Packet receive buffer

An area in the NetWare server's memory set aside to temporarily hold data packets arriving from the various workstations.

The packets remain in this buffer until the server is ready to process them and send them to their destination. This ensures the smooth flow of data into the server, even during times of particularly heavy input/output operations.

The number of packet receive buffers is set during server installation. This number is increased by the operating system as needed due to heavy buffer activity, within the following parameters (also set during server installation).

Maximum packet receive buffers The maximum number of packet receive buffers that the operating system can allocate.

Minimum packet receive buffers The minimum number of packet receive buffers that the operating system can use.

New packet receive buffer wait time The operating system can increase the number of packet receive buffers as needed, within the set parameters.

However, rather than allocating a new packet immediately on demand, the operating system waits for the specified time, after which the packet is allocated if still needed.

This ensures that new packet receive buffers aren't allocated needlessly due to sporadic peak activity.

If the set maximum number of packet receive buffers is reached, and a waiting packet isn't processed within the specified wait time, the operating system discards the packet, and the station must resend the packet.

The default range of packet receive buffers should be satisfactory for most server installations, even with many users performing many read/write operations.

Because more system overhead is required to manage large numbers of packet receive buffers, we recommend that you increase the maximum range only if you are running out of buffers.

For example, if your server is slow when first brought up, but later speeds up, the minimum packet receive buffer setting may be too low. The delay is caused by the accumulation of packet receive buffer wait times. If your server always allocates at least 200 packet receive buffers, set the minimum to 200.