From owner-freebsd-net@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Dec 16 14:58:18 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-net@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 38AE316A4CE for ; Tue, 16 Dec 2003 14:58:18 -0800 (PST) Received: from mta11.adelphia.net (mta11.adelphia.net [68.168.78.205]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 671D843D51 for ; Tue, 16 Dec 2003 14:58:09 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from xela@battleface.com) Received: from battleface.com ([68.64.70.227]) by mta11.adelphia.net (InterMail vM.5.01.06.05 201-253-122-130-105-20030824) with ESMTP id <20031216225808.TOCS13090.mta11.adelphia.net@battleface.com> for ; Tue, 16 Dec 2003 17:58:08 -0500 Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 17:58:08 -0500 Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v552) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed From: Alex (ander Sendzimir) To: freebsd-net@freebsd.org Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: <5099DCD8-301B-11D8-A624-000A95775140@battleface.com> X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.552) Subject: suffering from poor network performance... X-BeenThere: freebsd-net@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Networking and TCP/IP with FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 22:58:18 -0000 First, I know very little about networking, especially performance turning. I would really like to learn more but don't know where/how to start effectively. I have a small home network with a PowerBook G4 and FBSD 4.9-STABLE connected through a Netgear DS108 hub (10/100). The FBSD box is a dual Xeon 500MHz with Intel Etherexpress 100/Pro (MS440GX motherboard). If for some reason it makes a difference, there is an RT311 router connected to the hub as well. This is the router through which these machines see the internet. There are other machines connected to the network. However, they are currently turned off. In my limited knowledge I'm using ping from each host to the other. From the FBSD system to the G4 system, I'm getting nearly 60% packet loss and about 20% in the other direction. I'm ready to use tcpdump but I'm not sure how I would. How can/should I go about improving network performance? Thanks for the help. Alex ifconfig on the PowerBook G4 gives: lo0: flags=8049 mtu 16384 inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128 inet6 fe80::1%lo0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x1 inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000 gif0: flags=8010 mtu 1280 stf0: flags=0<> mtu 1280 en0: flags=8863 mtu 1500 inet6 fe80::20a:95ff:fe77:5140%en0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x4 inet 192.168.0.3 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.0.255 ether 00:0a:95:77:51:40 media: autoselect (100baseTX ) status: active supported media: none autoselect 10baseT/UTP 10baseT/UTP 10baseT/UTP 100baseTX 100baseTX 100baseTX 1000baseTX 1000baseTX 1000baseTX 1000baseTX ifconfig on the dual Xeon gives: fxp0: flags=8843 mtu 1500 inet 192.168.0.2 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.0.255 ether 00:90:27:3e:b2:66 media: Ethernet autoselect (100baseTX) status: active lo0: flags=8049 mtu 16384 inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000 I know both interfaces are configured for half-duplex. Perhaps full-duplex would help? How to enable under Mac OS X 10.2? Otherwise, I know how to do it under FBSD in /etc/rc.conf. When I ping from one machine to the other I get nearly 60% packet loss from Xeon to G4 system and about 20% packet loss from G4 to Xeon. I'm issuing the following commands to get this output (with some for the list): > ping -f -c {1000,2000,4000,8000} name-of-host Xeon -> G4: 1. PING hardy (192.168.0.3): 56 data bytes 1000 packets transmitted, 500 packets received, 50% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 0.795/0.859/1.081/0.021 ms 2. PING hardy (192.168.0.3): 56 data bytes 2000 packets transmitted, 900 packets received, 55% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 0.501/0.858/1.111/0.022 ms 3. PING hardy (192.168.0.3): 56 data bytes 4000 packets transmitted, 1600 packets received, 60% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 0.784/0.859/1.042/0.017 ms 4. PING hardy (192.168.0.3): 56 data bytes 8000 packets transmitted, 3100 packets received, 61% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 0.612/0.858/0.996/0.017 ms G4 -> Xeon: 1. PING newton (192.168.0.2): 56 data bytes 1240 packets transmitted, 1000 packets received, 19% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max = 0.251/1.048/16.451 ms 2. PING newton (192.168.0.2): 56 data bytes 2539 packets transmitted, 2000 packets received, 21% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max = 0.171/1.057/12.42 ms 3. PING newton (192.168.0.2): 56 data bytes 5118 packets transmitted, 4000 packets received, 21% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max = 0.205/1.088/13.318 ms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Alexander Sendzimir 802 863 5502 MacTutor of Vermont info @ mactutor . vt . us Colchester, VT 05446 ( not yet active )