AutoCAD “Out of the Box” is not tuned to perform particularly well in a WAN environment. This tip is about ways to make AutoCAD respond faster in a networked environment.  After implmenting central file serverices with Riverbed appliances the performance and usage of AutoCAD drawing become almost unusable when browsing for a file in Windows Explorer. AutoCAD files were located on a LAN connected file server before and migrated. Autodesk’s Infamous Explorer Shell Extension Since Autodesk included the ability to add digital signatures to drawings, they’ve also included an Explorer shell extension that allows Explorer to display signed .DWG files with a different icon than unsigned .DWG files. When Explorer lists .DWG files in a folder, it has to examine each file to determine whether or not it is signed and then display the correct icon. This takes time. On your local workstation’s folders the extra time is insignificant; however on a LAN the lag is noticeable, and across the WAN the lag can be crippling. The Explore lag occurs in AutoCAD File Dialogs as well as just plain Explorer. By default this shell extension is installed and enabled with any Autodesk product. To disable it:

• Right-click on any .DWG file and choose “Enable/Disable Digital Signature Icons” from the menu.
• In the Signature Validation Options dialog uncheck the “Validate digital signatures and display special icons” check box. 
• Click OK and Reboot.

Any AutoCAD product install or update will re-enable this shell extension, so you may get to do this more than one time. Anytime your browser access becomes slow, check this setting. Disabling the the digital signature icon display does not invalidate a drawing’s digital signature. End users are still notified on Open that they’re opening a signed drawing. Related links:

• AutoCAD in a Networked Environment