong is your powersupply?
Do you have lots of harddrives?

Also you can check the event log (system->computer administration->Event Log

see if it has any errors.

cu

fuzeman · « **Reply #9 on:** December 16, 2004, 02:36:28 PM »

Skuzzy is already talking with Savis on a problem in Chicago.
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136053

Purzel · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2004, 02:27:43 PM »

Hi guys!

Well, there definately seems to be some problem with savvis, but thats not the problem I have. The high ping-times occur when I have probs as well as it occurs when I dont have them.

Power supply is 550 Watts.
No errors in event-log.
Just one HD.

It could very well be that its hardware related...

Well, thanks again, but I think I will just leave it at that. I just have to reboot everytime I want to play AH

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2004, 04:07:54 PM »

You said the problems only occur on intial boot up or if you have to do a cold reboot. When you do this, are you also rebooting the PC being used as a router? You didnt mention what OS you have on that one, or if you did I missed it. Here is my guess (and thats all it is).

When you boot initially, or if you cold boot the system at any point, the PnP setup isnt picking something up in your network, or something inside your computer is taking precedence. Once WindowsXP loads, it finds the network connection and uses it, but it's not optimal because some driver didnt load during boot, or some piece of hardware was not properly detected. During a "warm" reboot, which is just an OS reboot, the computer doesnt have to redetect the hardware, and it all sorts itself out in the proper order. It could be an IRQ issue, it could be a PnP issue, or it could be something else entirely and I'm not even warm. It's hard to diagnose something on a setup I havent seen and dont know what hardware is being used, what drivers, etc. I wish you good luck with it though, sounds like a vexing problem.