Home / server / Questions / 217013
Accepted
RayQuang
Asked: 2010-12-30 04:15:48 +0800 CST

Cannot increase MTU on gigabit network

  • 772

I have just set up my new gigabit network and when I was about to increase the MTU to use jumbo frames, I get this error:

root@rayquang-desktop:~# ifconfig eth1 mtu 9000 SIOCSIFMTU: Invalid argument

Could anyone help me to increase the MTU.

Details: NIC: NETGEAR GA311; Switch: NETGEAR GS105, running Ubuntu 10.10 and Debian Lenny on desktop, server respectively.

Help would be greatly appreciated, RayQuang

linux jumboframes networking

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Yep. I just looked at the PDF datasheet for your NIC

    No mention of Jumbo Frame support there, so I suspect you're out of luck.

    Buy a new nic. Go for something Intel or Broadcom and you'll probably have more luck. Shouldn't set you back too much.

    • 9

  2. Why do you need jumbo frames in the first place?

    It is not common on desktop PCs.

    UPDATE: @Sirex I still think it is uncommon in home environment. He has netgear nic and switch. These are a SOHO stuff. People should not use some technology because it has a good name. They do because of real need.

    I run high-end blade servers and I do not feel the need for jumbo frames.

    UPDATE2: @RayQuang Then I think upgrading your switch and NIC can help much more than enabling jumbo frames. Others already suggested Broadcom and Intel as a NIC and I suggest Cisco (not the small business thingy) or HP as a switch.

    • 2