Which PCI-Gigabit-Ethernet-Cards support Jumbo-Frames ?

voldenuit · 12-12-2004, 08:11 AM

The other day I have done some testing to check out, if the network-cabling is ok for Gigabit-Ethernet over here (luckily, it is).
While I was at it, I tried to use jumbo-frames between my 17" PowerBook and a digital Audio G4 466.

And I couldn't.
*I have tried both with the System-Preferences Network panel (jumbo-frame option greyed-out) and using the Terminal :

# ifconfig en0 mtu 1500

works, as do lower values. However

# ifconfig en0 mtu 1501
*ifconfig: ioctl (set mtu): Invalid argument
*# ifconfig en0 mtu 9000
*ifconfig: ioctl (set mtu): Invalid argument

doesn't.

In a google search with

site:apple.com jumbo

only a couple of pages turned up, some about how great the OS-support for jumbo-frames is and some being extra-proud of actually using this feature in some recent xServes.

I am not amused.

Now, for my PowerBook I know that I am pretty much screwed (at least I am not aware of Gigabit-PC-Cards, let alone the CardBus-interface being up to the speed, but will gladly discover to be wrong).

However, the G4s should be able to have a faster access with a Jumboframe-enabled PCI-Gigabit-Ethernet-card. I am painfully aware of the fact that doing so will push the PCI-bus to its bandwitdth limits.
I also know that harddisk-speed can be a limiting factor when using GBit with jumbo-frames, but as some of the things we are trying to do here will run directly from RAM, it still makes sense.

I would be extremely grateful if someone could report about his own experiences in this field, especially with low-cost PCI-Gigabit-cards with jumbo-frame support. Ideally with an indication of the chipset used.

Cards bought from the PC-dealer around the corner qualify, as long as there are drivers available.

I understand Apples Gigabit Ethernet PCI-X card will not work in a G4, so that does not solve my problem.

Anybody knows what chipset that card is using ?

Thank you very much in advance for sharing.

ph3ker · 12-14-2004, 07:45 AM

I think assante will do.

voldenuit · 12-14-2004, 09:51 AM

Thank you very much for this very first answer in days !

However, I have not been able to find anything both Gigabit and PCI other than this: http://asante.com/products/adapters/GN2032T/index.html, if you could provide a link to the card you meant, that would be nice.

The card I found looks like a Realtek-chip based one (from what I can see on the photo) clearly labeled by Asanté as Windows only and supporting Jumboframes.

Both statements do not seem to be quite true though, as comments in OpenBSDs source code for the 8110 driver suggest that Jumboframes bigger than 7k don't make it due to a hardware bug, but maybe that has been fixed.

Anyway, that made me have another look at RTs website and I will give the one-year-old-and-still-beta drivers a whirl.

However, if anybody has practical experience with other chipsets, I would still be glad to hear about it.

And I'm still curious about the chipset on Apple's card...

anthlover · 12-18-2004, 07:26 AM

Network panel is greyed out when it is not supported by hardware.

anthlover · 12-19-2004, 05:38 PM

Many G4/G5s do support Gig/jumbo frames under Panther what I meant was if panel was greyed out there most have been a hardware reason in the particular systems you have.

**One of the other forum folk might know for sure. Some of them have access to Apple resources for Arcane info.

**There are some specialized providers e.g.
http://www.small-tree.com/products.htm

They produce optical nics, multiport nics etc. for Apple systems. I do not belive they produce anything for a powerbook perse. Besides posting here you might try contacting small-tree via email, theye would know if anyone about support say for a powerbook.

If I find somthing else of interest I will let you know.

CrazyEddie · 02-20-2005, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthlover


	Many G4/G5s do support Gig/jumbo frames under Panther what I meant was if panel was greyed out there most have been a hardware reason in the particular systems you have.

That is an interesting assertion with potentially valuable information embedded.

Please specifically state which G4/G5 systems do support jumbo frames.

From what I have been able to dig up, it appears that only Xserves support jumbo frames. I would like to learn that this is not true.

voldenuit · 02-20-2005, 12:17 PM

Out-of-the-box Apple hardware with Jumbo-Frame support:

XServe G5

They also offer a PCI-X Ethernet card that does.

However, for some incredibly stupid reason, all other onboard Gigabit-Ethernet-interfaces Apple ever built lack this capacity.

Following the hints by anthlover I have since then been able to determine that at least INTEL-chipsets are supported by OS X.3.
The OS itself has the capacity to deal with jumboframes if the hardware (and the switch) can handle it.

My investigations also led me to find out that the only cheap switches to handle jumbo-frames are made by SMC.

Anybody with hands-on experience in this field is welcome to chime in.

I am about to build a PC-based Linux netatalk2 fileserver and buying hardware that can saturate Gigabit networks at full wirespeed with jumboframes is a piece of cake.
With pretty cheap hardware, however implemented outside of a reality distortion field.

voldenuit · 01-14-2006, 10:02 AM

I'd be very interested to find out whether the newly released Intel-Macs finally support jumbo-frames. Given the fact that Intel builds pretty decent network cards, I'd hope so.

Somewhat related, are there still no cheap 8/16 port gigabit switches that support jumbo frames other than from SMC ?

voldenuit · 08-14-2006, 08:44 PM

Apple has finally seen the light and the new Mac Pros do support jumbo frames.

About time, pretty much any other modern OS did years ago...

For the other Intel Macs released so far, I'd still be interested to hear whether it is supported or not.

Apples documentation suggests the MacPro is alone:

http://developer.apple.com/documenta...uid/TP40003029

Still interested in cheap switches (other than SMC) supporting jumbo frames.

12-12-2004, 08:11 AM	#1
voldenuit League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Old Europe Posts: 5,146	Which PCI-Gigabit-Ethernet-Cards support Jumbo-Frames ? The other day I have done some testing to check out, if the network-cabling is ok for Gigabit-Ethernet over here (luckily, it is). While I was at it, I tried to use jumbo-frames between my 17" PowerBook and a digital Audio G4 466. And I couldn't. I have tried both with the System-Preferences Network panel (jumbo-frame option greyed-out) and using the Terminal : # ifconfig en0 mtu 1500 works, as do lower values. However # ifconfig en0 mtu 1501 ifconfig: ioctl (set mtu): Invalid argument # ifconfig en0 mtu 9000 ifconfig: ioctl (set mtu): Invalid argument doesn't. In a google search with site:apple.com jumbo only a couple of pages turned up, some about how great the OS-support for jumbo-frames is and some being extra-proud of actually using this feature in some recent xServes. I am not amused. Now, for my PowerBook I know that I am pretty much screwed (at least I am not aware of Gigabit-PC-Cards, let alone the CardBus-interface being up to the speed, but will gladly discover to be wrong). However, the G4s should be able to have a faster access with a Jumboframe-enabled PCI-Gigabit-Ethernet-card. I am painfully aware of the fact that doing so will push the PCI-bus to its bandwitdth limits. I also know that harddisk-speed can be a limiting factor when using GBit with jumbo-frames, but as some of the things we are trying to do here will run directly from RAM, it still makes sense. I would be extremely grateful if someone could report about his own experiences in this field, especially with low-cost PCI-Gigabit-cards with jumbo-frame support. Ideally with an indication of the chipset used. Cards bought from the PC-dealer around the corner qualify, as long as there are drivers available. I understand Apples Gigabit Ethernet PCI-X card will not work in a G4, so that does not solve my problem. Anybody knows what chipset that card is using ? Thank you very much in advance for sharing.

12-18-2004, 07:26 AM	#4
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,620	network panel is greyed out when it is not supported Network panel is greyed out when it is not supported by hardware.

12-19-2004, 05:38 PM	#5
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,620	More Info Many G4/G5s do support Gig/jumbo frames under Panther what I meant was if panel was greyed out there most have been a hardware reason in the particular systems you have. One of the other forum folk might know for sure. Some of them have access to Apple resources for Arcane info. There are some specialized providers e.g. http://www.small-tree.com/products.htm They produce optical nics, multiport nics etc. for Apple systems. I do not belive they produce anything for a powerbook perse. Besides posting here you might try contacting small-tree via email, theye would know if anyone about support say for a powerbook. If I find somthing else of interest I will let you know.

08-14-2006, 08:44 PM	#9
voldenuit League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Old Europe Posts: 5,146	Apple has finally seen the light and the new Mac Pros do support jumbo frames. About time, pretty much any other modern OS did years ago... For the other Intel Macs released so far, I'd still be interested to hear whether it is supported or not. Apples documentation suggests the MacPro is alone: http://developer.apple.com/documenta...uid/TP40003029 Still interested in cheap switches (other than SMC) supporting jumbo frames. Last edited by voldenuit; 08-14-2006 at 08:53 PM.

12-14-2004, 07:45 AM	#2
ph3ker Prospect Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 4	I think assante will do.

12-14-2004, 09:51 AM	#3
voldenuit League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Old Europe Posts: 5,146	Thank you very much for this very first answer in days ! However, I have not been able to find anything both Gigabit and PCI other than this: http://asante.com/products/adapters/GN2032T/index.html, if you could provide a link to the card you meant, that would be nice. The card I found looks like a Realtek-chip based one (from what I can see on the photo) clearly labeled by Asanté as Windows only and supporting Jumboframes. Both statements do not seem to be quite true though, as comments in OpenBSDs source code for the 8110 driver suggest that Jumboframes bigger than 7k don't make it due to a hardware bug, but maybe that has been fixed. Anyway, that made me have another look at RTs website and I will give the one-year-old-and-still-beta drivers a whirl. However, if anybody has practical experience with other chipsets, I would still be glad to hear about it. And I'm still curious about the chipset on Apple's card...

02-20-2005, 12:17 PM	#7
voldenuit League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Old Europe Posts: 5,146	Out-of-the-box Apple hardware with Jumbo-Frame support: XServe G5 They also offer a PCI-X Ethernet card that does. However, for some incredibly stupid reason, all other onboard Gigabit-Ethernet-interfaces Apple ever built lack this capacity. Following the hints by anthlover I have since then been able to determine that at least INTEL-chipsets are supported by OS X.3. The OS itself has the capacity to deal with jumboframes if the hardware (and the switch) can handle it. My investigations also led me to find out that the only cheap switches to handle jumbo-frames are made by SMC. Anybody with hands-on experience in this field is welcome to chime in. I am about to build a PC-based Linux netatalk2 fileserver and buying hardware that can saturate Gigabit networks at full wirespeed with jumboframes is a piece of cake. With pretty cheap hardware, however implemented outside of a reality distortion field.

01-14-2006, 10:02 AM	#8
voldenuit League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Old Europe Posts: 5,146	I'd be very interested to find out whether the newly released Intel-Macs finally support jumbo-frames. Given the fact that Intel builds pretty decent network cards, I'd hope so. Somewhat related, are there still no cheap 8/16 port gigabit switches that support jumbo frames other than from SMC ?