>check your ODFBC Driver definition
>there is a protocoll function If it ist set to enable everythimg takes forever. We had this at one clients side.

I finally had the time to get to the server. You were right.
It was always in front of my eyes and I was not seeing it. I was using the wrong driver.

It's a known disease: CRS (Can't Remember Something or other...)

Thanks for the pointer.