DOCUMENT:Q142903 08-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Windows NT Ndis.sys and Netflx3.sys Performance Improvement PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::4.0,4.0 SP1 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbnetwork ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= Microsoft has developed an enhancement to Windows NT that allows a computer with at least two CPUs and at least two Compaq NetFlex network cards to significantly improve network performance. Previously, the network driver interrupt moderation on Symmetric Multi- Processor (SMP) computers did not receive adequate information regarding CPU utilization. To improve the network performance, obtain the enhancement mentioned below or wait for the next Windows NT Service Pack. MORE INFORMATION ================ Ndis.sys and Netflx3.sys have been modified to enhance performance. The new Netflex3 driver has an improved interrupt moderation algorithm based on the server CPU utilization in addition to the frame rate. The improved interrupt moderation helps reduce the amount of server CPU usage for processing interrupts, especially on a busy server. The new Netflx3 driver is only available for the Intel platform whereas Ndis.sys is available for Intel and Risc platforms. This enhancement is currently only available as a "hotfix" and has been posted to the following Internet location: ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/hotfixes- postSP1/ndis-fix STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0, Service Pack 1. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces): S E R V P A C K Additional query words: prodnt ====================================================================== Keywords : kbnetwork Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp1 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400sp1 kbWinNTS400search Version : :4.0,4.0 SP1 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.