fin.exe cpu usage on Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server

pickseed

We have a terminal server running Windows Server 2003 SP1.

Our version of Nav is 2.6b.

Users have been complaining that the terminal server becomes very slow at times. When I check the CPU usage, I see that there is usually 1 or 2 fin.exe processes for different users using between 30-50% CPU. So when it happens with 2 processes, the cpu is maxed out!

I have gone to see what the users are doing when this happens and most times they have either pulled up an order or generated a report and are simply looking at the screen while the process holds onto cpu time.

I have been searching everywhere for 2 days for information about this.
Is this a known issue, or has anyone at least experienced this before

The terminal server specs are:

Windows Server 2003 SP1 (Updated current to end of Feb)
Intel Xeon 2.8GHz
2GB RAM
RAID1 with 2 x 73GB 15krpm U320SCSI
GB Ethernet
Avg. user count 35

bbrown

Have not run into this. Any customizations? Consider a technical upgrade to newer clients.

Also 2 GB seems a bit light for 35 users.

ara3n

The recomendation from convergence is

50-64 meg of RAM per user
500 MEG for OS.

bbrown

Also don't forget the memory requirements of other applications the users may be running. Plus things like anti-virus. I will usually figure on 1 GB for the O/S.

Memory is fairly cheap and it can really improve performance if your terminal server sessions are not constantly paging memory to disk.

pickseed

OK, I've got 4GB of RAM ordered for the server, it should help overall performance, but I'm still not convinced that it will solve the cpu usage problem.

I'm looking into adding a 2nd CPU to the Terminal server as well.

Anyone else have an idea as to what could be causing the cpu spikes?

ara3n

look at task manager. In the processes tab check Show processes from all users. Sort if by CPU and you'll see what processes take the most time of cpu.

pickseed

That is what I have been doing.

In the Task Manager I see usually 1 and sometimes 2 fin.exe processes using about 40-60% cpu each. Once you factor in Outlook, Word and Excel that people are running, the CPU gets maxed out.

ara3n

well looks like your single cpu is not powerful enough. You need multi processor server.

Langballe

I have the same problem. Just found this post in a different forum:

http://groups.google.dk/group/microsoft ... 6d469cdddd

I have not tested it yet but it is worth a try.

Wayne Small [SBS-MVP]" <w...@correct.com.au> schrieb im Newsbeitrag > In
addition, a number of users access Navision from remote offices via a

> Terminal server - we have seen several instances of the fin.exe file take
> 100% of the Terminal servers CPU resources simply while a user is paging
> through stock files. This has the effect of causing all other users on
the
> Terminal server to slow to a crawl. Any ideas on why this is the case?


The problem here are the "tool tips", they take 100% of the Terminal servers
CPU resources.
This is even in a local environment reproductible.
This problem is solved in version 3.60.
Or you can advise these users on the Terminal server not to use the "tool
tips".

dick11

A solution is to delete the CPUMONI.exe file (it is a Navision bug).

A client of me using Citrix had the same problem.

pickseed

Langballe: That is exactly what is happening!

I will try disabling tooltips and see if that helps today.

Do you know if there is a way to disable tooltips globally, or does it have to be done on each client?

pickseed

I think the CPUMONI.exe issue has to do with the Navision server processes, as I have already experienced this on our server.

My issue is on a Terminal Server running approximately 25-30 Navision 2.6b clients.

pickseed

Well, there have been 16 clients running on the server for over an hour and the cpu usage has not spiked yet.

So far, disabling ToolTips seems to have worked.

The real test will come when are western canada office come online in about an hour.

I will post back with my results.

dick11

I have seen that the cpu goes to 100% when the mouse is on the tool bar

Langballe

Pickseed did you find a way to disable tooltips globally?

Actually I can't even find where to disable it on a client - Can anyone point me in the right direction?

dick11

did you find a way to disable tooltips globally?

No.

bbrown

View - Toolbar - Show Tooltips

themave

This can happen with more then just tool tips, we have 4.0 no service pack, but it did the same in 2.01 also, when a user left his curser in the quantity field in the sales order or purchase order.