Novell NETWARE 6-DOCUMENTATION Manual page 2626

Entering Parameters
Parameters that Control the Allocation of Services
188 Utilities Reference
You can modify the values of most SET parameters at the console prompt.
The system is immediately configured to that setting. Any setting in the
AUTOEXEC.NCF file is overridden.
You can enter SET commands that you execute at the console prompt in
the AUTOEXEC.NCF file. When a parameter value is set in this file, the
server configures itself to that setting each time the server is booted—
unless the value is modified.
Some commands can be also saved in the STARTUP.NCF file. Use
NWCONFIG to edit both the AUTOEXEC.NCF and the STARTUP.NCF
file.
Some SET parameters control how the system dynamically allocates services.
Three types of parameters interact to control the allocation of a service:
Maximum limits control the amount of server resources the operating
system can allocate for a particular service.
Minimum limits allow the operating system to allocate a minimum
amount of resources as soon as a request is received.
Low minimum limits slow the growth of a particular service. High
minimum limits allow rapid growth.
For example, if the minimum number of directory cache buffers is set to
20, the system allocates another buffer resource as soon as a request is
made—until 20 cache buffers have been allocated.
When 20 directory cache buffers are allocated, the system waits 2.2
seconds (default) when a request comes in, and then allocates another
buffer if the request is still active.
However, if the minimum number of directory cache buffers is set to 40,
the system allocates 40 directory cache buffers before it starts slowing the
growth by waiting 2.2 seconds after each request.
Wait time limits control how rapidly the operating system can allocate a
new resource.