How to configure the ZCM Agent and workstation to reduce ZCM overhead and increase logon speed

  • 7007583
  • 18-Jan-2011
  • 27-Apr-2012

Environment

Novell ZENworks 10 Configuration Management
Novell ZENworks 11 Configuration Management

Situation

The logon to Windows may significantly increase after installing the ZCM agent and Windows may be slightly sluggish immediately after logon to Windows.

Resolution

The ZCM Agent will create some additional overhead that even in ideal circumstances will be perceptible, but there are many steps that can be taken to reduce that overhead.
 
Proper configuration of a workstation's Anti-Virus Package for ZCM is very important: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7007545
 
Delaying the start of NALVIEW.exe can significantly improve logon speed by reducing resource contention: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7007556.
 
ZENLoginUserRefreshAsync=True may significantly increase logon performance, especially in ZCM 10.3.1 and greater: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7007546
 
NWSSO.DLL may slow down login if using an eDirectory User Source: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7007547
 
System Requirements on Bundles and Policies may take a significant amount of time to process: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7007550
 
Locally cached ZCM content files may significantly increase ZCM agent overhead: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7007468
 
Large APPSTATE files may take a long time to process: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7005955
 
ZENworks Software Inventory Scan may impact performance: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7007584
 
Assign local NTFS Permissions via a DLU Policy may impact performance: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7004171
 
Agent Configuration Setting to Slightly Improve DLU logon performance: https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7007948
 

Additional Information

When Troubleshooting, it is recommended to get a baseline performance of a device without any Anti-Virus software, policies or bundles applied to get a baseline.
Running "zac cc" will not clear out all cached information, which may still affect performance.
On a test device, delete the entire %zenworks_home%\cache% folder. 
(Note: This will likely cause the device to lose registration.  Run "zac reg" to register the device again.)
 
Also test device performance during off-hours to minimize and isolate ZCM Server or Database Load issues from client issues.
Test Device performance both during an initial Windows boot as well as after the device has been running to isolate issues relating to events that occur on a device shortly after startup.