sunflash-Distributed to mailing list sunflash@suntri sunflash-Send requests and problem reports to owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Sun Network CoProcessor for SunOS 4.1.3 SunFLASH Vol 54 #10 June 1993 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 54.10 Sun Network CoProcessor for SunOS 4.1.3 Complete support now available for high-performance NFS file server configurations of the SPARCserver 470/490 systems & SPARCserver 600MP series systems. Delivering transparent performance improvement without application modification or client rebooting ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sun introduces the re-release of Sun Network CoProcessor (SNC) 1.2, for SunOS(TM) 4.1.3. SNC 1.2 is now fully supported and compatible with the SBus and VME Prestoserve boards. Using both the SNC 1.2 and Prestoserve boards in one SPARCserver(TM) system can result in improved NFS(TM) performance. PRODUCT INFORMATION ------------------- The Sun Network CoProcessor is an intelligent Ethernet controller that significantly improves NFS throughput capacity of Sun(TM) SPARCserver 470/490 systems and SPARCserver 600MP series file servers. While the typical Ethernet controller handles only the physical and data link level protocol processing, the SNC 9U VMEbus board plus CD-ROM software off-loads the entire NFS protocol stack from the server's processor to the network coprocessor. Thus, increasing the capacity of the server to handle more users with faster response times. Several improvements have been made to the SNC 1.2 release over the previously released SNC 1.0: - The SPARCserver 690MP system now supports up to eight(8) Interphase Network CoProcessor (NC400) boards - The NFS write operations are now streamlined and optimized, increasing write performance by at least a factor of two HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CONSIDERATIONS ------------------------------------ o The SPARCserver 470/490 or 600MP series machines must have SunOS 4.1.3 configured prior to the SNC 1.2 installation o SNC 1.2 software requires that at least one(1) NC400 board be installed in any system running the software o For SPARCserver 470/490 and 600MP series machines under high loads (70%+ utilization), it is recommended that Patch ID: 100623 be installed prior to loading the SNC software o Any SPARCserver 470/490 and 600MP series machines using IPI disks, must have REVISION 10 (or later) firmware for the IPI controllers (P/N: 501-1539-10) o Customers currently using the Interphase Network CoProcessor (NC400) and upgrading to SunOS 4.1.3 can upgrade to Sun Network CoProcessor simply by purchasing a per-incident software upgrade to the Sun Network CoProcessor (part number SNC-PF) o The SNC software can not run concurrently, on any system with the NC400 or NC600 software (from Interphase) installed o Maximum supported configurations: (without Presto) (with Presto) System SNC Board Limit SNC Board Limit SNC Board Limit ======================================================================= SPARCserver 470 4 4 4 SPARCserver 490 6 6 6 SPARCserver 670MP 4 6 5 SPARCserver 690MP 8 8 5 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS --------------------- Q: If a customer is upgrading to a SPARCserver 690MP from a SPARCserver 490, will their existing NC400 boards operate in the SPARCserver 600MP machine? A: Yes, the same NC400 boards will operate in the SPARCserver 600MP machines. Q: Will SNC 1.2 operate under previous version of SunOS (e.g, 4.1.2 or 4.1.1)? A: No, SNC 1.2 is supported only under SunOS 4.1.3. Q: If a customer already has NC400 boards installed on their SPARCserver 670MP machine and wish to upgrade to SunOS 4.1.3. Will they have to replace their existing NC400 boards along with the software A: No, only the software will need to upgraded. Simply order a per-incident software upgrade to the Sun Network CoProcessor (part number SNC-PF). Q: What version is the new SNC driver? A: The re-release of the SNC driver is version 1.2. Q: If a customer has SNC installed and upgraded from SunOS 4.1.2 to SunOS 4.1.3. Will they need to de-install the existing software prior to installing SNC 1.2. A: No de-installation is required. Simply proceed with normal installation instruction as described in the "Sun Network CoProcessor, Release 1.2, Installation Guide". Q: If a customer has NC600 boards installed on their SPARCserver 600MP machine, will the SNC 1.2 software operate with this board? A: No, The SNC 1.2 will only work with the NC400 boards. Q: Will Sun be supporting the Sun Network CoProcessor under Solaris 2.x? A: No, Sun will only be supporting SNC under SunOS 4.1.3. However, Interphase has agreed to provide a Solaris 2.X solution, due out mid summer. U.S. PRICING AND ORDERING INFORMATION ------------------------------------- THESE PRODUCTS APPEAR IN BOTH THE END USER AND RESELLER PRICE LIST Order List Discount SunSpectrum Description Number Price Category Silver Price =============================================================================== Sun Network CoProcessor 176L** $6,500 Cat B $0 *** Order List Discount SunSpectrum S/W Description Number Price Category Enhancements =============================================================================== Sun Network CoProcessor Software SNC-PF $50 Cat A $10 CD-ROM, Documentation and User License for all SPARC systems SNC-PF will replace SNC-1.0-4.1-4-21U immediately and is no longer quotable. SNC-1.0-4.1-4-21U will no longer be orderable after September 3. For each order of either X176L or SNC-PF after June 25, customers will receive SNC 1.2 only. Part number "SNC-PF" allows existing SNC users to transition over to SunOS 4.1.3 easier and at a minimal cost. ** Add "X" before the order number (e.g. X176L) to order as a stand-alone option for existing systems *** SunSpectrum Software Enhancements support is available at $10/month. AVAILABILITY ------------ The Sun Network CoProcessor 1.2 will First Customer Ship (FCS) June 25, 1993. Sun Network CoProcessor 1.2 will be available from SunExpress (c) 1993 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun Microsystems, Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation, SunOS, and NFS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant Logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCserver is licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. ********************************************************************** For information about SunFlash send mail to info-sunflash@Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, ftp.uu.net, sunsite.unc.edu, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. Send brief articles (e.g. third party announcements) and include contact information (non-800#, fax #, email, etc) to: John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@Sun.COM. +1 305 351 4909