Speed up network between OS X and Windows XP

Mar 08, '05 08:57:00AM

Contributed by: Anonymous

I recently started using my Windows XP desktop machine to store backups from my new PowerBook. I noticed that the transfers (over SMB/FTP/SSH) were absurdly slow. I found various ideas on the Internet about changing the duplex setting of the network card, etc., but none of them helped -- it looks like plenty of people are having these sorts of speed problems.

Using the ifconfig command in a Terminal to look at the network settings, I noticed that my Ethernet adapter had IPv6 turned on -- apparently the default configuration in OS X. I don't use any services which require IPv6, so I turned it off in the Network Preferences. Lo and behold, I am now getting full speed transfers to the XP box.

I have a feeling that either my router (a piece of junk from my ISP) or the Windows box were not handling the IPv6 negotiations properly...

[robg adds: If anyone can confirm this problem, or further narrow when it may occur, please post a comment. I have an XP box, and transfer speeds to/from the Mac seem just as quick as Mac/Mac transfers...]

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