HOWTO: Use SourceSafe Over a RAS or ISDN Connection

MORE INFORMATION

In general, you want to minimize the amount of network communication that will take place during typical SourceSafe operations. In addition, if you are not using Visual SourceSafe 5.0, you should consider upgrading because version 5.0 contains a tremendous amount of optimization that may substantially improve your RAS performance.

Tips for RAS Optimization

To optimize SourceSafe for use over a RAS, ISDN or other modem connection, you should consider implementing some or all of the following recommendations:

NOTE: These are not listed in any particular order.

1. Do not use a Shadow Directory. The Shadow Directory would typically be located on a network server. Use of this option will increase the amount of data being sent over the network.
2. Do not use a Journal File. The directory that contains the Journal File would typically be located on a network server. Use of this option will increase the amount of data being sent over the network.
3. Do not use Project Security. If Project Security is enabled, every time a user selects a file or project, SourceSafe must query the RIGHTS.DAT file for information on the user's rights to that file or project. This increases the amount of data being sent over the network.
4. Use the Command Line rather than the SourceSafe Explorer. The SourceSafe Explorer will impede performance as it queries the Server for information such as glyphs to display, and so forth.
5. Configure SourceSafe to use a local SS.ini file. This will reduce the amount of information needed to be transferred over the network. Edit the USERS.txt file to change this line:

      USER_NAME=\USERS\USER_NAME\SS.INI
   						

   to this line:

      USER_NAME=<local drive>\SS\USER\SS.INI
   						

6. Configure SourceSafe to use a local Temp directory. This will reduce the amount of information needed to be transferred over the network.
7. Configure SourceSafe to compare files by CheckSum rather than Contents. This will reduce the amount of information needed to be transferred over the network.
   
   NOTE: There is no appreciable difference in the data transfer required to compare files by CheckSum or Time. The recommended method here would by Checksum because it is less prone to error.
8. Do not expand keywords locally. When this option is set, SourceSafe modifies the keywords of the file as it is checked-in to the Database. It then does a Get to update the local file with the keywords. Disabling this option eliminates the Get, thereby reducing the amount of information needed to be transferred over the network.