RE: Why is the iSeries so slow

Ken,

The scenario I spoke of did not involve INS/IXA. I have one T/R NIC and one
10/100 ethernet NIC, both totally owned by OS/400 (none of that "sharing"
that can be done between NT and OS/400). I would think that introducing
INS/IXA makes it a different ballgame.

Without INS/IXA, it is easy enough to test if you can find a time when one
of your interfaces isn't. In my case, most people come in through the
token-ring, so I just go into WRKTCPSTS *IFC and stop the ethernet
interface. Bam, the next FTP session runs great, even on 16Mb t/r versus
100Mb ethernet.

It probably doesn't get fixed because it probably isn't broken. I still
suspect there is a configuration problem that can be solved. The throughput
you are getting is too crappy to just be the "clunky old AS/400". Generally
the iSeries works pretty well, and most of the problems I've seen have been
the result of configuration errors (i.e. my fault). We subscribe to IBM
Support line and have had very good result with those folks helping us work
through situations like this. We've just never needed this one bad enough
that I could spend the time getting to the bottom of it. 

Sorry I don't know the real answer. Maybe somebody out here can expose some
of the pitfalls of this mixed-interface scenario. I would think that having
correct gateway for each interface would be crucial, and I'm not sure how
you set that up when you have multiple intrfaces on different network
segments.

-Marty

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date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 07:47:12 -0700
from: Ken.Slaugh@xxxxxxxxxx
subject: RE: Why is the iSeries so slow


Marty...
      I do believe you have tripped on the same issue. The dual Token Ring
and Ethernet adapters is certainly the most reasonable situation discussed
so far and we certainly have exactly this situation.

      I guess this brings up the next question... Why? If this impairs
throughput so badly then why is it supported or why doesn't it get fixed?

      This certainly looks like a good reason to avoid the integrated
Netfinity server as well with it's virtual T/R adapter. :)

      Too bad the iSeries still doesn't play well with others. It a great
place to store the data, but if you can get the data off the disk then
what's the point?

Ken Slaugh (707) 795-1512 x118
Chouinard & Myhre, Inc.
CA/400 Certified Specialist
iSeries Network/MSE Administrator
http://www.cm-inc.com/