Subject: best NIC to make samba server
To: None <port-i386@netbsd.org>
From: Kazushi (Jam) Marukawa <jam@pobox.com>
List: port-i386
Date: 07/13/2001 00:13:03
Hi,

I experied slow NetBSD samba server.  Then, I bought many
NICs with a hope to improve the speed and failed.  At last,
I got good cards finally.  So, I want to list them up to
help others and hear differnt idea or opinions from others.
I list up NICs what I put into my NetBSD box and my
experience while I was using NetBSD as a samba server from
Windows clients.

DLink DEF530-TX: This was my first card.  I put two of this
  to both NetBSD server and local Windows machine.  It works
  fine but slow.  I changed SAMBA configuration to make it
  fast regarding to SAMBA how-to, but it doesn't help me.

3com 3C905C: It was little faster but still slow.  SAMBA
  configuration tweaks doesn't work also.  If I use Linux
  with this card, it works fast, so I guess NetBSD driver
  and SAMBA have mistaches here somehow.  For example, 153MB
  file copy from NetBSD SAMBA server to local takes 22s, but
  copy from local to NetBSD server takes forever 489s!!  FTP
  takes 18 or 19s in both directions.  Clients use DEF530-TX
  and SMC 1211TX.

3com 3C905: Same as 3C905C.  At this time, I tried to use
  3C905C for server and 3C905 for client, but it also
  doesn't help me.

DEC chip card: Lightening first for download (server to
  client), but as same as slow for upload.  Moreover, often
  lost interrupts.

Intel PILA8460 and 8465B (82557 and 82558): Works great.
  Now I can copy 153MB same file in 22s in both directions.


The problem is all are works fine and fast for regular ftp
connection.  They doesn't work well for only the case of
SAMBA.  Is there any differences here?

Anyway, I finally bought the Intel cards and they works
fine.  I suggest you to buy it.  Now, I'm planing to sell
other NICs on eBay.  ;-)

Regards,
-- Kazushi
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