Specifications

Managing the Access Server
18-2
Managing Your Access Server As Part of the LAT
Network
Introduction
The network manager should coordinate the activities of service nodes and access
servers. This section describes a set of configuration guidelines that helps
maximize performance from your LAT network. All the guidelines presented are
optional; however, failure to follow these guidelines might result in unnecessary
performance degradation.
Distributing Devices on Access Servers
With the LAT protocol, the network bandwidth use is optimized when a high
number of terminals (or other devices) are placed on every access server. If only
one or two terminals are in use on each access server, the LAT protocol accounts
for a higher proportion of the total Ethernet usage.
Controlling the Number of Known Service Nodes
Minimize the number of service nodes that are accessed from any one access
server by keeping a single access server from accessing many different service
nodes for its users. Having every access server user connecting to a different
service node uses more of the data link bandwidth than many access server users
connecting to few service nodes. To reduce the number of service nodes accessed
from a particular access server, assign users to the access server based on their
need for common services and then assign the appropriate authorized groups for
the access server ports.
Checking LAT Service Accessibility
The node limit characteristic specifies the number of service nodes that can be
simultaneously stored in the database for the access server. When the node limit is
reached, messages from additional nodes are discarded. The node limit must be in
the range of 1 to 2000. If you specify a node limit of NONE, there is no limit to the
number of nodes stored. In this case, the node limit is subject to memory
constraints. The default is 200 nodes.
If a user on the access server is experiencing response time problems with
accessing LAT services, you can adjust the node limit characteristic. There is a
faster connection when a user connects to a host that is defined in the access
server database, as opposed to a host not in the database.