Windows NT Ndis.sys and Netflx3.sys Performance Improvement

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 Service Pack 1
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 Service Pack 1

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