patch-pre2.0.13 linux/Documentation/networking/Configurable

• Lines: 34
• Date: Thu Jun 6 14:57:43 1996
• Orig file: pre2.0.12/linux/Documentation/networking/Configurable
• Orig date: Thu Jan 1 02:00:00 1970

diff -u --recursive --new-file pre2.0.12/linux/Documentation/networking/Configurable linux/Documentation/networking/Configurable
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+
+There are a few network parameters that can be tuned to better match
+the kernel to your system hardware and intended usage. The defaults
+are usually a good choice for 99% of the people 99% of the time, but
+you should be aware they do exist and can be changed.
+
+The current list of parameters can be found in the file:
+
+	./linux/net/TUNABLE
+
+Some of these are accessible via the sysctl interface, and many more are
+scheduled to be added in this way. For example, some parameters related 
+to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) are very easily viewed and altered.
+
+	# cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/arp_timeout
+	6000
+	# echo 7000 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/arp_timeout
+	# cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/arp_timeout
+	7000
+
+Others are already accessible via the related user space programs.
+For example, MAX_WINDOW has a default of 32k which is a good choice for
+modern hardware, but if you have a slow (8 bit) ethercard and/or a slow
+machine, then this will be far too big for the card to keep up with fast 
+Tx'ing machines on the same net, resulting in overruns and receive errors.
+A value of about 4k would be more appropriate, which can be set via:
+
+	# route add -net 192.168.3.0 window 4096
+
+The remainder of these can only be presently changed by altering a #define
+in the related header file. This means an edit and recompile cycle.
+
+						Paul Gortmaker 06/96