The point-to-point network interface (NI) allows the upper
layers of the transport protocol to communicate with the data link
layer. The Point-to-Point Network Interface Configuration screen
(#101) in Figure 6-3 “Point-to-Point Network Interface
Configuration Screen” is displayed
when you select an NI name of NI type ROUTER
at the Network Interface Configuration screen (Figure 6-2 “Network Interface Configuration Screen”) and press the [Add]
or [Modify] function key. It is also displayed
when you type the path name:
@NETXPORT.NI.NIname
in the Command window of any screen and press the [Enter]
key, where NIname is a configured point-to-point
NI.
Figure 6-3 Point-to-Point Network Interface
Configuration Screen
Press the [Save Data] function key to transfer
the data displayed on the screen to the configuration file you are
creating or updating. Verify that the data record has been created
by checking that the Data flag is set to Y.
Fields
- Network hop count
This is the maximum number of hops that a packet
entering the network can make. It is the distance between the two
most remotely separated nodes on the network. Distance is measured
in terms of hops, where each intermediate node between two end nodes
is counted as a hop.
The network hop count determines a packet's time
to live; that is, the time (in numbers of hops) that a packet is
allowed to remain in the network. A packet whose time to live has
expired can be assumed to be undeliverable because of some undetected
routing anomaly and will be discarded. If this value is set too
low, the danger exists that packets will be discarded prematurely
(that is, before they reach their destination). If the value is
set too high, an undeliverable packet may remain in the network
too long, and possibly contribute to network congestion.
Default value: None
Range: 1-1024
- Idle device timeout value (seconds)
This field is relevant only if the link is a dial
link. For those devices that have the idle device timer enabled,
if there is no activity during this time interval, the device is
considered to be inactive and will be shut down. A timeout value
of zero disables the idle device timer for the link on this network
interface, thus overriding any enabled device timer, see "Related
screens." The purpose of the idle device timer is to shut
down dial links that have become idle.
Related screens:
NETXPORT.NI.NIname.LINK.linkname
An entry in this screen enables/disables the idle device timer.
NETXPORT.GPROT.TCP
The connection assurance interval set in this screen must
be less than the idle device timeout value configured in the current
screen.
Default value: None
Range: 0-32400
- Number of outbound buffers
This field specifies the number of buffers to be
allocated for outbound data. Outbound buffers are used for outbound
data packets and are held by the transport until they are acknowledged
by the destination node. Underallocation may adversely affect TCP
throughput. Overallocation may waste core memory.
Related screen:
NETXPORT.GPROT.TCP
The maximum number of connections is configured here. If it
is increased, consider increasing the number of outbound buffers
also.
Default value: 128
Range: 32-2048