Guide to Networking Essentials, Fifth Edition 17
Choosing Network Adapters for Best
Performance (continued)
•
Increased performance features have payoffs for
servers that might not apply to workstations
–
The following is a checklist for purchasing NICs:
•
Bus width—Higher is better
•
Bus type—Use 64-bit PCI-X or PCIe for servers
•
Memory transfer—Shared memory outpaces I/O
or DMA
•
Special features—Choose security, management,
protocol-handling, and hot-plug capabilities
•
Bus mastering—Important for servers
•
Vendor factors—Look for quality, reliability,
staying power, and reputation