Jumbo Frames - Intel & Compaq

[techguru69]

It appears that we have run into a dilemma with our 2 new Compaq servers attached to an Alpine 3808.

The Compaq (HP) gigabit cards are of type 7781. The previous servsr used a INtel Pro1000 card. We have jumbo frames enabled on all servers and switches.

The issue si that our backups would normally run at @250MB/min with the Intel's. With the Compaq's, we're down to @40MB/min.

Does anyone have any insight on this? Should we just put Intel Pro's in the new servers and be done with it?

TIA

 

[rn4it]

How do you have the port speed and duplex configured on both server and switch? If the switch port is set to auto, try setting it to 1000 full, even if the card doesn't have give you the ability to set it. We ran into a similiar issue a while back. We had a fiber card that didn't give you an option to set speed or duplex. The tech setting up the server told us to set the switch ports to auto. Response time was extremely slow, when I did a sh port # rx I noticed a large number of errors, I hard set the port to 1000 full, zero'd out the counters and the speeds increased. I have noticed that alot of the time with compaq drivers when set to auto, the port negotiates at 100 half even though it is capable of doing 100 full. It may be a similiar issue.

 

[techguru69]

Thanks for the reply.
I'll give your suggestion a shot, but I know that Extreme's tech. (we use Extreme Network switches) has told me on 2 occasions that their equipment doesn't like it when you use anything else but Auto.

I also ordered another Intel pro 1000 card and we're going o test that in the new G3 and see if it proves faster.

I did find out that the new Compaq NIC's are made by Broadcom and not intel - interesting.

Mike