Q: Is Solaris NCA the same as the Apache 2.x modules mod_disk_cache and mod_mem_cache? A: Solaris NCA is an inkernel cache that works with all web servers. Its not a webserver module. Q: With Solaris 10 "High Performance Networking", how much performance will a client see compared to Solaris 9? A: Solaris in general has the same code on client side as on server side. The difference is just in terms of hardware (available CPUs, memory, bus, etc.). Anyway, a client type machine with 1-2 CPU and 1Gb NIC will see proportional improvements (30-50%) as a server class machine with S10. This holds true for both xmit and recv. Q: What is Sun's plan to incorporate landmark iSCSI initiator support? A: We are currently evaluating several offload technologies, iSCSI being one of them. I think vendors like Adaptec offer iSCSI solutions and the scene is evolving very fast. I am not aware about landmark iSCSI though. BTW, as far as I am aware, a vendor can write a iSCSI driver for Solaris using the standard ddi/dki interfaces and we don't have to do anything. The card just appears as a standard SCSI HBA to Solaris. Check with landmark (I am assuming its one of the vendors for iSCSI adaptors) to see if they are already in the process of writing a Solaris driver. Q: This restructure seems to follow in the steps others have taken as far as TCP offload engines (TOE). Is Sun planning to release either a 1g or 10g TOE card that integrates with the FireEngine code? Are the various interfaces going to be open enough for others to manufacture cards as well? A: Logically yes except that our design is very different from other and geared towards S/W stack and TNIC working in conjunction (connection offload and reverse offload possible anytime in the life of the conenction). I don't think SUN has plans to create its own TOE cards but we are definitely plannign to support 3rd party and Solaris IHV's card on Solaris 10 through FireEngine. The interface will be open (similar to or part of Solaris DDI/DKI) so that anyone can write the driver of Solaris to support their TOE card. We just want to make sure that the TOE cards work as expected and we can still offer the same reliability with a TOE card that we would otherwise. In otehr words, we don't want to surprise the clients in a negetive way just because they are using TOE. |
 | |||||
 | |
