SCO

Do you have DNS client configured on that server?

netstat looks fine. No DNS on this server, everyone telnets in to the ip address. No users are listed under etc/hosts, just the ip addresses of some ip printers, the server, etc. I'm wondering if perhaps the nic in this machine is failing, it's a really old Compaq. My initial thought with all of this was it had something to do with getty or any other logon process. Thanks again, folks, for all of your help

If you think the nic is failing, run crash, and at its > prompt enter strstat to get the number of packets sent/received failed.
>quit ends the program.

Post #6 is a very good tip. It checks whether the clients are getting a slow response to a DNS lookup (if a DNS is in use).

Try to get some "ping" times from client to server. If the ping times are in the hundreds, you have a network problem.

Let's look at the local network. If at any time since it was last cold-booted, the server's network connection has been re-plugged you can get these symptoms because the connection can silently drop to half-duplex (which is deadly slow) if either the server or the network port was originally set to auto-negotiate. The quick fix is to power down the server and anything else connected to the same network switch/hub, then power down the network switch/hub, then power-up the network switch/hub, then power up the servers.
Those who treat a patch panel like a 1930's telephone exchange are prone to these problems. Basically never re-plug a live network cable.

Same/similar problem here, telnet into server takes a long while. I connected 1 pc thru 1 switch and just the server, opened a telnet prompt. (dos prompt from windows) telnet's 192.x.x.x:23 it timed out before connecting. however using putty. it finally connects after about 45 seconds? (didn't really time it but I will). this use to be instant. but now for what ever reason is slow. also, some times the printing thru the network is slow too. everything else seems ok. Ill make note of the post questions and attempt to add answers. (don't have them now. and am at other location) one over thing to note. in the error log I see.

/var/adm/syslog
acct bootpd[504]: IP address not found: 10.10.10.xxx

xxx= several different recurring ip's could this be left over sessions?
Thanks in advance!