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    AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1332                 7-31-95

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                               DPT3224 WITH DPTCOM.NLM

    PROBLEM

    Under NetWare 4.X, DPTCOM.NLM occupies a large portion of the server
    CPU utilization.

    CAUSE

    Do not be alarmed by the high utilization.  The system is operating as
    designed.

    "When DPTCOM.NLM is loaded, the system starts some threads to look for
    incoming connection requests.  These polling threads check for a connection
    request and return control back to NetWare.  NetWare will then determine
    which thread should be given control next.  If there are very few threads
    active on the server (very little activity), DPTCOM.NLM will be given
    control quite frequently and thus will be occupying a good proportion of the
    server utilization.  However, if there are many other active threads on the
    server, DPTCOM.NLM will be given control less frequently.

    Please keep in mind that an 80% utilization by DPTCOM.NLM (or any other
    NetWare NLM) does not mean that it requires 80% of the server's CPU
    bandwidth to operate.  It simply means that NetWare is currently allowing
    DPTCOM.NLM to consume 80% of the CPU bandwidth based on the current
    activity occurring on the server.

    SOLUTION

    Distributed Processing Technology (DPT) has released the latest NetWare
    driver , NW386.ZIP, on DPT's BBS.  File NW386.ZIP contains the modified
    DPTCOM.NLM which occupies less CPU utilization even during periods of
    inactivity under NetWare 4.X.

    To obtain the above mentioned file, contact Distributed Processing
    Technology's (DPT) BBS (407) 831-6432 / (407) 830-1070.

    SYSTEMS AFFECTED
    AST PART NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION

    All servers systems.