Specifications
Table Of Contents
- IBM PC Server and Novell NetWare Integration Guide
- Abstract
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Special Notices
- Preface
- Chapter 1. IBM PC Server Technologies
- Processors
- Clock Rate
- External Interfaces
- Processor Types
- Multiprocessing
- Memory
- Caches
- Memory Interleaving
- Dual Path Buses
- SynchroStream Technology
- Memory Error Detection and Correction
- Standard (Parity) Memory
- Error Correcting Code (ECC)
- Error Correcting Code- Parity Memory (ECC- P)
- ECC on SIMMs (EOS) Memory
- Performance Impact
- Memory Options and Speed
- Bus Architectures
- ISA Bus
- EISA Bus
- Micro Channel Bus
- PCI Bus
- Disk Subsystem
- Hard Disk Interfaces
- SCSI Technology
- SCSI Adapters
- Hard Disk Drives
- RAID Technology
- RAID Classifications
- Recommendations
- LAN Subsystem
- Shared RAM Adapters
- Bus Master Adapters
- PeerMaster Technology
- Security Features
- Tamper- Evident Cover
- Secure I/ O Cables
- Passwords
- Secure Removable Media
- Selectable Drive Startup
- Unattended Start Mode
- Systems Management
- DMI
- SNMP
- NetFinity
- SystemView
- Fault Tolerance
- NetWare SFT III
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
- APC PowerChute
- Chapter 2. IBM PC Server Family Overview
- Chapter 3. Hardware Configuration
- The Setup Program
- Main Menu
- Advanced Menu
- Security
- EISA Configuration Utility
- SCSI Select Utility Program
- System Programs
- Starting From the System Partition
- Starting From the Reference Diskette
- Main Menu Options
- Backup/ Restore System Programs Menu
- Set Configuration Menu
- Set Features Menu
- Test the Computer
- More Utilities Menu
- Advanced Diagnostic Program
- RAID Controller Utility
- Drive Information
- Formatting the Disks
- Defining a Hot- Spare Disk
- Creating a Disk Array
- Defining Logical Drives
- Setting the Write Policy
- Initializing the Array
- Backup/ Restoring the Configuration
- Chapter 4. Novell NetWare Installation
- ServerGuide Overview
- Starting ServerGuide
- Installing NetWare 4.1 with ServerGuide
- Installing NetWare 3.12 with Diskettes
- Hardware Requirements
- Software Requirements
- Information Requested at Time of Installation
- Installation Files
- Installation Procedure
- Installing NetWare 4.1 with the Original CD- ROM
- Hardware Requirements
- Software Requirements
- Installation Procedure
- NetFinity Services for NetWare
- System Requirements
- Installing NetFinity Services for NetWare
- The RAID Administration for NetWare Utility
- Installing the Utility
- Hard Disk Failure Simulation
- Simulating with a Hot Spare Drive
- Simulating without a Hot Spare Drive
- Chapter 5. Performance Tuning
- Appendix A. EISA Configuration File
- Appendix B. Hardware Compatibility, Device Driver, and Software Patch Information
- Appendix C. Configuring DOS CD-ROM Support
- List of Abbreviations
- Index
- Special Characters C
- Numerics
- A
- B
- D
- E
- F
- H
- M
- I
- N
- K
- L
- O
- P
- S
- Q
- R
- T
- U
- V
- W
- Z
- ITSO Technical Bulletin Evaluation RED000

5.3.2.2 Packet Size
Different network topologies will use different packet sizes. For example, a
token-ring LAN adapter set to 16 Mbps can use packets of up to 4202 bytes. If
the packet size is left at the network default value, which is 1514 bytes, this could
unnecessarily slow down the LAN adapter performance. The reason for this is
that it takes just as many instructions to process a small frame as it does a
larger frame. Therefore, for a given amount of data to transfer, the larger
frames will be transferred more quickly. You can adjust the packet size using
set commands.
For NetWare 3.12 and 4.1, the syntax is:
SET MAXIMUM PHYSICAL RECEIVE PACKET SIZE = VALUE
Default = 1514
Range = 618 to 24682
Recommendation:
1. For token-ring 16 Mbps = 4202 packet size
2. For token-ring 4 Mbps = 2154 packet size
3. For Ethernet 10 Mbps = 1514 packet size
In the case of 4 Mbps token-ring adapters, a packet size of 4202 can be
supported on some of the newer IBM LAN adapters.
Note
If you are in a multi-segment LAN or WAN environment, you must make sure
that all inter-networking devices (bridges and routers for example) are
capable of passing the packet size that you choose.
5.3.2.3 Packet Receive Buffers
Packet receive buffers hold communication packets that are waiting to be
processed or transmitted. You can adjust the minimum and maximum number
of buffers that NetWare generates by changing the following parameters:
1. MINIMUM PACKET RECEIVE BUFFERS (STARTUP.NCF)
2. MAXIMUM PACKET RECEIVE BUFFERS (STARTUP.NCF or AUTOEXEC.NCF)
The syntax is as follows:
SET MINIMUM PACKET RECEIVE BUFFERS=VALUE
SET MAXIMUM PACKET RECEIVE BUFFERS=VALUE
Minimum Packet Receive Buffers:
NetWare 3.12
Default = 10
Range = 10 to 100
Recommendation:
This value can vary depending on the number of LAN
adapters and the number of users on the LAN. Allow at least 10 buffers for each
LAN adapter card and one buffer per active LAN user. Active LAN users can be
Chapter 5. Performance Tuning 183