I have learned much from AnandTech forums over the years, so I thought I would report how it has helped me.
I recently bought a barebones system, CPU, memory, drives, gigabit switch, and a cheap gigabit NIC to replace an aging server. I put it all together and started testing throughput to the server from my desktop (an Nvidia 405 chipset system with an X2 3000+ cpu).
Over stranded CAT5e cable run throughout my house (yes..yes...I know solid is better for permanent installations....but I make my own cables and didn't want to buy two spools), I was getting throughput of ~250Mbps using nuttcp to test. Jumbo frames didn't seems to make a difference.
I thought maybe the cable runs were marginal, so I brought my server up to my desk and direct connected it to the desktop computer. ~250Mbps over a 3 foot storebought CAT5e cable. My thought was that it was the NICs, builtin on the desktop and PCI bus Realtek 8169 chip on the server.
I bit the bullet and ordered 2 Intel Pro/1000 PTs (PCI-E x1).
Now I am getting ~950Mbps using nuttcp over my homemade cables with the switch in the middle, everything set on 4088 Jumbo frames.
My throughput still isn't fantastic using large file transfers, but I can now blame OS file system overhead, disk throughput, or phases of the moon instead of the network.
Edit: I read my post and then realized that I had promised to tell how these forums had helped me. 1) General networking knowledge 2) Component selection 3) Where to buy.
I recently bought a barebones system, CPU, memory, drives, gigabit switch, and a cheap gigabit NIC to replace an aging server. I put it all together and started testing throughput to the server from my desktop (an Nvidia 405 chipset system with an X2 3000+ cpu).
Over stranded CAT5e cable run throughout my house (yes..yes...I know solid is better for permanent installations....but I make my own cables and didn't want to buy two spools), I was getting throughput of ~250Mbps using nuttcp to test. Jumbo frames didn't seems to make a difference.
I thought maybe the cable runs were marginal, so I brought my server up to my desk and direct connected it to the desktop computer. ~250Mbps over a 3 foot storebought CAT5e cable. My thought was that it was the NICs, builtin on the desktop and PCI bus Realtek 8169 chip on the server.
I bit the bullet and ordered 2 Intel Pro/1000 PTs (PCI-E x1).
Now I am getting ~950Mbps using nuttcp over my homemade cables with the switch in the middle, everything set on 4088 Jumbo frames.
My throughput still isn't fantastic using large file transfers, but I can now blame OS file system overhead, disk throughput, or phases of the moon instead of the network.
Edit: I read my post and then realized that I had promised to tell how these forums had helped me. 1) General networking knowledge 2) Component selection 3) Where to buy.