Help getting gigabit to work with router!!!

[LynnJ]

HELP!!!

I just picked up a Lanready 5 port gigabit switch and two Linkskey 10/100/1000 nic's. Well, I can't get them to run at 1000mbit without it screwing up. They are running on Krone Cat5eT cable. If one is set to auto-negotiate, the switch lights up at 1000, but I have to run the other pc at 100/full. The switch is plugged into my Linksys 4 port router, which is plugged into the cable modem. I can't set them both to 1000 either. Either can run at auto-negotiate if the other is on 100/full. When both are on 1000/full or auto, they can't get an ip or surf the net. Anyone have an idea? I'm thinking that I might just return the nic's and switch to newegg and buy all Linksys stuff. Thanks!!! VERY FRUSTRATED!!!

 

[cmetz]

LynnJ, Linkskey and Lanready aren't vendors I've ever heard of. I did a quick poke around Newegg, and they seem to be the cheapest. That's usually not conducive to being the best.

The Linkskey NIC is based on the RealTek RTL8169 gigabit controller. This is based on the RTL8139C+ 10/100 controller, which has poor performance and really all around just sucks. I have a Trendware card based on the same chip for lab testing, and my results were that it's garbage. I'd definitely return them and get a better card. The Netgear GA302T (about $35 shipped) would be a great choice.

I couldn't find anything on the Lanready switch (must be OOS), but if I were doing an RMA I'd swap it for some name folks have heard of. I have a Hawking 4-port 10/100/1000 switch, and I have had one negotiation interoperability problem with it (would bring up a link... then lose it... then up... then down). Low-end switches are usually pretty simple and straightforward, but the symptoms you describe sound more like a switch problem than a NIC problem, so I wouldn't chance it. From what I've read and folks' reactions (don't yet have one), the SMC SOHO gigabit switches are the best of the bunch. Linksys and D-Link also have some and should be safe.

I know that this isn't the answer you were hoping for, but buying the cheapest stuff often means problems.

 

[LynnJ]

Thanks for the advice. I'm pretty much gonna chalk this one up to cheap equipment. I'm RMA'ing this stuff and I've already ordered Linksys gear. Much more reliable. That's what I get for trying to go cheap. Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: cmetz
LynnJ, Linkskey and Lanready aren't vendors I've ever heard of.

Inexpensive all in one OEM type (might be the same chipset used by Linksys).

Link to: www.lanready.com

Mainly used to install in sImall businesses that care about cost and functional Network, and do not care if it is not running as a Lamborghini.

 

[LynnJ]

Well, the Linksys stuff is on order now. Of course, having done a little research, they don't support jumbo frames. With a p4 2.4c and a Athlon 2400+, would it really make THAT big of a difference in throughput? Also, I have a Linksys 4 port router switch getting the feed from the cable modem, would getting nic's and a gigabit switch that support jumbo frames even be an option? Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

Giga means that the Internal Clock is running 1000MHz. Trying to attribute it to "Speed of Transfer" is a Marketing thing.

Current Giga NICs are highly dependent on the OS and System used. Nowhere in the real world it is close to 1000% (x10) improvement.MS's TCP/IP protocol on WinXP is not yet optimized for such high speed communication.

Under "normal situation" between two home computers on a peer to peer Network. The gain of "Speed" might be only 25% to 50% (x .25 to .50).

I.e. if your system is 100Mb/sec. and yields 10MB/sec. transfer, by replacing the NIC with Giga NICs and the Switch with Giga Switch the Network will probably yield 12.5MB/sec. to 15MB/sec. (if your hardware is fast).

If one of the computers is equipped with Real Server OS like Windows 2003 the "Speed" from Server to client might improve by 150% i.e. you will get 25MB/sec. (x2.5)

If you install Giga on Double Xenon Computers with fast SCSI RAID, and Server Software you might get 400% (x4) improvement.

All numbers are approximation for demonstration purposes, YMMV.

The best report that I saw is 800Mb/sec. pushed onto fiber by 8 CPUs Solaris Sever.

Link to: The Big Giga Thread

Note: 1GHz = 1000MHz. 1000Mb/sec. (b=bit) is 125MB/sec. (B=Byte) 8bits = 1Byte. For Byte you use Capital B.

 

[LynnJ]

Thanks a lot! The p4 2.4c is equipped with 2 120GB Serial ATA drives running in Raid 0 mode. So it's pretty fast, though obviously nowhere near that Solaris beast. I'm only running win2k pro right now(on both machines). Why would putting win2k server make such a difference? Also, pardon my ignorance, just would like to know. Thanks again!!! Very helpful!

 

[JackMDS]

I am not sure about Win2000server. Win2003code (being a New OS) is already adjusted for Giga. Win2000server (being relatively old) might Not.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Originally posted by: LynnJ
Thanks a lot! The p4 2.4c is equipped with 2 120GB Serial ATA drives running in Raid 0 mode. So it's pretty fast, though obviously nowhere near that Solaris beast. I'm only running win2k pro right now(on both machines). Why would putting win2k server make such a difference? Also, pardon my ignorance, just would like to know. Thanks again!!! Very helpful!

The SMB prococol is obviously much better configured for speed on the server versions of Windows. I see at least a 2:1 increase in writing speed from a workstation to a remote computer when that computer is running Server 2003 vs. W2K Pro.