[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

Title:DEChub/HUBwatch/PROBEwatch CONFERENCE
Notice:Firmware -2, Doc -3, Power -4, HW kits -5, firm load -6&7
Moderator:NETCAD::COLELLADT
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4455
Total number of notes:16761

748.0. "DECmau 900 performance problem" by DECPRG::PILAR () Mon Feb 21 1994 10:30

    Hi,
    we have customer using DECHUB 900 and 8* DECmau 900TL. They have
    reported some performance problem. They have 16Mbps TokenRing with
    original IBM PCs and Novell. They have some tool to generate load in the
    network. We made following experiment:
    1/ Three stations connected to the ring generated load about 810 kBps =>
       about 270 kBps.
    2/ Seven stations connected to the ring generated load about 880 kBps =>
       about 125 kBps.
    3/ In both cases stations were connected through one DECmau.
    4/ When we connected stations through several different DECmau results
       are the same.
    
    We were told that with the previous installation they have much better
    performance (they claim that application's response time was 3-5 times
    better). They told they were using the same PCs and Token Ring cards
    and different hub and mau (probably IBM).
    
    Our problem is that we don't have any expierence with TokenRing and
    even datascope for it (or TR card able to work with IRIS).
    
    Thank you in advance for any help
    
    Jarry Pilar                                               
    Digital Services Czech Republic
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
748.1Not obvious what the cause isKALI::SOHAMon Feb 21 1994 14:0124
    Jarry,
    
    Thanks for the note.
    I've sent a short response out via Mike Bouchard.  It goes soemthing
    like this -
    
    The reason for the performance hit isn't obvious.  The DECmau's and
    the DEChub 900 use passive technology for intercconection stations on
    token ring - relays.   Relays will not impact performance.
    Two possibilites are:
    	1.  One or more of the stations is at the limit in terms of
    	    signal strength or possibly oscillator stability thus
    	    causing the station to insert, de-insert, insert, etc.
    	    If this was happeing you should be seeing errors on
    	    the suspected station and soft errors on the ring.
        2.  Something has changed between the two tests.  If we
    	    could have the customer re-run using the original 
    	    equipment that wopuld be great - or get the specifics 
    	    to us and we can look into re-creating it here in the lab.
    
    
    Please keep me in  the loop.
    Thanks Mike S.
                                           
748.2Nothing changed between testsDECPRG::PILARTue Feb 22 1994 03:1811
    Hi,
    
    I do not think something has changed between tests. They were performed
    in several minutes. I'll try to investigate more preciously former
    configuration to allow you to simulate it in lab. I was asking
    customer about error counters etc. but they told me there is nothing.
    It seems to me there is some "magic" border (900kBps).
    
    Regards
    
    Jarry
748.3Good news from PragueDECPRG::PILARMon Feb 28 1994 10:1920
    Hi all,
    
    we finally resolved this issue. We made several further experiments to
    isolate problem. We have PCs connected directly to MAU without DECsite
    cables, we were changing stations participating in test. Nothing has
    helped - behaviour was always the same. There was only one thing we
    cannot overcome - server. It was not possible to run test without
    server. So server became suspicious. Because we do not have any test
    equipment for TokenRing (which is quite rare here in Czech republic) we
    propose to customer to test another vendor MAU. The have borrowed one
    from IBM dealer in Prague and results were fortunately the same. They
    have called us today and it seems that problem is in Novell server
    (probably TokenRing card).
    
    It is now quite good for us because we will probably be able to sell
    additional DECsite for $250k.
    
    Regards
    
    Jarry