Point-to-Point Network Interface Configuration

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

Point-to-Point Network Interface Configuration

Technical documentation

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Fields