[Soekris] can Net4801 handle DS3 (t3) traffic?

[Joe Greco]

> Our office is about to get upgraded from a T1 connection to a DS3 (28x speed of a T1).
> 
> I'd like to suggest using a NET4801 as the firewall for our internal network.
> 
> Any reason why the NET4801 wouldn't be able to handle that kind of throughput?
> 
> I'm assuming it'll do fine (why wouldn't it?) but just thought I'd confirm with the list.

Routing in software on a UNIX platform is generally dependent on a number of
factors, all of which have to do with how much processing need be done.

A router which is perfectly capable of 100Mbps forwarding of unidirectional
large-packet (1500 byte) traffic might easily be slagged by 10Mbps of small-
packet (64 byte) traffic.  That's because the first case is only about 8000
packets per second and the second case is more than double that, at nearly
20,000 packets per second.

Of course, adding things like firewall rules will also affect overall
performance.

... JG
-- 
Joe Greco - sol.net Network Services - Milwaukee, WI - http://www.sol.net
"We call it the 'one bite at the apple' rule. Give me one chance [and] then I
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