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Re: Server hardware



Actually, 3com drivers hanging when handling a heavy load of
traffic is a Well Known Feature(tm). Increasing max_interrupt_work
usually solves the problem. 

About the performance:
3com has Linux drivers on their websites, these allow you
to unlock the full potential of their NICs.

Granted, Intel's cards are not too shabby either.

Ariel, just wondering; Where do you have a Beowulf cluster?

Ariel Biener wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 9 Feb 2000, Ira Abramov wrote:
> 
> > I think that was back in the 2.0 days. EEPro probably still suck. I love
> > my 3COMs, never had a problem with one. ever.
> 
> My experience with 3com 905/905B 595/590 cards using 100Mbit is completely
> different. Not only that the driver is not stable at 100Mbit FD, it also
> hangs ocasionally on very busy servers.
> 
> Even after a fresh start, using either a back-to-back link or via a
> 100Mbit switched net (two machines on the same 3300 3com switch), you can
> never get more that 60-68Mbit/sec from the 3com, while I can get close to
> 85Mbit/sec from the eepro100B.
> 
> In general, with network intensive applications, on 100Mbit FD, the Intel
> cards far outperform the 3com cards, and are much more stable and
> reliable.
> 
> I am talking about 4-5 brands of PCs, (some DELLs, some others), that are
> really "using" the network. We've tested this again and again, even more
> so with our new Beowulf cluster, and the results consistently showed the
> opposite of what Ira said.
> 
> So, if you ask me, do not use 3com with Linux till 3com releases all the
> specs. Fact is that the Solaris x86 driver for these 3com cards is stable.
> 
> --Ariel
> 
> >
> > > In general - is there any issues I should know about before buying it?
> >
> > serious warrenty and onsite service, like any important server.
> >
> > be sure to have it running an NTP daemon and synching to a UP machine,
> > linux SMP system clocks tend to go loopy.
> >
> > --
> > Ira Abramov ;  whois:IA58  ;  www.scso.com ;  all around Linux enthusiast
> > The nice thing about Windows is - It does not just crash, it displays a
> > dialog box and lets you press 'OK' first.
> > (Arno Schaefer's .sig)

> --
> Ariel Biener
> e-mail: ariel@post.tau.ac.il           Work phone: 03-6406086
> fingerprint = 07 D1 E5 3E EF 6D E5 82 0B E9 21 D4 3C 7D 8B BC

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