• increase the lease period
• install dhcp servers on local LAN
• use static ip addresses

• increase the renewal period
• tune multihomed or RAS hosts (KB: Q164308)
• use LMHOSTS in small sites (use the #INCLUDE feature)
• use a local WINS server
• see KB article Q139270

• increase the MasterPeriodicty value
• disable the browser service on workstations

• change the timeout value of both server and workstation service (e.g. from 15 to 2 -> see KB: Q138365, Q102981 & Q105134

• disable the messenger service if not used

• extended the replication period (1-72 hours) or disable it

• disable browsing update (DisableServerThreat)

• change the interval (pulse value)
• use 3^rd party tools like robocopy (does not copy ALL files)

• disable the automatic machine account password change (see KB: Q154501)
• change the intervals (Pulse- & PulseMaximum values)
• change the bandwith usage (ReplicationGovernor value)

Each LAN segment has one master browser and up to 3 backup browsers. Each domain has one domain master browser.

Browsing produces a high amount of network traffic:

• Every 12 minutes [MasterPeriodicity] each (local) master browser contacts the domain master browser to update the browse lists -> WAN issue !!
• Every 12 minutes each hosts announces itself in the local subnet (broadcast) -> LAN issue
• Every 12 minutes each backup browser contacts its local master browser to retrieve an updated browse list -> LAN issue
• Every 15 minutes each master browser announces itself to the master browsers of other domains in the local subnet -> LAN issue

Comment: If the browser service is disabled on the client he will still be able to browse the network (if at least one master browser is active).

WINS produces little network traffic only the transfer of the browse list (once again) can produce a lot of network traffic – which can fill up WAN bandwidth. There are 3 basic types of work performed:

• Client registration / renewal (every 4 days)
• WINS client queries
• WINS server replication

DHCP also uses little network traffic and if DHCP requests are not sent via the WAN but serviced by a local DHCP server bandwith is not an issue. One DHCP request (4-way) consumes about 2121 byte.

It will always depend on the situation, but take this is a general rule: The less files you copy the faster it will be. Expect a file copy of one zipped file compared to many small files (with the same total size) to be about three times (if not more) faster.

Broadcasts not only produce a lot of traffice they also cause degrade of performance on the clients. Every broadcast is a packet directed to a host which means it will have to be analyzed by the NIC and OS. This takes CPU time.

The Windows NT Spooler can cause excess dialing in the process of distributing information on available printers throughout the enterprise. Windows NT Spooler sends out print browser information every 777 seconds. To change this behaviour add this value to the registry:

License replication is performed on all DCs (domain controllers) and member servers. The replication occurs every 24 hours – if a BCD or member server cannot contact the PDC he will try again every 15 minutes. To turn of license replication simply disable the LicenseService in the control panel or registry.

You can specify which protocol order outlook uses when starting up. You can modify it by editing this registry value:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\EXCHANGE\EXCHANGE PROVIDER\RPC_BINDING_ORDER