What are the functions of the server network adapter

In the traditional environment, the processor needs to process the content including encapsulation and unloading of IP data packets, calculation and viewing, etc. With the network adapter, the processor can process instructions more efficiently. There are many functions of server network adapters, and it is a little difficult for you to choose a characteristic network adapter. Let me introduce you to what aspects of the role of server network adapters.

TCP offload

TCP offloading has a very favorable factor, that is, to transfer all the TCP stack to the hardware, so that these CPU computing resources can be returned to the operating system. In fact, this means that the third layer (network/IP) and the fourth layer (transmission/TCP) are lowered to the network adapter, and the adapter’s TCP offload engine (TOE) can be used to handle a variety of data organization and transmission tasks.

Investing in a network adapter with complete TOE function, the visible return is that when uninstalled, it can release a lot of CPU resources that used to be. Traditional Gigabit Ethernet network adapters may consume about 70% of the processing power of the CPU, which consumes a lot of resources required by server applications. If you do not need a good TOE function, you can choose other network adapters, which can sensitively support a subset of TOE functions, such as check and offload (TSO) or LRO.

Receiving end conditioning

The processor needs time to reassemble the data extracted from a single data packet. When it needs to process multiple network ports and application data packets, a single processor will be busy. RSS will deliver data packets to multiple physical processors (not cores) together, so that the same physical processor will only process data packets from the same TCP connection. The processor has been processing the same data stream, it will be easier and faster than reaccepting and combining new data.

In most cases, file servers, web servers, and database servers can benefit from a complete uninstall function, including checksum uninstallation, segmented uninstallation, TOE, and host-side mediation. Other types of servers can selectively enable the uninstall function. Segmentation is not very effective for mail servers that process short messages, and media servers do not require segmentation, because most server managers are spent on moving big data.

What are the functions of the server network adapter? The above is an introduction to the functions of the server network adapter. The server network adapter has TCP offloading and receiving end conditioning functions. After a certain offloading function is enabled, we can objectively see the changes in the server's use of the network adapter.