[comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc] IBM LAN support programs

cwiener@crlabs.CRLABS.COM (Chris Wiener) (12/20/89)

Recently there has been mention of IBM's LAN Support package which includes
token ring card device drivers.  Would someone please post a part number which
I can use to order it from IBM.  I have 2 AT-bus IBM token ring cards and
no software.

Does anyone have performance figures for FTP Software's PC/TCP product with
token ring support built-in versus token ring support obtained using the
recently-posted packet driver.  I am in the process of making just that
decision.

						Chris Wiener
						Datatec Industries
						Englewood, NJ
						(800) 631-2524 Ext. 254
-- 
Christopher Wiener N2CR                        CR Labs, Fort Lee, NJ
DOMAIN: cwiener@CRLABS.COM                     UCCP: ..!attctc!crlabs!cwiener

PMW1@PSUVM.BITNET (Peter Weiss) (12/20/89)

In article <1109@crlabs.CRLABS.COM>, cwiener@crlabs.CRLABS.COM (Chris Wiener)
says:
>
>Recently there has been mention of IBM's LAN Support package which includes
>token ring card device drivers.  Would someone please post a part number which
>I can use to order it from IBM.  I have 2 AT-bus IBM token ring cards and
>no software.

Here is a list of the directory of The IBM LAN Support Program V1.1
(93X5683) (comes on 3.5" and 5.25" diskettes) -

 Directory of A:\

dxminfo  doc     49,401   9-27-88  11:08a
dxmaid   com     32,431   9-27-88  11:08a
dxmaid   001     19,705   9-27-88  11:09a
dxmaid   049     21,377   9-27-88  11:09a
dxmaid   045     18,956   9-27-88  11:09a
biosdate exe        880   9-27-88  11:09a
timerint sys        581   9-27-88  11:10a
dxma0mod sys      2,816   9-27-88  11:10a
dxmc0mod sys     16,384   9-27-88  11:10a
dxmc1mod sys     24,064   9-27-88  11:10a
dxmg0mod sys     28,032   9-27-88  11:11a
dxmg1mod sys     29,696   9-27-88  11:11a
dxmg2mod sys     36,591   9-27-88  11:12a
dxmt0mod sys     28,544   9-27-88  11:13a

14 files found      415,744 bytes free
-------
Peter M. Weiss                   |  (this line intentionally left blank)
31 Shields Bldg (the AIS people) | Don't FAX me, I'll FAX you!
University Park, PA 16802        | Disclaimer :1 * apllies herein

jbvb@VAX.FTP.COM (James Van Bokkelen) (12/21/89)

   Date: 19 Dec 89 23:57:47 GMT
   From: Chris Wiener <pyrnj!bartal!crlabs!cwiener@rutgers.edu>
   ....
   Does anyone have performance figures for FTP Software's PC/TCP product with
   token ring support built-in versus token ring support obtained using the
   recently-posted packet driver....

If both were being used by the same TCP (e.g. our 2.04 ETHDRV kernel on
the packet driver and our 2.04 IBMTR kernel going direct), I'd expect
the direct to go at least 20% faster when talking to hosts on the local
network.  This is because the direct version can use a 1960-byte TCP
max segment size (it knows it is on an 802.5 ring), while the other can
only send 1460 bytes per packet (it thinks it is on an Ethernet, where
the MTU is 1514 bytes instead of 2042).

This wouldn't hold via a router, where the MTU is reduced, or when talkiing
to 4bsd systems, which don't believe TCP segments can be bigger than 1024.
The IBMTR kernel would also use more memory, because its default buffers are
bigger.  All bets are off if you aren't  using the same TCP for each side
of the test.

By the way, we don't support the use of our ETHDRV kernel with the pseudo-
Ethernet 802.5 packet driver.  This is because the RIF-handling code in
the packet driver will come into conflict with our Ethernet ARP module
after having talked to some number of hosts; you'll get "It was working
fine, but then I couldn't open a telnet session to foo.edu.  I could
still talk to bar.com..."

James B. VanBokkelen		26 Princess St., Wakefield, MA  01880
FTP Software Inc.		voice: (617) 246-0900  fax: (617) 246-0901