🚀 go-pugleaf

The answer to this question has to do with the Microsoft "Network Driver
Interface Specification" or "NDIS". NDIS specifies how to write what is
called a "miniport device driver" for each adapter.

Among other things, NDIS provides a way that the OS can fetch statistics
about transmit and receive operations. NDIS defines a large number of
statistics that adapters _CAN_ maintain about transmit and receive
operations. Each statistic is fetched using what is know an an "Object
Identifier" or "OID".

NDIS defines statistics OIDs for transmit and receive packets (or "frames")
as well as for bytes sent and received on an adapter.

HOWEVER, NDIS also specifies which statistics are _mandatory_ and which are
_optional_.

In general, the packet or frame statistics are the ones that are mandatory.
All miniports must support packet/frame statistics.

The byte statistics are, unfortunately, optional.

The gizmo that you are looking at probably is smart enough to ask each
miniport for byte statistics, and show them if they are available. If they
are not available for the particular miniport, then it shows packet counts.

Regards,
--
Thomas F. Divine

PCAUSA - Toolkits & Resources For Network Software Developers
NDIS Protocol - NDIS Intermediate Driver - TDI Client - Windows 95
Redirector
<http://www.pcausa.com>


David Chadwick <optic@iname.com> wrote in message
news:eZiYa6z6AHA.1924@tkmsftngp04...
> Hi Michael,
>
> I asked a similar question a few days ago and noone seemed to know.
>
> I have two network cards in my machine, a 3Com and a D-Link 530TX.  My
3Com
> shows as bytes and my D-Link shows as packets!
>
> I can only assume it has something to do with the driver for the network
> card.
>
> Good luck in finding an answer. :)
>
> Seeya,
>
> ...David
>
> "Michael" <flatbmx1@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3b179416@news.iprimus.com.au...
> > only difference is he is using a d-link dfe-500tx+ nic which has always
> > displayed bytes in win2k and winxp, I use to use a d-link dfe-530tx+ nic
> but
> > it always displayed packets, now I'm using an intel one and it displays
> > packets as well...
> > perhaps the drivers for that specific model promote the use of bytes?
> > hmmmmm
> > Michael
>
>