Ref: 17310012
Title: 3+ PC Server Fails During Bootup:  "No Memory for Buffers"
Date: 7/1/90

Copyright 3Com Corporation, 1991.  All rights reserved.

The following article applies to 3+ for PC servers, versions 1.3.1 and
higher.

When a PC server boots up, 3+ services are initialized and loaded into
DOS memory.  If there is not enough memory to accommodate the services,
then the server halts processing.  If CIOSYS does not obtain adequate
memory, then the message "No Memory for Buffers" will be displayed.

Some 386 computers, including Compaq 386 models installed as 3+ servers,
display this error message, because 3Opt shows memory allocated by 3ComEMM,
but not all of the memory may actually be available for use by DOS and 3+
services.

There are three types of DOS memory allocated by 3ComEMM for 3+:

 *  Low DOS (used by 3+ services)
 *  High DOS (if available, used by 3+ Locator and CIOSYS)
 *  EMS (used by CIOSYS for caching)


Follow these steps to allocate memory correctly:

1.  3ComEMM will display the available expanded memory immediately after
the PC begins bootup.  Type Ctrl-S to halt operation while viewing the
display, then type Ctrl-S again to resume operation.

2.  Using 3Opt, enter the displayed amount of EMS to be used by CIOSYS.
(The EMS parameter is listed under the CIOSYS network drive configuration
and can be accessed using the down arrow key.)

3a.  If the computer has an ESDI or SCSI disk drive controller, the
interface will probably be using shared memory.  Prevent 3ComEMM from
allocating this high DOS memory as available memory by specifying the
NoHigh option, like this:  Device=3ComEMM.sys NoHigh

3b.  When NoHigh is specified, rename \3plus\3plus\3config\Switches\*.Hi
to *.Lo.  This will prevent any 3+ services from being loaded into high DOS
memory and 3Opt will reflect this when available memory is displayed.

4.  Confirm that 3Opt displays an amount of available system memory
significantly less than the Memory Usage Summary, approximately 20 KB.


Tips for Saving Memory

Note:  These recommendations have not been subjected to exhaustive testing
and may not, in all circumstances, provide a complete solution.

*  For a dedicated 3+ server, remove the statement Device=LGL.SYS
from the CONFIG.SYS file.

*  If the PC server is a recent Compaq model (such as 386S, 20E, 25E, or
386/33), put the statement Device=XBIOS.SYS on the first line of
the CONFIG.SYS file.  (XBIOS.SYS is part of 386Max by Qualitas software.)

*  If a CGA, EGA, or VGA adapter is installed, use the 3ComEMM option
Vidmem=B800-C000 to provide 736 KB of low DOS memory for 3+ services.

*  If a monochrome or Hercules display adapter installed, use the
3ComEMM option Vidmem=B000-B800 to provide 704 KB of low DOS memory.

*  Disable 3+Monitor service using 3INS.

*  If neither Link Plus Optimizer nor full NetBIOS netstations are
installed on the network, disable 3+ Locator using 3INS.

*  For optimum CIOSYS FAT and data caching, use 1-3 megabytes of expanded
memory (1024-3072 KB).

For further information about 3ComEMM, refer to Ask3Com articles 15990006,
11420011, 11420013, and 11420014.