LAN Performance and firmware Q: I have noticed that when the network activity on my site increases my RTE-A system sometimes runs out of SAM. Once the network activity falls off, the SAM usage returns to normal. This is beginning to impact system performance. Is there anything I can do? Q: Yes. Frequently this condition is caused by excessive broadcast packets on the network. By default, the lan card on the 1000 is usually configured to accept to these broadcast packets, and if there is enough traffic, it can cause the 1000 to run out of SAM. If broadcast packets are the problem, the solution is to change the packet filtering on the LAN card to not accept these broadcast packets. This can be accomplished as follows: Using Node Manager (NM): The RC command will display the current Packet Filter configuration as follows: NM> rc,,4 Read 802.3 Link Config of node 08-00-09-00-72-4C.... Receive Packet Filter 06 As you can see the packet filter is set to 6. The possible values are listed in Table 1 Table 1 Setting Categories of Packets node will accept ------------------------------------------------------------ 0 | Individual only (this is the card default) 1 | Individual + Promiscuous 2 | Individual + Broadcast 3 | Individual + Broadcast + Promiscuous 4 | Individual + Multicast 5 | Individual + Multicast + Promiscuous 6 | Individual + Multicast + Broadcast 7 | Individual + Multicast + Broadcast + Promiscuous ------------------------------------------------------------ A setting of 6 means the card will accept Individual, Multicast and Broadcast packets. To eliminate Broadcast packets, you can use a setting of 0 or 4. (Do not choose any setting that includes Promiscuous. Promiscuous means the LAN will accept any and all packets received. This can really eat up resources and cause network programs on the 1000 to receive packets not intended for them) Multicast is a method of sending a single packet to multiple machines simultaneously. To change the Packet Filter with NM, do the following: NM> sc,,4,0 Set 802.3 Link Config of node 08-00-09-00-72-4C.... Receive Packet Filter 00 Changing the packet filter using NM will only be effective until the system is rebooted. When NSINIT runs (assuming you are using NS/1000-ARPA 1000) it will reset the Packet to 6. You can add the following Control Request to your system welcome file, after NSINIT has executed, to set the packet filter on bootup: CI> CN,,37B,0,-20465, where: LU_OF_LAN = 12076 card's LU number 37B = Control request 0 = Desired Packet Filter -20465 = is a security code For more information on using Node Manager and Packet filtering, refer to the 12076A LAN/1000 Link Node Manager Manual. Information on LAN Driver control requests can be found in the 12079 LAN/1000 Link Direct Driver Access Manual (part number 12079-90001) available *only* by ordering the 12079A product. What are the 12076A LAN card firmware changes for revision 6.1? What are the new firmware part numbers? The following are the changes made to the LAN firmware for firmware revision 6100 OCTAL (3136 decimal): 1. The code was converted from HP64000's 68000 assembly code to HP700's 68000 Assembly. 2. The following changes were made to improve performance: a. Interrupt Service Routines had the number of instructions reduced. b. Some State Machine states are bypassed. c. The card response is returned as soon as possible. (This fixes a potential 10B driver error) 3. Support was added for the discard ARP mode on the card. A new subfunction 36B - ARP packet filter mode, is added for the LAN driver to enable or disable the ARP packet filter mode. If this mode is enabled, either the LAN driver (LAN firmware prior to 6100) or the card (LAN firmware revision 6100) will discard ARP request packets with target IP addresses that do not match the local IP address. Note that the firmware does not require 6.1 software. But only the 6.1 software will be able to use packet filter mode. 4. Changed the LAN firmware revision code to 6100. The firmware part numbers change from 12076-81005/6 to 12076-81007/8. Unfortunately, the revision 6100 12076A firmware was found to have a problem. This problem is described in SR# 4701241182. The download server address cannot be changed in NOVRAM on a 12076A card with the revision 6100 (octal) firmware. This problem has been fixed in revision 6110 (decimal) firmware. These new ROMs are available in kit form as 12076-60003. The new part numbers are 12076-81009 & 12076-81010. Notes: 1) There should be no compatibility issues with new firmware and older software drivers. 2) NSINF, L can be used to determine the revision of the LAN firmware. The following shows part number/revision history: Part number Revision (decimal) Notes --------------------------------------------------------------- | 12076-81004/5 | 2547 | Original release | | | | | | 12076-81007/8 | 3136 (6100 OCTAL) | Should have been | | | | 6100 DECIMAL | | 12076-81009/10 | 6110 | Current | ---------------------------------------------------------------