Server Message Block (SMB) traffic is an application-level network protocol typically used for file and print sharing. Microsoft implements SMB in Windows operating systems through the Workstation and Server services; the client and server components respectively. Although our Networking team supports and troubleshoots issues dealing with SMB itself and the Server and Workstation services, we work with customers on many issues relating to the behavior of Windows Explorer and the Shell.
By default, Windows Explorer generates a lot of SMB traffic - which can result in poor file server performance in some circumstances. However, some of this traffic is superfluous and can be reduced - for example:
- Searches for Desktop.ini files used for folder customization
- Periodic refreshes of folder contents
- Searches for supporting library (.dll) files
- Individual file details and attributes pulled for each file
- Thumbnail extraction
There are some registry changes you can implement to optimize the SMB traffic being generated. Import the settings below on client machines. Terminal Servers running in Application Mode should be considered client machines in this scenario.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer]
“UseDesktopIniCache”=dword:00000001
“NoRemoteRecursiveEvents”=dword:00000001
“NoRemoteChangeNotify”=dword:00000001
“StartRunNoHOMEPATH”=dword:00000001
“NoRecentDocsNetHood”=dword:00000001
“NoDetailsThumbnailOnNetwork”=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MRXSmb\Parameters]
“InfoCacheLevel”=dword:00000010
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\CryptoSignMenu]
“SuppressionPolicy”=dword:00100000
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{3EA48300-8CF6-101B-84FB-666CCB9BCD32}]
“SuppressionPolicy”=dword:00100000
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{883373C3-BF89-11D1-BE35-080036B11A03}]
“SuppressionPolicy”=dword:00100000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\SCAPI]
“Flags”=dword:00100c02
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager]
“SafeDllSearchMode”=dword:00000001
“SafeProcessSearchMode”=dword:00000001
Not all of
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