Adaptec did include a configuration binary for Linux but said it has no plans for a Linux GUI configuration utility. Our Network Computing Linux guru, technology editor Lori MacVittie, tells us that will suit Linux wonks just fine.

Other than the aforementioned multiple-target issue, testing on the Adaptec 7211C went smoothly. It wasn't the speediest demon on our multiple-target read tests, but its performance was acceptable. On our write tests, the 7211C showed very good performance, and it was downright stingy in CPU utilization. The 7211C scored well in both the IOps and 2-Kbps database tests, while it won outright on throughput and was within a hair of the Intel Pro/1000 T IP Storage Adapter for CPU performance in our custom test.

The Adaptec 7211C demonstrated good throughput and great CPU performance, all at an attractive price.

Adaptec iSCSI Adapter 7211C, $660. Adaptec, (408) 945-8600, (800) 442-7274. www.adaptec.com

Alacritech 1000x1 Copper Single-Port Server and Storage Accelerator

We really liked Alacritech's 1000x1 card. A key benefit: It functions as a standard NIC, and that gives this card an edge for repurposing. Should you decide not to use it for iSCSI, it's suitable anywhere you would use a standard NIC, providing CPU relief for almost any TCP task.

The card comes in a low-profile configuration with a spare bracket for both low-profile slots and normal PCI slots. Like all the cards in we tested for this article, it's a standard PCI 64-bit 66-MHz card. Installation was as easy as inserting the card, booting and installing the drivers.

Sadly, getting iSCSI to run was not so easy, but it wasn't Alacritech's fault. The company does not provide an iSCSI driver with its card, so we did our testing with the beta Microsoft iSCSI driver, which lacks a GUI. The command-line experience was truly miserable (we do expect Microsoft to have a full GUI interface for this driver next month).

Throughput performance for the Alacritech card was very good. CPU utilization under iSCSI was not as impressive. Compared with the baseline Broadcom Ethernet NIC embedded in the Dell 2650 we used for testing, the Alacritech's CPU utilization was awesome. However, CPU utilization was consistently high, sometimes almost double, compared with the Adaptec and Intel iSCSI HBAs. While still leaps and bounds better than the embedded Broadcom NIC, the Alacritech simply couldn't compete with the added iSCSI-specific off-load capabilities that the Intel Pro/1000 T and the Adaptec 7211C brought to the table.

Higher CPU utilization performance and a significantly higher price cost the Alacritech 1000x1 the crown, but we wouldn't hesitate to recommend this adapter if you're worried about investment protection--you can always repurpose the card for use in non-iSCSI applications.

Alacritech 1000x1 Server and Storage Accelerator, $999 (copper), $1,399 (fiber). Alacritech, (408) 287-9997. www.alacritech.com

SUBIntel Pro/1000 T IP Storage Adapter

The Intel Pro/ 1000 T storage adapter is a likable card, but its read performance problems bumped it down to the bottom of the pile.

The Pro/1000 T comes as a standard PCI 64-bit 66-MHz card and is physically a bit larger than the other two cards we tested. It uses an Intel 80200 processor based on the company's XScale architecture and Wind River's TINA (Tornado for Intelligent Network Acceleration TCP-off-load technology. It also features upgradeable flash memory, making it a breeze to update the firmware.

The Pro/1000 T led the pack in ease of use. Installation was smooth, and the graphical control-panel configuration utility was simple, clean and intuitive. Setting up targets and accompanying security that might be needed was no problem.

Difficulties arose, however, when we started testing. The PRO/1000 T performed very well in write tests, but read tests got us a very confusing 55-MBps transfer rate. Using two targets didn't improve the situation, so we called Intel. We sent packet traces with Ethereal and tried several variations, with no luck. Intel claims that it gets much better performance in its laboratories, along the lines of 70 MBps. We were unable to achieve that rate, and even if we had, that score still would trail its rivals.

On the plus side, we were impressed with the Pro/1000 T's CPU utilization scores, which were neck-and-neck with Adaptec's across the board.

Intel Pro/1000 T IP Storage Adapter, $695. Intel Corp., (800) 628-8686, (408) 765-8080. www.intel.com

Steven J. schuchart Jr. covers storage and servers for Network Computing. He previously worked as a network architect for a general retail firm, a PC and electronics technician, a computer retail store manager and a freelance disc jockey. Write to him at sschuchart@nwc.com.

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