10/100 NICs Have The Networking Knack

Server-Side Adapters Fast Ethernet for your enterprise servers is the most affordable bandwidth booster you can buy. Server adapters should be fast and robust, and several features set them apart. NICs with onboard processors generally have better performance and lower host CPU utilization. NICs, such as the Intel PRO 100 Server Adapter, feature an i960 microprocessor that runs portions of the NIC driver, leaving more CPU cycles for the host. This extra processor also adds functionality, such as advanced VLAN tagging or trunking capabilities. Our previous lab tests indicate that server adapters with onboard processors can handle full load traffic on a Pentium Pro server with as little as 13 percent utilization, while adapters without these processors range from 18 percent to more than 60 percent CPU ut ilization. Onboard RAM is another good indication of how suitable a NIC is for server applications. Server NICs should have at least 16 KB of RAM, while some--like the Intel PRO 100 Server Adapter--have as much as 1,000 KB. Extra RAM reduces the number of dropped packets, which increases your network's health and performance. Depending on how busy your server is with other processes, more or less RAM may be appropriate. Fault tolerance and load balancing are two important considerations when selecting a server-side NIC. Fewer vendors have implemented fault-tolerant solutions, but for networks that need the added reliability, a "failover" driver is a must. A few vendors have taken fault tolerance one step further, letting you load-balance across multiple NICs. We should mention multiport adapters. Several vendors make adapters that have two or more ports on the same NIC. Some of these adapters are designed to give you more bandwidth, while others turn your computer into a hub or switch. When dealing with multiport adapters, keep in mind that your PC's bus will only support a finite amount of data. Don't expect massive performance increases from a four-port 10/100 NIC--the bandwidth on the PCI bus will hamper your performance. Joel Conover can be reached at jconover@nwc.com.
	Executive Summary Fast Ethernet is the right choice for high-speed desktop connectivity. Its price and performance are unbeatable. PCI is the only way to go for Fast Ethernet connectivity. Many platforms have sprung up with PCI architecture, including Intel x86, DEC Alpha, Sun SPARC and Apple Macintosh. Many vendors offer solutions that work on multiple platforms. These vendors often have higher-priced NICs due to higher development costs. Buy what you need and what you'll use--no thing more. Most client NICs will deliver near-wirespeed performance, although CPU utilizations will be all over the board. Server NICs need to optimize both for performance and CPU utilization, so additional processing power and RAM are necessary. Server adapters can exceed $500, but the price may be worth it if you plan on utilizing the added features. Fast Ethernet infrastructure prices will continue to plummet, and soon it will be practical to bring Fast Ethernet to every workstation. Getting a head start with your new PCs today will ensure that you are prepared to migrate when the time is right.