Intel® Ethernet Adapters and Devices User Guide

ID Date Version Classification
705831 12/05/2024 Public
Document Table of Contents

Jumbo Frames

The Jumbo Frames feature enables or disables Jumbo Packet capability. The standard Ethernet frame size is about 1514 bytes, while Jumbo Packets are larger than this. Jumbo Packets can increase throughput and decrease CPU utilization. However, additional latency may be introduced.

Enable Jumbo Packets only if all devices across the network support them and are configured to use the same frame size. When setting up Jumbo Packets on other network devices, be aware that network devices calculate Jumbo Packet sizes differently. Some devices include the frame size in the header information while others do not. Intel® Ethernet adapters do not include frame size in the header information.

Jumbo Packets can be implemented simultaneously with VLANs and teaming. If a team contains one or more non-Intel adapters, the Jumbo Packets feature for the team is not supported. Before adding a non-Intel adapter to a team, make sure that you disable Jumbo Packets for all non-Intel adapters using the software that was shipped with the adapter.

Restrictions

  • Jumbo frames are not supported in multi-vendor team configurations.

  • Supported protocols are limited to IP (TCP, UDP).

  • Jumbo frames require compatible switch connections that forward Jumbo Frames. Contact your switch vendor for more information.

  • When standard-sized Ethernet frames (64 to 1518 bytes) are used, there is no benefit to configuring Jumbo Frames.

  • The Jumbo Packets setting on the switch must be set to at least 8 bytes larger than the adapter setting for Microsoft Windows* operating systems, and at least 22 bytes larger for all other operating systems.

  • Jumbo Frames are not supported over Intel® Advanced Network Services (Intel® ANS) VLANs under Microsoft Windows 10.

Note:
  • End-to-end hardware must support this capability; otherwise, packets will be dropped.

  • Intel adapters that support Jumbo Packets have a frame size limit of 9238 bytes, with a corresponding MTU size limit of 9216 bytes.

To change this setting in Intel® PROSet:

This setting is found on the Advanced tab of the device’s Device Manager property sheet or in the Adapter Settings panel in the Intel® PROSet Adapter Configuration Utility (Intel® PROSet ACU).

To change this setting in Windows PowerShell*, use the Set-IntelNetAdapterSetting cmdlet. For example:

Set-IntelNetAdapterSetting -Name "<adapter_name>" -DisplayName "Jumbo Packet"
-DisplayValue "4088 Bytes"

Possible values for this setting are:

  • Disabled (1514 bytes)

  • 4088 Bytes

  • 9014 Bytes

Note:

Set the switch 4 bytes higher for CRC, plus 4 bytes if using VLANs.