Revit central file access slow

EpicEric · July 15, 2022

We are an architecture firm with about 40 employees. Most workstations use Revit 2020 but this issue has been observed on all the versions we have.

All Revit files are saved in a central file server, a Windows Server 2019 VM on a Dell PowerEdge R720. We have two Datto E48 network switches, one directly connected to the server using a 4-port team, and one connected via 2x gigabit fiber uplink. From the switches, the workstations are connected through HTec 926E voIP desk phone gigabit passthroughs.

The specific issue we are facing is that Revit will load for a very long time when opening or changing the 3D view on files. The size and complexity of the file seems to have some effect, but the smallest and simplest files are still affected. For example, if I change the viewing angle on a 3D file, Revit will load for about two minutes, Windows will report it as not responding, and after a while it will load. This happens even if only one user is using Revit and the file server.

We have ruled out the following as potential causes:
- Workstation performance. Even our newest systems (10700KF, 32GB DDR4, RTX A2000) are experiencing this issue.
- Phone passthoughs do not hinder performance.
- Users on both switches are experiencing the issue.
- Utilisation of all resources, including workstation and server, are nowhere close to full.
- Server is running brand new Crucial SSDs
- We have given the VM 64gb of ram and 12 cores, did not help.
- Transfering other files to and from the server works very fast and does not freeze.

Any idea what the problem could be?