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The NC400 Network CoProcessor from Interphase Corporation is an
intelligent Ethernet controller and software that dramatically improves
the NFS throughput of Sun SPARCserver 470 and SPARCserver 490 file
servers.  While typical Ethernet controllers handle only the physical
layer and data link level protocol processing, the NC400 off-loads the
entire NFS protocol stack from the server's processor to the network
coprocessor.

   Without NC400					     With NC400
 Network CoProcessor					  Network CoProcessor
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	/\		|-------------------------------| Operations handled
	||		|     File System Operation	|  by SPARCserver
	||		|-------------------------------|- - - - - - - - - - -
	||		|   Data Transfer over VMEbus	|	/\
	||		|-------------------------------|	||
			|	Multiple Interrupts	|	||
 Operations handled by  |-------------------------------|	||
     SPARCserver	|	   NFS server           |	  
			|-------------------------------| Operations handled
	||		|	    RPC/XDR		| by NC400 Network
	||		|-------------------------------|    CoProcessor
	||		|	      UDP		|	  
	||		|-------------------------------|	||
	\/		|	       IP		|	||
- - - - - - - - - - - - |-------------------------------|	||
 			|	   Data Link		|	||
 Operations handled by	|-------------------------------|	||
 Ethernet controller	|	    Physical		|	||
			|-------------------------------|	\/
------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------



This off-loading increases the capacity of the server to handle many
more workstation clients, Ethernet networks, and NFS requests.

The NC400 consists of a 9U VMEbus board with 1 MByte of memory, an
MC68020 microprocessor, 30 MB/sec DMA capability, and optimized NFS
processing software.  Once installed on a SPARCserver, the Network
CoProcessor delivers transparent performance improvement without
application modification or client rebooting.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

> Works with Sun Prestoserve to reduce NFS file server bottlenecks.

> Allows server NFS capacity to scale to over 700 NFS ops/sec on the
	SPARCserver 490.

> Increases server Ethernet connectivity to 6 Ethernets per server, 
	providing support for over a hundred network clients.

> Improves server application performance by off-loading NFS processing.

> Operates transparently -- requires no client or application modifications.

> Maintains full NFS and UNIX file system semantics and compatibility.

PERFORMANCE GAINS

Interphase NC400 Network CoProcessors enable SPARCserver 470 and
SPARCserver 490 systems to support more NFS operations per second, more
Ethernet subnetworks, and more NFS clients.  Multiple Network
CoProcessors preserve the server's ability to process applications even
under heavy NFS traffic loads.  With 4 NC400 boards, the SPARCserver
490 can achieve a throughput in excess of 700 NFS operations per
second, and support over a hundred network clients.  SPARCservers
equipped with the NC400 are thus able to support much larger network
environments.



 NFS ops/sec			NHFSstone Benchmark
	   +-----------------------*--------------------------------+
	700|			*	     * SS 490 with 4 NC400  |
	   |		      *		     + SS 490 with 2 NC400  |
	600|		    *		     @ SS 490 with 1 NC400  |
	   |		   *	    +	     o SS 490 with ie0	    |
	500|		  *     +				    |
	   |		 *   +					    |
	400|		*  +					    |
	   |	       *  +					    |
	300|	      * +					    |
	   |	     * +	   @				    |
	200|	     *+	     @			 		    |
	   |	    *+	@			   o	  	    |
	100|	    +@			  o  		            |
	   |	   @		  o				    |
	  0+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+--+
                10    20    30    40    50    60    70    80    90 
	       		   Response Time (ms./NFS/op)			    

Many distributed computing environments use the SPARCserver 470 and
SPARCserver 490 to process applications as well as function as file
servers.  For example, CAD users typically run server-based
applications including design analysis, plot formatting and specialized
peripheral management.  Large builds in CASE environments are often run
on the server where they have direct, high speed access to data.  And,
of course, X-terminal and timesharing terminal support require
processes to run on the server.  All of these applications compete with
normal NFS traffic for server CPU cycles.

Off-loading communications to the Network CoProcessor means that your
applications run faster, improving workgroup productivity.  Access to
the full power of the server CPU means less user waiting time as well
as consistent applcation and NFS performance for all members of the
workgroup.

RECOMMENDED CONFIGURATIONS

Each NC400 is ideal for handling 10 to 40 client workstations.  For
example, to connect 50 clients to a SPARCserver 470 or SPARCserver 490,
two NC400s should be used as client networks and the onboard ie0
Ethernet interface should be used to connect the server to a backbone
LAN, as shown below.



    ===================Backbone Network============+============
						   |
 Client Networks				   |		   
	 			 		   |
C C C C ... C C C   NC400	+----------+	   |
| | | |     | | |    +--+	|          |   ie0 |
---------------------|  |-------|   470    |-------+   Sun Prestoserve
		     +--+	|    or    |	     +--+
		     +--+	|   490    |---------|	|----+   server disks
---------------------|  |-------|          |         +--+    |   ( )  ( )
| | | |     | | |    +--+	+----------+                 +---( )--( )
C C C C ... C C C   NC400



Additional strings of clients may be added to the server as necessary.
Interphase supports up to 4 NC400 boards in SPARCserver 470 and up to 6
NC400 boards in SPARCserver 490 systems.



HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

The NC400 is supported by Interphase on the SPARCserver 470 and
SPARCserver 490 running SunOS 4.1.1 or later.  It is compatible with
IP, TCP, UDP, XDR, RPC, and NFS.


SPECIFICATIONS

Host interface:			Power requirements:
	9U x 400mm VME			+5V	6.0 A typical
Sun servers supported:				8.0 A maximum
	SPARCserver 470			+12V	0.5 A
	SPARCserver 490		Heat Dissipation	12.3 BTU/hour
Operating Temperature		Network Interface:
	0 to 60 C			Standard Ethernet 15 Pin


For customer enquiries:		For press enquiries:

Interphase Corporation		Interphase Corporation
381 East Evelyn Avenue		13800 Senlac
Mountain View, CA  94041	Dallas, Texas  75234
(415) 966-1024			(214) 919-9000
(415) 966-1698 fax		(214) 919-9200 fax

-- 
Bob Weissman
Internet:	bob@omni.com
UUCP:		...!{apple,decwrl,pyramid,sgi,uunet}!omni!bob