NIC Tuning Parameters

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave
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Dave

I have been researching a number of NIC hardware parameters to optimize a
desktop to perform as a firewall, for both throughput and a large number of
connections. Below are these parameters:

Receive Buffers
Coalesce Buffers
Transmit Descriptors
Receive Descriptors
Transmit Control Blocks

The firewall will contain 4 network cards, 2 cards accessing DMZ's, 1 card
for External Access the other for Internal Access. The internet access runs
at 10MB Half Duplex and each other NIC is connected to 100MB Full Duplex.
The above settings are reference in a performance tuning guide for
Checkpoint, and are configurable through the Intel NIC Driver.

I understand that the default parameters would function, however I am
justifying researching this information on the basis that Desktop NIC Driver
Parameters are configure based on their purpose. Since the firewall will be
acting more closely as a router as oppose to performing as a workstation, I
would think that possibly that Desktop NIC Driver parameters need to be
'tweak' to perform as a router. (Just using router as an example of a
network device that may have varying settings).

Does anyone have any recommendations or experiences regarding the above
settings? Any recommendations regarding where to find information for these
settings? Or any other NIC tunable parameter that someone has tweak which
has played a significant impact on performance?

Thanks,
Dave
 
Hi Dave,

Thank you for posting!

I searched Internet and found an article about TCP and UDP performance
tuning guide from IBM web site. The hyperlink is
http://publib16.boulder.ibm.com/pseries/en_US/aixbman/prftungd/netperf3.htm.

However, I am afraid that I have not tested it and I hope it will be useful.

Have a nice day!

Thanks & Regards,

Feng Mao [MSFT], MCSE
Microsoft Online Partner Support

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.



--------------------
| From: "Dave" <[email protected]>
| Newsgroups:
alt.comp.networking.routers,be.comp.networking,comp.os.linux.networking,comp
.os.ms-windows.networking,microsoft.public.win2000.networking
| Subject: NIC Tuning Parameters
| Lines: 33
| X-Priority: 3
| X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
| X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409
| X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409
| Message-ID: <xPaOc.118430$Rf.3141@edtnps84>
| Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 17:52:29 GMT
| NNTP-Posting-Host: 154.11.213.175
| X-Trace: edtnps84 1091123549 154.11.213.175 (Thu, 29 Jul 2004 11:52:29
MDT)
| NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 11:52:29 MDT
| Path:
cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGXA02.phx.gbl!cpmsftngxa06.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP08
.phx.gbl!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news.glorb.com!newsfeed2.tel
usplanet.net!newsfeed.telus.net!edtnps84.POSTED!53ab2750!not-for-mail
| Xref: cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl microsoft.public.win2000.networking:69175
| X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.win2000.networking
|
| I have been researching a number of NIC hardware parameters to optimize a
| desktop to perform as a firewall, for both throughput and a large number
of
| connections. Below are these parameters:
|
| Receive Buffers
| Coalesce Buffers
| Transmit Descriptors
| Receive Descriptors
| Transmit Control Blocks
|
| The firewall will contain 4 network cards, 2 cards accessing DMZ's, 1 card
| for External Access the other for Internal Access. The internet access
runs
| at 10MB Half Duplex and each other NIC is connected to 100MB Full Duplex.
| The above settings are reference in a performance tuning guide for
| Checkpoint, and are configurable through the Intel NIC Driver.
|
| I understand that the default parameters would function, however I am
| justifying researching this information on the basis that Desktop NIC
Driver
| Parameters are configure based on their purpose. Since the firewall will
be
| acting more closely as a router as oppose to performing as a workstation,
I
| would think that possibly that Desktop NIC Driver parameters need to be
| 'tweak' to perform as a router. (Just using router as an example of a
| network device that may have varying settings).
|
| Does anyone have any recommendations or experiences regarding the above
| settings? Any recommendations regarding where to find information for
these
| settings? Or any other NIC tunable parameter that someone has tweak which
| has played a significant impact on performance?
|
| Thanks,
| Dave
|
|
|
 
Hi Feng,

Thanks a lot for the response! Right now I am reviewing the document as it
is a lot for me to digest. It appears that this document has many general
concepts that can guide me to identify the settings required to tweak the
performance. Again thanks for the help!

Dave

Feng Mao said:
Hi Dave,

Thank you for posting!

I searched Internet and found an article about TCP and UDP performance
tuning guide from IBM web site. The hyperlink is
http://publib16.boulder.ibm.com/pseries/en_US/aixbman/prftungd/netperf3.htm.

However, I am afraid that I have not tested it and I hope it will be useful.

Have a nice day!

Thanks & Regards,

Feng Mao [MSFT], MCSE
Microsoft Online Partner Support

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.



--------------------
| From: "Dave" <[email protected]>
| Newsgroups:
alt.comp.networking.routers,be.comp.networking,comp.os.linux.networking,comp
os.ms-windows.networking,microsoft.public.win2000.networking
| Subject: NIC Tuning Parameters
| Lines: 33
| X-Priority: 3
| X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
| X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409
| X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409
| Message-ID: <xPaOc.118430$Rf.3141@edtnps84>
| Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 17:52:29 GMT
| NNTP-Posting-Host: 154.11.213.175
| X-Trace: edtnps84 1091123549 154.11.213.175 (Thu, 29 Jul 2004 11:52:29
MDT)
| NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 11:52:29 MDT
| Path:
cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGXA02.phx.gbl!cpmsftngxa06.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP08phx.gbl!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news.glorb.com!newsfeed2.tel
usplanet.net!newsfeed.telus.net!edtnps84.POSTED!53ab2750!not-for-mail
| Xref: cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl microsoft.public.win2000.networking:69175
| X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.win2000.networking
|
| I have been researching a number of NIC hardware parameters to optimize a
| desktop to perform as a firewall, for both throughput and a large number
of
| connections. Below are these parameters:
|
| Receive Buffers
| Coalesce Buffers
| Transmit Descriptors
| Receive Descriptors
| Transmit Control Blocks
|
| The firewall will contain 4 network cards, 2 cards accessing DMZ's, 1 card
| for External Access the other for Internal Access. The internet access
runs
| at 10MB Half Duplex and each other NIC is connected to 100MB Full Duplex.
| The above settings are reference in a performance tuning guide for
| Checkpoint, and are configurable through the Intel NIC Driver.
|
| I understand that the default parameters would function, however I am
| justifying researching this information on the basis that Desktop NIC
Driver
| Parameters are configure based on their purpose. Since the firewall will
be
| acting more closely as a router as oppose to performing as a workstation,
I
| would think that possibly that Desktop NIC Driver parameters need to be
| 'tweak' to perform as a router. (Just using router as an example of a
| network device that may have varying settings).
|
| Does anyone have any recommendations or experiences regarding the above
| settings? Any recommendations regarding where to find information for
these
| settings? Or any other NIC tunable parameter that someone has tweak which
| has played a significant impact on performance?
|
| Thanks,
| Dave
|
|
|
Click to expand...
 
You are welcome, Dave.

Feel free to post to the newsgroup if you have any questions in the future!

Have a nice day!

Thanks & Regards,

Feng Mao [MSFT], MCSE
Microsoft Online Partner Support

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.



--------------------
| From: "Dave" <[email protected]>
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.win2000.networking
| References: <xPaOc.118430$Rf.3141@edtnps84>
<[email protected]>
| Subject: Re: NIC Tuning Parameters
| Lines: 117
| X-Priority: 3
| X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
| X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409
| X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409
| Message-ID: <pRtQc.43780$T_6.39898@edtnps89>
| Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2004 17:09:41 GMT
| NNTP-Posting-Host: 154.11.213.175
| X-Trace: edtnps89 1091725781 154.11.213.175 (Thu, 05 Aug 2004 11:09:41
MDT)
| NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2004 11:09:41 MDT
| Path:
cpmsftngxa06.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGXA01.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP08.phx.gbl!newsfeed00.s
ul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news.glorb.com!cyclone.bc.net!newsfeed2.telusplan
et.net!newsfeed.telus.net!edtnps89.POSTED!53ab2750!not-for-mail
| Xref: cpmsftngxa06.phx.gbl microsoft.public.win2000.networking:69473
| X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.win2000.networking
|
| Hi Feng,
|
| Thanks a lot for the response! Right now I am reviewing the document as
it
| is a lot for me to digest. It appears that this document has many general
| concepts that can guide me to identify the settings required to tweak the
| performance. Again thanks for the help!
|
| Dave
|
| | > Hi Dave,
| >
| > Thank you for posting!
| >
| > I searched Internet and found an article about TCP and UDP performance
| > tuning guide from IBM web site. The hyperlink is
| >
|
http://publib16.boulder.ibm.com/pseries/en_US/aixbman/prftungd/netperf3.htm.
| >
| > However, I am afraid that I have not tested it and I hope it will be
| useful.
| >
| > Have a nice day!
| >
| > Thanks & Regards,
| >
| > Feng Mao [MSFT], MCSE
| > Microsoft Online Partner Support
| >
| > Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
| >
| > =====================================================
| > When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
| > that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
| > =====================================================
| > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
| rights.
| >
| >
| >
| > --------------------
| > | From: "Dave" <[email protected]>
| > | Newsgroups:
| >
|
alt.comp.networking.routers,be.comp.networking,comp.os.linux.networking,comp
| > os.ms-windows.networking,microsoft.public.win2000.networking
| > | Subject: NIC Tuning Parameters
| > | Lines: 33
| > | X-Priority: 3
| > | X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
| > | X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409
| > | X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409
| > | Message-ID: <xPaOc.118430$Rf.3141@edtnps84>
| > | Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 17:52:29 GMT
| > | NNTP-Posting-Host: 154.11.213.175
| > | X-Trace: edtnps84 1091123549 154.11.213.175 (Thu, 29 Jul 2004 11:52:29
| > MDT)
| > | NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 11:52:29 MDT
| > | Path:
| >
|
cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGXA02.phx.gbl!cpmsftngxa06.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP08
| >
|
phx.gbl!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news.glorb.com!newsfeed2.tel
| > usplanet.net!newsfeed.telus.net!edtnps84.POSTED!53ab2750!not-for-mail
| > | Xref: cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl microsoft.public.win2000.networking:69175
| > | X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.win2000.networking
| > |
| > | I have been researching a number of NIC hardware parameters to
optimize
| a
| > | desktop to perform as a firewall, for both throughput and a large
number
| > of
| > | connections. Below are these parameters:
| > |
| > | Receive Buffers
| > | Coalesce Buffers
| > | Transmit Descriptors
| > | Receive Descriptors
| > | Transmit Control Blocks
| > |
| > | The firewall will contain 4 network cards, 2 cards accessing DMZ's, 1
| card
| > | for External Access the other for Internal Access. The internet
access
| > runs
| > | at 10MB Half Duplex and each other NIC is connected to 100MB Full
| Duplex.
| > | The above settings are reference in a performance tuning guide for
| > | Checkpoint, and are configurable through the Intel NIC Driver.
| > |
| > | I understand that the default parameters would function, however I am
| > | justifying researching this information on the basis that Desktop NIC
| > Driver
| > | Parameters are configure based on their purpose. Since the firewall
| will
| > be
| > | acting more closely as a router as oppose to performing as a
| workstation,
| > I
| > | would think that possibly that Desktop NIC Driver parameters need to
be
| > | 'tweak' to perform as a router. (Just using router as an example of a
| > | network device that may have varying settings).
| > |
| > | Does anyone have any recommendations or experiences regarding the
above
| > | settings? Any recommendations regarding where to find information for
| > these
| > | settings? Or any other NIC tunable parameter that someone has tweak
| which
| > | has played a significant impact on performance?
| > |
| > | Thanks,
| > | Dave
| > |
| > |
| > |
| >
|
|
|
 
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