New Dell Gigabit Can't Communicate over Network?

[Rhombuss]

Helping a friend setup a new Dell system and service the rest of his existing network. The rest of the network is fine, using a gigabit switch while all the existing computers are running off 100TX nics. The new Dell has the gigabit network controller.

There was no included Cat5e cable for the new Dell, so we resorted to using a normal Cat5 cable he had. I was under the impression that using a Cat5 cable would throttle the adapter speed down to 100TX, but still work. The Dell resolves an IP, and can ping-out all the other computers in the network fine, however, other computers will not ping the Dell, and is unable to negotiate across the network. Since it could ping out, but not ping-in, I figured the problem was with some Dell firewall settings. I disabled the SP2 firewall but still no luck. Reinstalled the drivers as well as a NETSH-DUMP but still nothing. Using the Cat5 cable, it resolves the IP with a gigabit connection, not 100TX.

I also tried down-throttling the adapter to a 100TX connection, but for some reason, the driver set doesn't allow that option in the adapter settings....strange?

Is the problem here the lack of a Cat5e cable? Or is it something else?

 

[JackMDS]

CAT5e can maintain Giga Speed and would not throttle any thing down, however you do not have a Giga Network.
If only one computer on the network has a Giga card the whole Giga thing is pretty useless since the computer with the Giga has no one to talk Giga to.
I would set all the computer?s NIC (including the Dell) to Auto Speed and let the cards fence for the correct Speed.
The cable should not be the problem if you use commercially made straight CAT5e.

:sun:

 

[Rhombuss]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
CAT5e can maintain Giga Speed and would not throttle any thing down, however you do not have a Giga Network.

I think you misunderstood. The Dell computer (with the gigabit controller) is currently using a Cat5 not Cat5e cable, hence my issue about down-throttling.

If only one computer on the network has a Giga card the whole Giga thing is pretty useless since the computer with the Giga has no one to talk Giga to.

I'm aware of the network not being gigabit, the gigabit switch was implemented to facilitate faster access when multiple connections are going simultaneously. My past experience with entry-level 10/100 switches has them hitting a lot of collisions when 3 or more systems are transferring files across the network.

I would set all the computer?s NIC (including the Dell) to Auto Speed and let the cards fence for the correct Speed.
The cable should not be the problem if you use commercially made straight CAT5e.

All the systems are already set to auto-speed. Once again, the cable connected to the Dell is a Cat5 only.

 

[Andres3605]

Make sure you Norton internet security (if included) has the proper settings in the firewall or turn off all the firewalls and then try.

 

[nweaver]

sounds like a firewall issue. If you are getting an IP, and can ping out, then you have basic IP connectivity. Pinging the new host may fail, as a F/W is blocking the ICMP Echo reply. A cable is not going to cause that, yet allow you to ping other host's on the network.


Short version: F/W is blocking some connectivity, not cable

 

[Rhombuss]

Yep, it was a firewall issue. When I ordered the Dell, I didn't specify that I wanted Norton installed. I guess they installed it accidently, and it came with the Internet Security monitor too. Guess I can't complain, it was free .

 

[imported_netman]

Though this is resolved.. Cat5 will not (or should not) down throttle a connection negotiation to 100Mb. It will negotiate fine at 1000Mb however typical Cat5 will typically be limited to 250Mhz (or Mb).