Editing The Startup.ncf File; Verifying Or Modifying Nic Parameters - 3Com EtherLink 3C985B-SX Installation And User Manual

Editing the STARTUP.NCF File

To ensure optimum NIC performance, add at least 1024 packet receive buffers for each NIC in the system.
NOTE: Depending on your system configuration, the number of clients being supported, and other
requirements, more than 1024 packet receive buffers may be needed for each NIC.
Example: The default maximum number of receive buffers for the system is 500; the minimum is 128 as
described in the following table.
Values prior to NIC configuration
maximum packet receive buffers = 500
minimum packet receive buffers = 128
In the STARTUP.NCF file listing shown below, the buffer values on the lines in bold have been changed to
support one NIC:

Verifying or Modifying NIC Parameters

When an NIC configuration is saved, the NetWare install program adds load and bind statements to the
autoexec.ncf file. By accessing this file, you can verify the parameters configured for each NIC, modify them,
or enter additional parameters.
NOTE: The Novell monitor program and the config command are also useful for verifying driver
configuration. For information on how to use these programs, see the Utilities Reference in your Novell
NetWare online documentation.
The parameters that can be defined in the load statements are described in the table on page 18. A valid
autoexec.ncf file is shown below. One set of load and bind commands (in bold) is added for each frame
type the NIC is configured to support.
LOAD AIC7870.DSK SLOT=2
set maximum packet receive buffers = 1524
set minimum packet receive buffers = 1152
set maximum physical receive packet size =
1530
set cpu hog timeout amount = 0
Verifying or Modifying NIC Parameters
Add 1024 for
one NIC
500 + 1024=1524
128 + 1024 =1152
Add 2048 for
two NICs
500 + 2048 = 2548
128 + 2048 = 2176
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