4.2 Ensuring That Devices Can Access Memory

Some older network boards, such as many ISA and MCA devices, cannot access memory above 16 MB. To make sure these devices have enough memory below 16 MB, make sure that the following SET command is in the startup.ncf file:

set reserved buffers below 16 meg = 300

The default is 300 buffers. If necessary, you can increase the value, but remember that too many reserved buffers can prevent large volumes from mounting. As soon as possible, upgrade the system to a newer board that can access higher memory addresses. For a discussion of network bottlenecks, see Matching Performance Capabilities in the NW 6.5 SP8: Server Operating SystemAdministration Guide.

NetWare® automatically registers memory above 16 MB so it can be recognized by EISA and PCI machines. If memory above 16 MB isn’t being recognized, you can register memory manually using the register memory command. For more information, see Register Memory in NW 6.5 SP8: Utilities Reference.

IMPORTANT:Use the register memory command only if absolutely necessary. Manually registering memory can cause memory fragmentation problems. Ideally, you should upgrade the system board so that the NetWare automatic memory registration will work.