Maximum Ethernet frame sizes

The largest frame size used during the connection process is controlled by the maximum frame size configurations of multiple items. The maximum frame size for the connection is also influenced by exchange identifier negotiations and bridge considerations. Note that TCP/IP and SNA connections are limited by slightly different sets of items.

TCP/IP connections

The maximum frame size is associated with:

• the Ethernet standard that you select
• the line description (Gigabit Ethernet only)
• each service access point (SAP)
• the TCP/IP interface

SNA connections

The maximum frame size is associated with:

• the controller
• the Ethernet standard that you select
• each service access point (SSAP)

During the connection process, your server selects the smallest common value of the maximum frame values. As stated above, the actual maximum frame size used can become even smaller, if the bridge cannot support the value selected by the server.

The following table shows the maximum frame sizes that are associated with the Ethernet standard that you select through the Ethernet standard (ETHSTD) field.