default network packet size

Summary information

Default value

512

Range of values

512–524288

Status

Static

Display level

Intermediate

Required role

System Administrator

default network packet size configures the default packet size for all Adaptive Server users. You can set default network packet size to any multiple of 512 bytes; values that are not even multiples of 512 are rounded down.

Memory for all users who log in with the default packet size is allocated from Adaptive Server’s memory pool, as set with total logical memory. This memory is allocated for network packets when Adaptive Server is started.

Each Adaptive Server user connection uses:

Each of these buffers requires default network packet size bytes. The total amount of memory allocated for network packets is:

(number of user connections + number of worker processes) * 3 * default network packet size

For example, if you set the default network packet size to 1024 bytes, and you have 50 user connections and 20 worker processes, the amount of network memory required is:

(50 + 20) * 3 * 1024 = 215040 bytes

If you increase the default network packet size, you must also increase the max network packet size to at least the same size. If the value of max network packet size is greater than the value of default network packet size, to increase the value of additional network memory. See “additional network memory” for further information.

Use sp_sysmon to see how changing the default network packet size parameter affects network I/O management and task switching. For example, try increasing default network packet size and then checking sp_sysmon output to see how this affects bcp for large batches. See the Performance and Tuning Guide for more information.


Requesting a larger packet size at login

The default packet size for most client programs like bcp and isql is set to 512 bytes. If you change the default packet size, clients must request the larger packet size when they connect. Use the -A flag to Adaptive Server client programs to request a large packet size. For example:

isql -A2048