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-
- There are a few network parameters that can be tuned to better match
- the kernel to your system hardware and intended usage. The defaults
- are usually a good choice for 99% of the people 99% of the time, but
- you should be aware they do exist and can be changed.
-
- The current list of parameters can be found in the file:
-
- ./linux/net/TUNABLE
-
- Some of these are accessible via the sysctl interface, and many more are
- scheduled to be added in this way. For example, some parameters related
- to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) are very easily viewed and altered.
-
- # cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/arp_timeout
- 6000
- # echo 7000 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/arp_timeout
- # cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/arp_timeout
- 7000
-
- Others are already accessible via the related user space programs.
- For example, MAX_WINDOW has a default of 32k which is a good choice for
- modern hardware, but if you have a slow (8 bit) ethercard and/or a slow
- machine, then this will be far too big for the card to keep up with fast
- Tx'ing machines on the same net, resulting in overruns and receive errors.
- A value of about 4k would be more appropriate, which can be set via:
-
- # route add -net 192.168.3.0 window 4096
-
- The remainder of these can only be presently changed by altering a #define
- in the related header file. This means an edit and recompile cycle.
-
- Paul Gortmaker 06/96
-