Jumbo Frames? Supported by any cheap switches?

trikster2

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Oct 28, 2000
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Title says it all:
Are there any cheap gigabit switches that support jumbo frames?

Cheapest I can find is an SMC 8 port model for $140:

linky
 

p0lar

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Nov 16, 2002
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Hrmn... is this for a home or production atmosphere? (sometimes one in the same)

I know the Cisco Catalyst 6500 will do it, (set port jumbo module/port enable if memory serves), but that may be a bit expensive.
rolleye.gif
(oh yeah, Extreme Networks as well - Juniper will too, but that's definitely another story...)

I'm going to guess that you need to go between quite a few machines, correct?

I'll dig around some, this has piqued my curiosity as I was unaware that any of the smaller vendors supported the 9k MTUs... cool to see that the technology is finally making its way south. :D
 

trikster2

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Oct 28, 2000
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polar

realtek $30 gig ethernet cards support jumbo frames, possibly others.

Most of the other low cost gig switches I have looked at do not list jumbo frames as supported so I am assuming they do not support the big MTUs. I've seen a white paper explictly giving the Netgear GS105 as an example of a cheap $500 switch that does not support jumbo frame technology.

I was going to purchace the zonet no-name brand $117 8 port gig switch last night but I started looking in to jumbo frames and am tempted to spring the extra $23 to see how far I can push my little home network.....
 

gunrunnerjohn

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Nov 2, 2002
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I think most gigabit cards support jumbo frames, I know my Intel and AOpen cards do. I think the support issues normally come up in the switches, not the NICs. :)
 

p0lar

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Nov 16, 2002
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Some day, the price will drop on L3 gig switches... hopefully sooner than later. *sigh* They should have the 9k+frame technology then as well. I wonder how it handles VLAN-tagged packets.. i.e. if it places them within the 9k or on top of, as in a normal packet.

I could turn it on, sit and watch, but I'm almost out for the week - and I'm tired. :D

 

cmetz

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Nov 13, 2001
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trikster2, I think that SMC is your best bet. The cheap switch chipset vendors currently aren't on the jumbo frame page. As a general rule, they implement the minimum required, and jumbo frames are NOT a part of the gigE standard (or any standard, actually).
 

trikster2

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Oct 28, 2000
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cmetz

I think you are right. The news release on SMC's site states it is the only class B 8 port gig switch supporting jumbo frames. I think I have found the switch for my home network....