Mixed Gigabit network

[MagicConch]

I have a desktop that has a built in Giga NIC, and all the other devices I have go 100Mb max. I want to make a home network that will be able to handle Giga transfer in the future.

I have Cat5 house so I have over a dozen connections going into the router in a wire closet with the broadband modem in there also.

Questions I have are (1) will a gig NIC be able to transfer to another Giga NIC at appropriate speeds even if there are other slower devices on the LAN? What if it is simultaneously sending stuff to a 100Mb NIC and 1Gb NIC? (2) Will a device get a new IP everytime it's moved from one Ethernet jack to another in the house such as the laptop? (3) What is cheapest way to make a giga network (with 802.11g capability) that can at least a dozen wired connections?

 

[JRock]

If you are using a gig switch any gig device connected to it will run at a gig. Other devices will run at 100.

Another issue you will have is Cat5 doesnt support 10/100/1000 it only does 10/100

 

[ktwebb]

However many Cat5 cabling will do gigabit speeds. Its just not "certified" GigE. Really depend on several variables, not the least of which how your ends were terminated/crimped. If you have pull strings it might not be such a big hassle to rerun the cable with Cat5E or even Cat6, though again, terminating is critical. I wouldn't recommend anyone crimping their own Cat5 6 unless they are well schooled and experienced in doing so.

Edit. Oh, might want to change your thread title. Gigabit
GigaByte would be a beautiful thing. I think we're a few years off from that though.

 

[JRock]

Originally posted by: ktwebb
However many Cat5 cabling will do gigabit speeds. Its just not "certified" GigE. Really depend on several variables, not the least of which how your ends were terminated/crimped. If you have pull strings it might not be such a big hassle to rerun the cable with Cat5E or even Cat6, though again, terminating is critical. I wouldn't recommend anyone crimping their own Cat5 6 unless they are well schooled and experienced in doing so.

Great points.

 

[MagicConch]

Thanks for the info re: gig switch. I will see if the existing wire can handling it. What about the IP thing? Thanks

Originally posted by: ktwebb
Edit. Oh, might want to change your thread title. Gigabit
GigaByte would be a beautiful thing. I think we're a few years off from that though.

Thanks

 

[ktwebb]

Depends on your DHCP server but almost certainly it will pick up the same IP. Budget routers with DHCP servers give semi static long leases based on MAC address. Has nothing to do with what ethernet port they're plugged into.

 

[JackMDS]

As far as Peer to Peer Home Network.

To get Semi Giga traffic you need a minimum of two computers with Giga NICs connected to a Giga Switch.

All other devices can be connect as usual to any other switch or and the Giga Switch and they would operate normally at their rated Speed with the regular Network Setting.

You want a little better than Semi Giga; you have to buy a Giga Switch that is Jumbo Frames Capable and run a secondary Giga Network with MTU of 9000.

Peer to Peer Giga Networks

Setting a Home Giga network.

:sun:

 

[Tarrant64]

About the Cat5,Cat5E,Cat6. I'm not sure exactly what all cables I have hooked up right now(Cat5 and Cat6 for sure, not sure about Cat5E). When purchasing more ethernet cable in the future, would it benefit just to go ahead with Cat6? Or should I look for the Cat5E?