> 3. Next, we reformat and install windows 2003 server standard edition
> with Domain Controller installed and Volume Shadow Copy disabled. We
> install Firebird 1.5.3 super server and the Win32 apps again.
>
> 4. Then we carry on with the test on the same database. The
> calculation tooks about 1 hrs and 20 minutes to finish. That is
> unacceptable outcome. It is even slower than normal Pentium 4 machine.

...

> 6. Next, I reformat the server again and install Windows 2003 standard
> edition WITHOUT installing Domain Controller. This time the test tooks
> 17 minutes to complete. And this is the result we want.
>

I'd encountered similar troubles with Win 2000 Advanced Server. Not
with FB but other programms, that use network connections.

When win 2000 Advanced Server runs teh active directory services it
needs an Domain Name Server, where it must have permission to update
entries for the domain.

It then also runs as a Domain-Controller, which has an impact, how the
computer interact with each other. Our solution was quite simple:
There were wrong entries in DNS-Suffixes, that the computer appended
to each request to the DNS-Server. You can find the properties in:
Start->Control Settings->Network Connections->Local Area Connection:
Properties, TCP/IP->Properties->Advanced: Tabsheet DNS.

Best regards / Liebe Grüße aus einem sonnigen Wien
Andre