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We used a Compaq Computer Corp. ProLiant server with dual 933-MHz Pentium III processors, 640 MB of RAM, and three 64-bit and one 32-bit PCI slots. Network cards were installed into the server's 64-bit, 33-MHz PCI slots. For the Intel network cards, one card was placed in a 32-bit, 33-MHz PCI slot; the rest were in the 64-bit slots. Note that the Intel cards are 32 bit only.

We used 12 200-MHz Pentium PCs running Microsoft Windows NT as clients. We measured performance by using scripts from NetIQ Chariot 4.0. Another PC was used as the Chariot console server. All the machines were connected via a Cisco Systems Catalyst 2924 switch. For our comparative benchmarks, we ran Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP 1 and Novell NetWare 5.1 SP 2A. The PCs were connected via a Fast Ethernet LAN.

Our scripts transferred a 1-MB file across the network. We tested with all 12 clients downloading from the server, with 12 clients uploading to the server and with a bidirectional transfer--six clients downloading, six uploading. For the failover test, we unplugged two of the four links and ran the 12-client download script. We also uninstalled the load-balancing software and tested the throughput of one network port, once again running the 12-client download script. Chariot was used to determine CPU utilization during a 12-client download under Windows 2000. We performed all tests three times and averaged the results.

NetIQ Chariot 4.0, NetIQ Corp., (408) 330-7000; fax (408) 330-0979. www.netiq.com/Products/Network_Performance/Chariot