I was reading some issue with NetApp NFS troubleshooting and came across the KB from NetApp to disable flow Control on the Array.
This new Flow control setting is listed under a RFC 3465 which is described as ABC (Appropriate Byte Counting (ABC)).
Now this particular settings takes care of TCP Congestion Control with Appropriate Byte Counting (ABC) settings on the array.
As per this document Storage Best Practice Document (TR-3749.PDF) page 25 Flow control means:
FLOW CONTROL
Flow control is a low-level process for managing the rate of data transmission between two nodes to prevent a fast sender from overrunning a slow receiver. Flow control can be configured on ESX/ESXi servers, FAS storage arrays, and network switches. For modern network equipment, especially 10GbE equipment, NetApp recommends turning off flow control and allowing congestion management to be performed higher in the network stack. For older equipment, typically GbE with smaller buffers and weaker buffer management, NetApp recommends configuring the endpoints, ESX servers, and NetApp arrays with the flow control set to "send."
And further reading on the Congestion Management with Flow control - TR-3802.pdf page 23 , it mentioned other technologies to use such TCP windowing, increased switch buffering, and end-to-end QoS which may reduce the need for simple flow control throughout the network. Now I think along with that you can add the setting for ABC as per the RFC mentioned above. You can read the RFC to get more idea on how exactly it works on the TCP stack.
Fro ONTAP 8.1 Netapp has released the guide with the following command:
ip.tcp.abc.enable
(Enables/disables the use of Appropriate Byte Counting in TCP Congestion Control following RFC
3465. Valid values for this option are on or off. The default value for this option is on.)
Now if you need further information on how to set this up on the affected Array and I would suggest to get in touch with the vendor.
Now this may or may not improve the overall situation but its worth giving a try.
Please share if you can.
This new Flow control setting is listed under a RFC 3465 which is described as ABC (Appropriate Byte Counting (ABC)).
Now this particular settings takes care of TCP Congestion Control with Appropriate Byte Counting (ABC) settings on the array.
As per this document Storage Best Practice Document (TR-3749.PDF) page 25 Flow control means:
FLOW CONTROL
Flow control is a low-level process for managing the rate of data transmission between two nodes to prevent a fast sender from overrunning a slow receiver. Flow control can be configured on ESX/ESXi servers, FAS storage arrays, and network switches. For modern network equipment, especially 10GbE equipment, NetApp recommends turning off flow control and allowing congestion management to be performed higher in the network stack. For older equipment, typically GbE with smaller buffers and weaker buffer management, NetApp recommends configuring the endpoints, ESX servers, and NetApp arrays with the flow control set to "send."
And further reading on the Congestion Management with Flow control - TR-3802.pdf page 23 , it mentioned other technologies to use such TCP windowing, increased switch buffering, and end-to-end QoS which may reduce the need for simple flow control throughout the network. Now I think along with that you can add the setting for ABC as per the RFC mentioned above. You can read the RFC to get more idea on how exactly it works on the TCP stack.
Fro ONTAP 8.1 Netapp has released the guide with the following command:
ip.tcp.abc.enable
(Enables/disables the use of Appropriate Byte Counting in TCP Congestion Control following RFC
3465. Valid values for this option are on or off. The default value for this option is on.)
Now if you need further information on how to set this up on the affected Array and I would suggest to get in touch with the vendor.
Now this may or may not improve the overall situation but its worth giving a try.
Please share if you can.
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