


ARTISOFT adapter Performance Bulletin
Products Affected:  AE1/T, AE2/C, AE2/T and AE3 Ethernet adapters
Date:  27OCT92
Engineer:  Robert D. Brown IV, Joel Landau


                  General Adapter Performance Characteristics
                  Artisoft Ethernet:  AE1/T, AE2/C AE2/T, AE3


                                   ABSTRACT

The performance of Artisoft's Ethernet AE1/T, AE2/C and AE3 adapters are very
competitive.  Quantitative empirical data pertaining to the general
performance characteristics of Artisoft's ethernet adapters is still being
gathered and documented.

Artisoft ethernet AE-series adapter users frequently require performance
information for various reasons.  Occasionally it is necessary for a user to
configure an Ethernet adapter for 8-bit mode because of compatibility problems
with their particular computer.

It is the purpose of this document to illustrate the general performance
characteristics of Artisoft's Ethernet AE-series adapters, with focus placed
on the contrast between 8-bit mode and 16-bit mode of the AE-series adapters.


                                TEST PROCEDURE

Server:  80486 50MHz (Dedicated)
Workstations: 80386sx 25MHz (5 workstations)
Network Operating System:  LANtastic V4.10
Diskcache:  LANCACHE.EXE
The network benchmark software used:  PERFORM3, NetWare LAN Driver
Synchronized Traffic Test Program
PERFORM3 parameters:
  Starting block size (in Bytes):  64K
  Ending block size (in Bytes):  3K
  Step size (in Bytes):  4K

TEST CONFIGURATIONS (4):
1)16-bit mode with LANtastic software defaults.
2)16-bit mode with LANtastic software performance optimized.
3)8-bit mode with LANtastic software defaults.
4)8-bit mode with LANtastic software performance optimized.

NOTE1:  LANtastic performance optimizing software settings used for these
performance tests are outlined in Appendix A.

NOTE2:  The server along with the workstations was configured for 8-bit mode
during the 8-bit mode testing.



               Artisoft AE-Series Ethernet Throughput Performance
                                     PAGE 1



NOTE3:  The current differences between AE1/AE2/AE3 adapters are not
significant regarding these tests except that AE1 adapters do not have a 16-
bit mode.  Only AE2/C adapters were used to obtain this data.  The 8-bit mode
data should accurately represent the AE1 adapter.


                                    RESULTS

The results for each of the configurations tested are contained in table 1.
A graph of table 1 can be found in figure 1.

1)16-bit mode with LANtastic software defaults:
The out-of-the-box 16-bit configuration of the AE2 adapter in combination with
the default LANtastic switch settings provides a somewhat level response of
performance from 3K to 64K block sizes.  The peak data throughput for this
configuration is slightly above 400KBytes/S.  For repetitive small data
transfers(below 5K) the throughput for this configuration falls no lower than
320KBytes/S.

2)16-bit mode with LANtastic software performance optimized:
The out-of-the-box 16-bit configuration of the AE2 adapter in combination with
the LANtastic V4.10 optimized settings produces throughput data transfer rates
as high as 1077KBytes/S, (above 1MByte per second).  It is interesting to note
that due to overhead it is possible only to approach 1.25 MBytes/S
(10Mbits/S).  Ten-megabits per second cannot be met nor exceeded on Ethernet.

The most common units of data that are transfered on many networks are small
(typically less than 10KBytes).  The area of the performance curve from
3KBytes/S to 10KBytes/S should indicate the performance as perceived by most
users of this configuration.  Multiple small transfers (less than 10K) result
in xfer rates that fall to but not less than 673KBytes/S.

This configuration produces the curve that best illustrates the effect of
NOS/DOS/BIOS overhead on the ability to xfer small blocks of data on the
network media (cable).  The variation from the lowest data point on this curve
to the highest data point is 379KBytes/S.

3)8-bit mode with LANtastic software defaults:
The performance of the AE2 adapter is significantly altered when configured
for 8-bit mode.  The percent difference between 8-bit mode average KB/S with
NOS defaults and 16-bit mode KB/S with NOS defaults is 39%, ((415KB/S -
253KB/S) / 415KB/S)100%.

4)8-bit mode with LANtastic software performance optimized:
The performance of the AE2 adapter in 8-bit mode is increased considerably by
the optimization of the NOS software.  However, the optimization of the NOS
software in 8-bit mode does not increase the performance as dramatically as
for 16-bit mode.  The percent difference between 8-bit mode average KB/S with
NOS optimized and 16-bit mode KB/S with NOS optimized is 57.8%, ((988KB/S -
416KB/S) / 988KB/S)100%.





               Artisoft AE-Series Ethernet Throughput Performance
                                     PAGE 2



                                    TABLE 1
                    AE2 Ethernet Throughput Prformance DATA
                               8-bit -vs.- 16-bit
            кФФФФФФФФТФФФФФФФФФФФТФФФФФФФФФФТФФФФФФФФФФТФФФФФФФФФФП
            Г  Range Г   16-Bit  Г  8-Bit   Г  16-Bit  Г  8-Bit   Г
            Г        Г  Mode NOS Г Mode NOS Г Mode NOS Г Mode NOS Г
            Г        Г  OptimizedГ OptimizedГ Defaults Г Defaults Г
            Г        Г   (KB/S)  Г  (KB/S)  Г  (KB/S)  Г  (KB/S)  Г
            УФФФФФФФФХФФФФФФФФФФФХФФФФФФФФФФХФФФФФФФФФФХФФФФФФФФФФД
            Г   3072 Г   673.10  Г  388.90  Г  320.89  Г  203.80  Г
            Г   7168 Г   828.60  Г  424.54  Г  379.65  Г  235.15  Г
            Г  11264 Г   920.20  Г  408.55  Г  401.65  Г  244.69  Г
            Г  15360 Г   935.62  Г  418.90  Г  411.64  Г  250.73  Г
            Г  19456 Г   988.83  Г  423.48  Г  417.76  Г  253.62  Г
            Г  23552 Г   975.87  Г  415.73  Г  421.07  Г  255.69  Г
            Г  27648 Г  1015.47  Г  420.77  Г  425.22  Г  257.39  Г
            Г  31744 Г  1010.41  Г  415.01  Г  426.41  Г  258.11  Г
            Г  35840 Г  1037.09  Г  421.59  Г  428.68  Г  259.29  Г
            Г  39936 Г  1063.48  Г  414.89  Г  430.35  Г  260.14  Г
            Г  44032 Г  1044.27  Г  419.00  Г  429.09  Г  260.96  Г
            Г  48128 Г  1073.35  Г  416.72  Г  431.15  Г  261.35  Г
            Г  52224 Г  1059.45  Г  419.71  Г  431.82  Г  261.54  Г
            Г  56320 Г  1077.18  Г  419.71  Г  432.09  Г  261.92  Г
            Г  60416 Г  1057.92  Г  420.59  Г  432.98  Г  262.23  Г
            Г  64512 Г  1052.94  Г  418.73  Г  434.11  Г  262.25  Г
            УФФФФФФФФСФФФФФФФФФФФСФФФФФФФФФФСФФФФФФФФФФСФФФФФФФФФФД
            Г  average:  988.36     416.68     415.91     253.05  Г
            РФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФй


























               Artisoft AE-Series Ethernet Throughput Performance
                                     PAGE 3



                                   FIGURE 1
                        AE2 Ethernet Performance Graph
                               8-bit -vs.- 16-bit
THROUGHPUT
  KB/S
  1.25 ABSOLUTE THEORETICAL MAXIMUM (10,000,000 bits/S, NOT REACHABLE)
  1.2 ТФ
      Г
      Г
  1.1 ХФ
      Г
      Г                               !   !   !   !   !   !   !   !
  1.0 ХФ                      !   !
      Г               !   !
      Г       !   !
  0.9 ХФ
      Г
      Г   !
  0.8 ХФ
      Г
      Г
  0.7 ХФ
      !
      Г
  0.6 ХФ
      Г
      Г
  0.5 ХФ
      Г
      Г   #          #+  #+  #+  #+  #+  #+  #+  #+  #+  #+  #+  #+
  0.4 ХФ     #+  #+
      #   +
      +
  0.3 ХФ
      Г
      Г   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
  0.2 *Ф
      Г
      Г
  0.1 ХФ
      Г                                                              BLOCK
      РФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФСФФФй  SIZE
      3   7  11  15  19  23  27  31  35  39  44  48  52  56  60  64


         # 16-bit mode with LANtastic software defaults.
         ! 16-bit mode with LANtastic software performance optimized.
         * 8-bit mode with LANtastic software defaults.
         + 8-bit mode with LANtastic software performance optimized.

 NOTE4:  Each curve represents the performance response of an individual
         unique network configuration of 1-dedicated server and 5-
         workstations.


               Artisoft AE-Series Ethernet Throughput Performance
                                     PAGE 4



                                    SUMMARY

The results of this performance evaluation indicates the total possible
throughput performance variation between 8-bit and 16-bit modes (two seperate
networks) is 74% (The percent difference between 8-bit mode average KB/S with
NOS defaults and 16-bit mode KB/S with NOS optimized is 74%, ((988KB/S -
253KB/S) / 253KB/S)100%).

A 74% change in performance between 8-bit mode and 16-bit mode will not be
encountered by typical customers. The NOS software settings affect the
performance of the whole network particularly the NOS software settings at the
server.

On a single network throughput performance variation between 8-bit mode and
16-bit mode under typical customer circumstances will be less than 39% (The
percent difference between 8-bit mode average KB/S with NOS defaults and 16-
bit mode KB/S with NOS defaults) depending on the software settings of the
NOS.  The NOS software settings affect everynode on the network, therefore,
the throughput performance between 8-bit mode and 16-bit mode would approach
but not reach 57.8% in a theoretical worst case situation, (57.8% is the
percent difference between 8-bit mode average KB/S with NOS optimized and 16-
bit mode KB/S with NOS optimized).

Most customers do not dedicate their servers and do not deviate much from NOS
defaults.  It is expected that a typical customer's throughput performance
graph would be at or slightly above that of 16-bit mode with NOS defaults
(assuming 16-bit mode on all nodes).

NOS software settings can be used to compensate for the reduced performance of
AE2 adapters in 8-bit mode to some degree.  The NOS software settings,
particularly on the server, increase performance of the whole network.  At
best the AE-series adapters in 8-bit mode can have throughput performances at
or equal to AE-series adapters in 16-bit mode with the NOS default software
settings.

It is estimated that with NOS software adjustments typical customers in a
PEER-TO-PEER configuration should notice a 15%-20% decrease in performance
throughput with AE-series adapters operating in 8-bit mode.  If a server is
operating an AE-series adapter in 8-bit mode the performance varation between
the two modes will be above 20%.















               Artisoft AE-Series Ethernet Throughput Performance
                                     PAGE 5



                                  APPENDIX A
                     LANTASTIC V4.10 OPTIMIZATION SETTINGS

кФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФТФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФП
Г       SERVER                       Г    WORKSTATION                        Г
УФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФХФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФД
Г       AUTOEXEC.BAT:                Г    AUTOEXEC.BAT:                      Г
Г       @echo off                    Г    @echo off                          Г
Г       cls                          Г    cls                                Г
Г       prompt $p$g                  Г    prompt $p$g                        Г
Г       path=c:\;c:\dos;c:\batch;c:\ Г    path=c:\;c:\dos;c:\batch;c:\l41    Г
Г       l41                          Г    call c:\batch\l41w.bat             Г
Г       call c:\batch\l41w.bat       Г    ::call c:\batch\nov.bat            Г
Г       ::call c:\batch\nov.bat      Г    ::call c:\batch\lite.bat           Г
Г       ::call c:\batch\lite.bat     Г    rem copy d:\batch\update.bat       Г
Г       rem copy d:\batch\update.bat Г    c:\batch                           Г
Г       c:\batch                     Г    rem copy f:\batch\update.bat       Г
Г       rem copy f:\batch\update.bat Г    c:\batch                           Г
Г       c:\batch                     Г    rem call c:\batch\update.bat       Г
Г       rem call c:\batch\update.bat Г                                       Г
УФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФХФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФД
Г       CONFIG.SYS:                  Г    CONFIG.SYS:                        Г
Г       device=c:\dos\himem.sys      Г    device=c:\dos\himem.sys            Г
Г       device=c:\dos\emm386.exe     Г    device=C:\dos\emm386.exe noems     Г
Г       noems ram                    Г    ram                                Г
Г       dos=high,umb                 Г    files=80                           Г
Г       files=200                    Г    buffers=30                         Г
Г       buffers=30                   Г    fcbs=16,8                          Г
Г       lastdrive=m                  Г    stacks=9,256                       Г
Г       fcbs=16,8                    Г    break=off                          Г
Г       stacks=0,0                   Г    lastdrive=e                        Г
Г       break=off                    Г                                       Г
УФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФХФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФД
Г       STARTNET.BAT:                Г    STARTNET.BAT:                      Г
Г       @echo off                    Г    @echo off                          Г
Г       cls                          Г    cls                                Г
Г       cd\l41                       Г    set net=l41                        Г
Г       lh aex                       Г    cd\l41                             Г
Г       @c:\l41\perform.swi          Г    aex                                Г
Г       lh ailanbio                  Г    @C:\l41\performw.swi               Г
Г       @c:\l41\perform.swi          Г    ailanbio                           Г
Г       redir ptb1                   Г    @C:\l41\performw.swi               Г
Г       @c:\l41\perform.swi          Г    redir ptb2                         Г
Г       lh share /f:2048 /l:256      Г    @C:\l41\performw.swi               Г
Г       lancache                     Г    lancache                           Г
Г       @c:\l41\perform.swi          Г    @C:\l41\performw.swi               Г
Г       server                       Г    net use d: \\ptb1\c-drive          Г
РФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФСФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФй







               Artisoft AE-Series Ethernet Throughput Performance
                                     PAGE 6



                               APPENDIX A cont.
кФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФТФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФП
Г       PERFORM.SWI SWITCH FILE:     Г    PERFORMW.SWI SWITCH FILE:          Г
Г       [aex]                        Г    [aex]                              Г
Г            irq=5                   Г         irq=5                         Г
Г            iobase=340              Г         iobase=340                    Г
Г            transmit_buffers=35     Г         transmit_buffers=33           Г
Г            packet_size=1700        Г         packet_size=1700              Г
Г       [ailanbio]                   Г    [ailanbio]                         Г
Г            ack_timeout=1           Г         ack_timeout=0                 Г
Г            initial_send_size=65535 Г         initial_send_size=65535       Г
Г            buffers=29              Г         buffers=29                    Г
Г            size=1700               Г         size=1700                     Г
Г            max_sessions=21         Г         max_names=5                   Г
Г            max_names=5             Г         max_ncbs=24                   Г
Г            max_ncbs=50             Г         retry_period=0                Г
Г            retry_period=0          Г         run_burst=254                 Г
Г            run_burst=254           Г    [redir]                            Г
Г       [redir]                      Г         buffers=1                     Г
Г            buffers=1               Г         size=32768                    Г
Г            size=32768              Г         logins=5                      Г
Г            logins=1                Г    [lancache]                         Г
Г       [lancache]                   Г         type=xms                      Г
Г            type=xms                Г         after=3600                    Г
Г            after=3600              Г         long=3600                     Г
Г            long=3600               Г                                       Г
УФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФХФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФй
Г                                    Г
Г SERVER STARTUP                     Г
Г PARAMETERS                         Г
Г maximum users          21          Г
Г network buffer         57344       Г
Г number adapters        1           Г
Г network tasks          7           Г
Г send server id         disabled    Г
Г remote booting         disabled    Г
Г floppy direct          disabled    Г
Г despooling             disabled    Г
Г printer bufer          512         Г
Г printer tasks          0           Г
Г max files open      use config.sys Г
Г run buffer size        0           Г
Г request size           1024        Г
Г run burst              255         Г
Г seek cache size        no cache    Г
Г cached resourced       1           Г
Г lock hold time         disabled    Г
РФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФй







               Artisoft AE-Series Ethernet Throughput Performance
                                     PAGE 7
