In Windows NT / 2000 / XP, if you increase the number of buffers that the redirector reservers for network performance, it may increase your network throughput. Each extra execution thread that you configure will take 1k of additional nonpaged pool memory, but only if your applications actually use them. To configure additional buffers and threads, edit:

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters
Name: MaxCmds
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0-255 with default=15
Name: MaxThreads
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: set to same value as MaxCmds
You may also want to increase the value of MaxCollectionCount. This REG_DWORD is the buffer for character-mode named pipes writes. The default is 16 and the range is 0 - 65535.

For a brief online tutorial on Performance Monitor, see www.robertmoir.co.uk/windows/fog0000000013.html.