Sometimes Match-ITs performance is compromised. Here are the main reasons we have discovered over time:-
1. A virus/malware checker(s) is checking the Match-IT data files in real-time on the server. It is essential that the Match-IT data folder is exempt because the files changes so frequently (many times per second). This is perfectly safe because the data files are not executable programs.
2. Use of mapped drives to access Match-IT is not recommended for the same reason. Local virus checkers on PCs check mapped drives to other computers by default, so you have to exempt the mapped drives on each PC and in each virus/malware checker on those PCs. This can usually be done with a global policy by your IT guys. But new PCs can still be a problem because they often come with a free one year AV program installed which starts checking mapped drives. We recommend sharing the Match-IT folder on the server and then connecting to it using UNC paths, but this is only of benefit if the mapped drive used to access Match-IT is also removed from each PC. This also includes any other mapped drives that happen to include the Match-IT folder. Either exempt the drive or preferably use UNC paths.
3. Dodgy network cards. Surprisingly frequently, network cards fail and while doing so cause problems. We have no idea how to detect this other than start one PC at a time and see when Match-IT slows down.
4. Slow/degrading server disk. Match-IT makes high demands on the server disk and it’s needs to be super-fast and efficient.
5. Use of WiFi. If you use a laptop to run Match-IT please make sure that it’s physically plugged into the network. Absolutely do not rely on WiFi.
6. Use a dedicated server. Because of the relative cheapness of servers these days and the critical nature of Match-IT to our customers, many choose to have a dedicated Match-IT server; especially if the load from other server software components (like ACT) is high. Access is either by UNC paths (no mapped drives) or a published app so everybody is in fact running Match-IT on the server. Note that the latter has outlook licence and printing implications. We have a UK customer with a Match-IT server in mainland Europe and it is ultra-reliable; they use a published app for access.
See also this article.