Ref: 11630011
Title: DOS Tuning Tips for 3+Open
Date: 6/22/90

Copyright 3Com Corporation, 1991.  All rights reserved.

Following are recommendations for tuning DOS workstations under 3+Open.
Most DOS tuning is a compromise between tuning for network speed and
maximizing base memory left over for applications.  A large database or
spreadsheet application may run faster with the largest amount of base
memory, sacrificing network speed.  For 8088 and (possibly) for 80286 DOS
clients, the best solution is to use Etherlink Plus cards and Link Plus
Optimizer (LPO).  All the default DOS configurations can be improved with
little or no memory cost.

This document highlights only the most significant parameters.  Tuning
recommendations are grouped by CPU type because of the different memory
managers available.  All testing was done using a Compaq 386/16 with DOS
3.31 and an Etherlink II with shared memory.  Benchmark testing was done
using 3Com's Certification traffic simulation test.  Testing showed a
10%-50% speed increase depending on file or record size.


*****************************************************************
8088 using DOS Basic Redirector and XNS (default configuration
from NetSetup leaves 439936 bytes free) with an Etherlink II
=================================================================
   File      | Line # |  Parameter                      | Default
=================================================================
CONFIG.SYS   |   6    |  Buffers = 8                    |   20
AUTOEXEC.BAT |   20   |  Netbios /S:3 /N:4              | /S:32
             |        |                                 | /N:32
=================================================================
(Note:  Not much can be done on an 8088 processor without using
a third-party memory card.)

Explanation of changes:

CONFIG.SYS:  DOS buffers were changed from 20 to 8 because DOS
buffers are only used for local drive access.  Modification saves
memory use by 6336 bytes.

AUTOEXEC.BAT:  NetBIOS sessions were reduced from 32 to 3 and NCBs from
32 to 4 to reduce memory another 4556 bytes.  Line #25 in the AUTOEXEC.BAT,
"net start workstation" which controls the redir parameters was not changed.
It was felt that network performance would suffer by choosing a reduced
setting and a large redirector would not benefit an 8088 machine.



*****************************************************************
8088 using DOS Basic Redirector and XNS with an Etherlink Plus
card and LPO.  (Using LPO, we end up with 526880 bytes free.)
=================================================================
   File      | Line # |  Parameter                      | Default
=================================================================
 CONFIG.SYS  |   5    |  Buffers = 8                    |   20
 LDR.CFG     |   12   |  PRO 32 1 50                    | 24 1 50
             |        |  NBA /s12 /n12 /r5 /t6 /i8 /l8  |
=================================================================
In these examples, we used the default redir size.  Other redir
choices are MIN-RDR, LIGHT-RDR, NORMAL-RDR, and POWER-RDR.

Testing option:  In the AUTOEXEC.BAT, use the "-v" verbose parameter in
the LDR line (#18) to see more information when the system is booting.

Example:  ldr a:\3OPEN\DOSWKSTA\LANMAN\DRIVERS\ADAPTER\ldr.cfg -v


*****************************************************************
80286 using DOS Enhanced Redirector and XNS with an Etherlink II
(default configuration from NetSetup leaves 418112 bytes free).
=================================================================
   File      | Line # |  Parameter                      | Default
=================================================================
CONFIG.SYS   | {add}  |  HIMEM.SYS                      |
             |   5    |  Buffers = 8                    |  20
AUTOEXEC.BAT |   20   |  netbios /S:6 /N:6 /T:6 /R:5    | /S:32
             |        |                                 | /N:32
             |        |                                 | /T:4
             |        |                                 | /R:5
LANMAN.INI   |        |  [workstation]                  |
             |   33   |    numworkbuf = 10              |  3
             |   35   |    pr1buffsize = 1024           |  128
             |   36   |    pr2buffsize = 80             |  128
             |   37   |    pr3buffsize = 80             |  128
             |   40   |    sizworkbuf = 4096            |  1024
PROTOCOL.INI |        |  [xns]                          |
             |   79   |    maxroutes = 8                |  32
             |   80   |    maxsockets = 16              |  32
=================================================================

Sample CONFIG.SYS for adding HIMEM.SYS line:

      DEVICE=A:\3OPEN\DOSWKSTA\LANMAN\DRIVERS\HIMEM.SYS

Adding HIMEM.SYS saves 40-50 KB by moving half of the redirector into
high DOS memory (Himem).  Himem cannot be used with 286 Windows.


Explanation of changes in AUTOEXEC.BAT:

Line #20:  NetBIOS sessions and NCBs were both reduced to 6, and receive
and transmit buffers were increased to 5 and 6 respectively.  This reduces
the total number of network packets by increasing the number of packets
sent or received before getting acknowledgement.

Explanation of changes in LANMAN.INI:

Line #33:  NUMWORKBUF=10 for faster network access.
Line #35:  PR1BUFFSIZE=1024 spools to lpt1: faster.
Line #36:  PR2BUFFSIZE=80 assuming not being used.
Line #37:  PR3BUFFSIZE=80 set for minimum size.
Line #40:  SIZWORKBUF=4096 calculated by
             (SIZWORKBUF * NUMWORKBUF) < 50 KB


Explanation of changes in PROTOCOL.INI:

Line #80:  MAXROUTES=8 set for minimum size.
Line #81:  MAXSOCKETS=16 set for minimum size.


*****************************************************************
80286 using NBP on a DOS workstation (default configuration
from NetSetup leaves 498960 bytes free).
=================================================================
   File      | Line # |  Parameter                      | Default
=================================================================
CONFIG.SYS   | {add}  |  HIMEM.SYS                      |
             |   5    |  Buffers = 8                    |  20
LANMAN.INI   |        |  [workstation]                  |
             |   33   |    numworkbuf = 10              |  3
             |   35   |    pr1buffsize = 1024           |  128
             |   36   |    pr2buffsize = 80             |  128
             |   37   |    pr3buffsize = 80             |  128
             |   40   |    sizworkbuf = 4096            |  1024
PROTOCOL.INI |        |  [nbp]                          |
             |   103  |    DEFAULTS = POWER-USER        | LIGHT-
             |        |                                 | USER
=================================================================

Changing PROTOCOL.INI from DEFAULTS=LIGHT-USER to =POWER-USER
gives greater network speed, but uses an additional 12 KB.
Modifications leave 511008 bytes free.


*****************************************************************
80386 using DOS Enhanced Redirector and XNS with an Etherlink II
(default configuration from NetSetup leaves 418112 bytes +free).
=================================================================
   File      | Line # |  Parameter                      | Default
=================================================================
AUTOEXEC.BAT | {see   |  {Netwksta & 3ComLoad           |
             | below} |          modification}          |
CONFIG.SYS   | {see   |  {3Comemm additions}            |
             | below} |                                 |
             |   5    |  Buffers = 8                    | 20
LANMAN.INI   |        |  [workstation]                  |
             |   33   |    numworkbuf = 10              |  3
             |   35   |    pr1buffsize = 1024           |  128
             |   36   |    pr2buffsize = 80             |  128
             |   37   |    pr3buffsize = 80             |  128
             |   40   |    sizworkbuf = 4096            |  1024
PROTOCOL.INI |        |  [xns]                          |
             |   79   |    maxroutes = 8                |  32
             |   80   |    maxsockets = 16              |  32
=================================================================


*****************************************************************
80386 using DOS Enhanced Redirector and NBP with an Etherlink II
(default configuration from NetSetup leaves 498944 bytes free).
=================================================================
   File      | Line # |  Parameter                      | Default
=================================================================
AUTOEXEC.BAT | {see   |  {Netwksta & 3ComLoad           |
             | below} |          modifications}         |
CONFIG.SYS   | {see   |  {3Comemm additions}            |
             | below} |                                 |
             |   7    |  Buffers = 8                    | 20
LANMAN.INI   |        |  [workstation]                  |
             |   33   |    numworkbuf = 10              |  3
             |   35   |    pr1buffsize = 1024           |  128
             |   36   |    pr2buffsize = 80             |  128
             |   37   |    pr3buffsize = 80             |  128
             |   40   |    sizworkbuf = 4096            |  1024
PROTOCOL.INI |        |  [nbp]                          |
             |   103  |    DEFAULTS = POWER-USER        | LIGHT-
             |        |                                 | USER
=================================================================

CONFIG.SYS modifications:  After increasing the significant tuning
parameters, and using the 3ComEMM memory manager, we ended up
with 660960 bytes free with all the drivers loaded.


A sample CONFIG.SYS:

Line #1:  SHELL = a:\command.com /e:256 /p
Line #2:  DEVICE=a:\3open\doswksta\lanman\3comemm\3comemm.sys
          vidmem=b800-c000 ram=dc00-cc00 use=e000-f000 resetkeyb
Line #3:  DEVICE=a:\3open\doswksta\lanman\drivers\protman.dos
          /i:a:\3open\doswksta\lanman\drivers
Line #4:  DEVICE=a:\3open\doswksta\lanman\3comemm\3comload.sys
          prog=a:\3open\doswksta\lanman\drivers\elnkii.dos
Line #5:  DEVICE=a:\3open\doswksta\lanman\drivers\xnstp.dos
Line #6:  FILES = 20
Line #7:  BUFFERS = 8
Line #8:  LASTDRIVE = Z


Explanation of 3ComEMM parameters:

Line #2:  The VIDMEM parameter is reserving 32 KB for video memory--this
may not be adequate for VGA monitors or some programs.  Using VIDMEM raises
the top of DOS from 640 KB to 736 KB.  The RAM parameter tells 3ComEMM to
ignore this area, which is being used for the Etherlink II's shared memory.
The shared memory has been moved to the highest setting to get the largest
amount of contiguous high DOS memory (112 KB).  The USE parameter tells
3ComEMM to use the E segment of high memory.

Line #4:  This loads the Etherlink II's TSR portion into high DOS memory.


AUTOEXEC.BAT modifications:

Line #22: PATH=a:\3open\doswkta\lanman\netprog;a:\3open\doswksta
\lanman\3comemm

Line #24: REM ** 3.EXE=3COMLOAD.EXE and N.COM=NETWKSTA.COM to
save 14 characters

Line #25: 3 PROG=N /N:YO /HIMEM=NO /LG:LANGROUP
/I:A:\3OPEN\DOSWKSTA\LANMAN /LS: /Z:4096 /B:5 /VIEW:40 /O:3 /P1:1024


Explanations for changes in AUTOEXEC.BAT:

Line #22:  Add the path for 3ComEMM.

Line #24:  Was made into a comment line.  NETWKSTA.COM was copied to
N.COM and 3COMLOAD.EXE was copied to 3.EXE.  This gives 14 more characters
on the command line, which are needed because DOS only supports 127
characters on the command line, so the maximum number of characters can be
reached before adding in all the needed parameters.

Line #25:  Added to load the redirector into high DOS memory.
When loading the Enhanced Redirector into high DOS memory, the
parameters must be added to the command line because the redir
cannot read them from the LANMAN.INI file.  You must know the
default settings to determine whether or not to add the parameter.
The Technical Reference manual states the default "settings," not
the true defaults.  For example, if you do not add the parameter
/NUMVIEWSERVERS:50 (abbrev. /VIEW:50), and execute a NET VIEW command,
a maximum of five servers (the true default) will be shown.

Below is a list of the Enhanced Redir parameters, abbreviations
for the parameters, the defaults, and memory requirements (where
available).

=================================================================
Parameter Name | Abbrev | Default|  Memory Usage
=================================================================
CHARCOUNT      |  CC    |        |
CHARWAIT       |  CW    |        |
CHARTIME       |  CT    |        |
COMPUTERNAME   |  N     |        |
HIMEM          | -none- |  YES   |
KEEPAPIS       |  API   |  YES   |
LANROOT        |  I     |        |
LANGROUP       |  LG    |   \    |
LOGONSERVER    |  LS    |        |
MAILSLOTS      |  MS    |  YES   |
NUMCHARBUF     |  PN    |        |
NUMRESOURCES   |  L     |  5     | Every 7 links cost about 1 KB
NUMSERVERS     |  S     |  7     | Every 14 servers cost about 1 KB
NUMWORKBUF     |  B     |  3     | B * Z = memory use
NUMVIEWBUFFERS |  MR    |        |
NUMVIEWSERVERS |  VIEW  |  5     | Every 13 servers cost about 1 KB
NUMMAILSLOTS   |  MB    |        |
OPTIMIZATIONS  |  O     |  1     |
PR1BUFFSIZE    |  P1    |        |
PR2BUFFSIZE    |  P2    |        |
PR3BUFFSIZE    |  P3    |        |
SINGLECVBUF    |  SB    |        |
SIZCHARBUF     |  PS    |        |
SIZWORKBUF     |  Z     |  1024  |  B * Z = memory use
=================================================================

For compatibility with the IBM PC LAN Program, the following
abbreviations are accepted:

      NBS is the same as SIZWORKBUF
      NBC is the same as NUMWORKBUF


Following is an example for loading the REDIR into high
memory.  NETWKSTA is case-sensitive (parameters must be in uppercase):

3comload prog=Netwksta /N:COMPAQ /HIMEM:NO /LG:LANGROUP
/I:A\3OPEN\DOSWKSTA\LANMAN /LS: /Z:4096 /B:10 /VIEW:50 /P1:1024
/O:3
