Windows Server performance

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Nenad Batoćanin

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Aug 26, 2025, 9:29:04 PMAug 26
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Hello!

 

Has anyone noticed how much the performance of Harbor applications has decreased by moving to newer Windows Servers OS? I just tested some data processing job on my Windows 10 ordinary desktop machine and brand new Windows Server 2022 (on very powerfull machine). My desktop machine finished the job several times faster!! The application is started directly on the server, not over the LAN.

 

Ok, I'm used to each successive Win generation running slower, but this is still too much. I did the usual settings (AV does not scan DBF files, disable DEP for all files...), with no results.  

 

Does anyone have an idea how to speed up the application?

 

Regards, NB

Gerald Drouillard

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Aug 27, 2025, 10:55:02 AMAug 27
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If you search through this list you will see some really good pointers for performance.  Especially from me ;-)

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poopall

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Aug 28, 2025, 9:39:49 PMAug 28
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Are you using  Windows 2022 server as a file server, or is the application actually running on this machine, are you using DBF files are you using SMB 

Nenad Batoćanin

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Aug 28, 2025, 9:55:56 PMAug 28
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Users access the server via RDC and start the application directly on the server. App is using DBF files. SMB is not changed, the default value is kept.

 

We have several Windows 2012 servers that run 100-120 concurrent users without any problems. Windows 2019 servers can run about 50-70 users smoothly, and the Win 2022 server is much slower. This is very concerning to me.

 

I am currently doing some testing, so I will post the results.

 

Regards, NB

poopall

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Aug 29, 2025, 1:57:39 AMAug 29
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SMB1 or SMB3 ?

A quick question when the initial application (ie only one single user) is it  quick and then very slow to open files when there are multiple users ??

Look at oplock registry setting on your 2012 and 2022 settings 

cod...@outlook.com

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Aug 29, 2025, 3:30:35 AMAug 29
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Sorry if you already read next links. May be some of them can give you some idea what to do:

Nenad Batoćanin

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Aug 30, 2025, 2:36:39 PMAug 30
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I think SMB1.

 

The application is multi-user, but the job we are talking about is performed at night and only one user is working at that time. During the day with 40-50 users, performance is acceptable, but there are no such demanding processes in this time. The job we are talking about is completed in about 3 hours.

 

I didn't turn off oplocks, although I think that would just slow down the night process.

Nenad Batoćanin

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Aug 30, 2025, 2:54:33 PMAug 30
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Thank you very much, I will study these links in detail!

 

I did some tests on my servers (create simplier program for testing purpose):

 

Windows 10 (desktop machine)            103s
Windows Server 2012 R2                           155s
Windows Server 2012 R2 (VM)                182s
Windows Server 2022                                 219s

 

Of course, this is a rough comparison, machines are not the same (in fact, newer systems have much more powerful machines), but it's clear how much of a slowdown there is on newer systems. I tried changing various parameters:

 

Visual efects for best performance

DEP only for Windows services

Adjust for best performance of Programs
Disable last access time update

Run as Administrator
Run in Win 7 compatibility mode

 

All without visible effects. Of course, the AV program is turned off. During testing, I optimized my procedure (less SKIP over deleted record, less APPEND) and got about a 30% speedup. I'll analyze which commands are causing the biggest slowdown, and try to replace them somehow.

 

Best regards, NB

 

 

 

 

 

From: harbou...@googlegroups.com <harbou...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of cod...@outlook.com
Sent: petak, 29. avgust 2025. 09:31
To: Harbour Users <harbou...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [harbour-users] Windows Server performance

 

Sorry if you already read next links. May be some of them can give you some idea what to do:

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Nenad Batoćanin

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Sep 15, 2025, 9:33:38 PM (11 days ago) Sep 15
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Hi to all :)

 

Unfortunately, I have to say that I haven't been able to achieve any significant speedups by tweaking Windows. I've tried literally everything that's been suggested to me, nothing has yielded any significant results. The reason for the slowdown is clearly deep in the new versions of Windows internal rules.

 

I solved the problem by optimizing the code, which is enough for now.

 

Regards, NB

 

From: Nenad Batoćanin <nbato...@wings.rs>
Sent: subota, 30. avgust 2025. 20:54
To: 'harbou...@googlegroups.com' <harbou...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: [harbour-users] Windows Server performance

 

Thank you very much, I will study these links in detail!

 

I did some tests on my servers (create simplier program for testing purpose):

 

Windows 10 (desktop machine)            103s
Windows Server 2012 R2                           155s
Windows Server 2012 R2 (VM)                182s
Windows Server 2022                                 219s

 

Of course, this is a rough comparison, machines are not the same (in fact, newer systems have much more powerful machines), but it's clear how much of a slowdown there is on newer systems. I tried changing various parameters:

 

Visual efects for best performance

DEP only for Windows services

Adjust for best performance of Programs
Disable last access time update

Run as Administrator
Run in Win 7 compatibility mode

 

All without visible effects. Of course, the AV program is turned off. During testing, I optimized my procedure (less SKIP over deleted record, less APPEND) and got about a 30% speedup. I'll analyze which commands are causing the biggest slowdown, and try to replace them somehow.

 

Best regards, NB

 

 

 

 

 

From: harbou...@googlegroups.com <harbou...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of cod...@outlook.com
Sent: petak, 29. avgust 2025. 09:31
To: Harbour Users <harbou...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [harbour-users] Windows Server performance

 

Sorry if you already read next links. May be some of them can give you some idea what to do:

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priadi andika

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Sep 16, 2025, 4:42:17 AM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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Hi
Maybe try remote procederu call (RPC) with netio to set display database dbf to gui or grid like the store procedured and query in sql

What do others think about netio 

What about accesing it throught a one drive microsoft

Thank
Spd

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Gerald Drouillard

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Sep 16, 2025, 6:04:36 AM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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On Tue, Sep 16, 2025 at 4:42 AM priadi andika <supria...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi
Maybe try remote procederu call (RPC) with netio to set display database dbf to gui or grid like the store procedured and query in sql

What do others think about netio 
Netio made my life easier by accessing DBF's on Linux from Windows clients and it is a pretty easy change.

Ultimately, if you don't need a gui then think about making your app cgi or accessible via ssh.

Ash

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Sep 16, 2025, 7:04:50 AM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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I use LetoDBf to get over speed issues. 

Regards,
Ash

berg...@gmail.com

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Sep 16, 2025, 3:18:43 PM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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Are you using the Windows Server mainly as a file server for DBF access (clients opening DBFs over SMB), or are the applications executed directly on the server via RDP?

Nenad Batoćanin

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Sep 16, 2025, 4:23:47 PM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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Apps run _directly_ on server. Users connect via RDP.

 

Regards, NB

 

From: harbou...@googlegroups.com <harbou...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of berg...@gmail.com
Sent: utorak, 16. septembar 2025. 21:19
To: Harbour Users <harbou...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [harbour-users] Windows Server performance

 

Are you using the Windows Server mainly as a file server for DBF access (clients opening DBFs over SMB), or are the applications executed directly on the server via RDP?

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john s wolter

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Sep 16, 2025, 4:35:14 PM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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In the past I've thought about different database Servers designs that a Harbour/Clipper needs to be able to access data.  Luckily Harbour can front them all using RDD database drivers for any type of database architecture

1. A Harbour key/data database like .DBF and index files i can use.
    ...this I thought of for incremental lookup searches like for names for example

2.  Set oriented relational :  SQL RDBMS like IBM DB2, Oracle, M$ Server, et all.  
     SQL queries return a set of records operated on further.  Of course there are other views like "cursors".

3. Specialized DBs (Report) which have unique ways of storing, indexing, & accessing data 
    : Vector, Object(OODBMS), NoSQL Hierarchical, Graph, Document, ETL time series, Wide column, Cloud, Columnar, 
     ...& yet to be designed

4. Special kinds of data for specific applications 

Cheers, John S Wolter

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Daniel Lopes Filho

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Sep 16, 2025, 4:54:09 PM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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why are you using windows server to use RDP?



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Nenad Batoćanin

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Sep 16, 2025, 8:41:41 PM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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Hi!

 

I also use LetoDB in local network and it significantly improves performance. But LetoDB is of course much slower than application started directly on the server.

 

Regards, NB

 

From: harbou...@googlegroups.com <harbou...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Ash
Sent: utorak, 16. septembar 2025. 13:05
To: Harbour Users <harbou...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [harbour-users] Windows Server performance

 

I use LetoDBf to get over speed issues. 

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Nenad Batoćanin

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Sep 16, 2025, 8:41:41 PM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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Aplication is run directly on server machine, no need for NetIO.

 

NB

Nenad Batoćanin

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Sep 16, 2025, 8:41:58 PM (10 days ago) Sep 16
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Because non-server Windows edition has a low limit on the number of users. The server version can handle 100+ users without any problems.

 

Regards, NB

Message has been deleted

berg...@gmail.com

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Sep 17, 2025, 7:40:14 AM (9 days ago) Sep 17
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If you run the application directly on the server via RDP, SMB is not involved at all – the DBF files are opened locally on the server’s file system. SMB only comes into play when clients open DBFs over the network in classic file-server mode.

berg...@gmail.com

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Sep 17, 2025, 7:41:51 AM (9 days ago) Sep 17
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Just to clarify: when running via RDP, SMB is not used, correct?

On Tuesday, 16 September 2025 at 22:54:09 UTC+2 Daniel Lopes Filho wrote:

berg...@gmail.com

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Sep 17, 2025, 7:42:12 AM (9 days ago) Sep 17
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Is SMB involved at all when running the application directly on the server via RDP?


On Tuesday, 16 September 2025 at 22:54:09 UTC+2 Daniel Lopes Filho wrote:

berg...@gmail.com

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Sep 17, 2025, 7:42:52 AM (9 days ago) Sep 17
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Just to clarify:
When running harbour applications directly on the server via RDP, DBF files are opened by the harbour progrtam locally on NTFS and SMB is not involved at all.
SMB only matters in classic file-server setups where clients open DBFs over the network.

Daniel Lopes Filho

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Sep 17, 2025, 9:29:16 AM (9 days ago) Sep 17
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There's a product I use to replace RDP that uses Windows 11 Pro (but they recommend Server) that works very well, especially with the high speed (which you're missing).

I have clients who migrated to Windows Server and miss the speed. These clients use DBF/CDX.

Some even went back to Windows 11 Pro (we installed 32GB RAM with an M2 SSD, and I had to force the data to be written).

But how many users do you have exactly?

What hard drive are you using? If you'd like, I can set up a machine on AWS to test the speed (of course, this will cost money because you need to invest in a fast machine on AWS). I can test the RDP replacement for 30 days at no additional cost.

Nenad Batoćanin

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Sep 17, 2025, 10:26:46 AM (9 days ago) Sep 17
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Yes

Nenad Batoćanin

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Sep 17, 2025, 10:32:19 AM (9 days ago) Sep 17
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We use TSPlus remote software and we are very happy how it works. But, I don't think the speed ​​has anything to do with the remote software, the problem is with Windows.

 

We have 20+ rental servers (Hetzner) with 50-80 users per server. For example, this is one of them:

 

Windows Server 2019

Intel Core i9-9900K CPU @ 3.60GHz

64GB RAM

Samsung MZVLB1T0HBLR SSD

Ash

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Sep 17, 2025, 11:53:14 AM (9 days ago) Sep 17
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My customers are using Winflector, free for two users, to run apps remotely. It is very fast when used with LetoDBf at the server.
Regards,
Ash

Nenad Batoćanin

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Sep 17, 2025, 12:28:15 PM (9 days ago) Sep 17
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Occasionally I have a similar situation. However, LetoDB (not LetoDBF) is significantly slower than working directly with dbf files. Of course, I'm talking about working on the server. When working over the network, LetoDB is faster.

 

Regards, NB

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