3Com XLPCI Network Card User Manual


 
Frequently Asked Questions 3-13
What are the PC and
network requirements
to run Fast IP?
Client requirements:
PC running Windows 95 or Windows NT (versions 4 or
3.51), 3Com 3C900B NIC, and the TCP/IP stack
Network requirements:
Switched path between stations and single
broadcast domain
What are the
network configuration
requirements for
Fast IP?
Fast IP is designed to bypass the router, particularly where
the router is a bottleneck, as well as to leverage the
switched infrastructure. For Fast IP to create shortcuts
around routers, there must be a switched path between
source and destination.
What is the
performance gain
when using Fast IP?
Fast IP bypasses the router to provide increased
performance in switched networks even if only a small
number of network nodes use Fast IP. The performance
gain obtained when deploying Fast IP is directly related
to traffic load on the backbone router. The more traffic
pumped to the router, the greater the latency and
response time and the higher the performance gain.
Internal tests show performance increases on the order
of 600% when routers are loaded at 70 to 75%.
Table 3-1 Frequently Asked Questions (continued)
Question Answer