[graysky]

Does anyone own this board (Zotac IONITX-A-U)? If so, does the onboard GigaLAN support jumbo frames? I see that it uses the rtl8211cl LAN controller, but I can't find out if this supports jumbo frames or not!

To tell if it supports jumbo frames, you can try this when connected (Gigalan speeds only, 10/100 won't work I believe):

Code:

# ifconfig eth0 mtu 4000

That should setup 4k jumbo frames. To test if they are enabled, simply run ifconfig again like this and look for the mtu line:

Code:

# ifconfig eth0 | grep MTU

If it does, you'll see "MTU:4000"

Please let me know and thanks!

[beklyn]

From a ZOTAC ION A Board


(T: XBMCLive)xbmc@XBMCLive:~$ sudo ifconfig eth0 mtu 4000
(T: XBMCLive)xbmc@XBMCLive:~$ sudo ifconfig eth0 | grep MTU
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:4000 Metric:1
(T: XBMCLive)xbmc@XBMCLive:~$

[graysky]

Looks like at least 4k jumbo frames are indeed supported. Just placed an order for one of these. Thanks again!

[kortina]

I am not a Network guru, but why would you need Jumbo frames?

[graysky]

I am not a Network guru, but why would you need Jumbo frames?

Higher throughputs on Gigalan in my experience. That said, you do have to test for your specific hardware. Here are the results of my tests moving large files (Linux iso files) and several smaller (~150 meg or so each) files from the pc1 to pc2 and from pc2 to pc1 via Samba. I've concluded that my network HUGELY benefits from a 4k MTU size. Here are the data:

Test 1/Crossover Cable (large files, approx 1,048,522 kb each) via Samba

Code:

mtu=1500    time (sec)    Kb/sec
pc2 to pc1    48          21,844
pc1 to pc2    81          12,945
        
mtu=4000        
pc2 to pc1    44          23,830
pc1 to pc2    41          25,574
        
mtu=9000        
pc2 to pc1    49          21,398
pc1 to pc2    41          25,574

4k vs. standard    % Change
pc2 to pc1          9%    
pc1 to pc2          98%    

9k vs. standard        
pc2 to pc1          -2%    
pc1 to pc2          98%

Test 2/Crossover Cable (several small files, 1,283,439 kb total) via Samba

Code:

mtu=1500    time (sec)    Kb/sec
pc2 to pc1    59          21,753
pc1 to pc2    94          13,654
        
mtu=4000        
pc2 to pc1    51          25,165
pc1 to pc2    46          27,901
        
mtu=9000        
pc2 to pc1    57          22,516
pc1 to pc2    49          26,193

4k vs. standard    % Change    
pc2 to pc1          16%
pc1 to pc2          104%

9k vs. standard    
pc2 to pc1          4%
pc1 to pc2          92%

I've done the same test using my switch and the numbers are similar.

Another test moving a 3x large file (several Linux iso files ) from the new pc3 to the pc4 and vise-versa. Here you see jumbo frames actually hurt the throughput when going to the pc4 box, but help it coming from pc3.

Large files through a switch

Code:

mtu=1500    time (sec)    Kb/sec
pc3 to pc4    98          17,333
pc4 to pc3    85          20,096
        
mtu=4000        
pc3 to pc4    126          13,571
pc4 to pc3    71          24,079
        
mtu=9000        
pc3 to pc4    151          11,314
pc4 to pc3    90          18,972

4k vs. standard    % Change
pc3 to pc4        -29 %    
pc4 to pc3         16 %
9k vs. standard        
pc3 to pc4        -54 %    
pc4 to pc3        -6 %

[kortina]

I did a bit more reading, so it seems that you want jumbo frames on your XBMC box because other devices on your LAN are using it and you cant have a mix.

[graysky]

I did a bit more reading, so it seems that you want jumbo frames on your XBMC box because other devices on your LAN are using it and you cant have a mix.

You can actually have a mix despite what folks have written to the contrary. You can also have a mix of mtu sizes and still connect to the internet just fine as well. For example, I have a router that only supports the standard 1500 mtu size, while my switch (uplinked to the router) allows for jumbo frames. Most PCs behind the switch use 4k frames and everything works fine. I have a work laptop that uses the standard mtu size and it can talk to the 4k frame boxes just fine. All PCs can use the internet just fine as well.

[BingoBert]

I have got the Zotac ION ITX D.
It is afaik the same Board as the A Version but without powersupply.

The Nforce Networking Controller does support the following Jumbo Frame Sizes:
1500
2500
4500
9000
under Windows 7


The Problem with the Network Adapter is, that GBLan does not work, it just works @ 100Mbps (at least under Windows 7).
And Wake on LAN ( WOL ) does not work at all, which makes the board quite useless for me.

[graysky]

@BB - enabled in the BIOS?

http://www.zotacusa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1646

[blittan]

graysky: that is Boot from LAN not Wake on LAN.

[graysky]

My bad

[zippelmann]

And Wake on LAN ( WOL ) does not work at all, which makes the board quite useless for me.

Is it working now ? I have the same problem.

[graysky]

@zippelmann - it works just fine