NETWORK HELP!! COLLISIONS

[mboy]

Ok, Kinda new to this and in over my head a tiny bit.
Network is 4-5 servers 10mbs hubs. 40-50 computers.
All of the sudden, all of my hubs are showing collisions. Anyone point me in the right direction to start tracking down my problem?
Thanx.

 

[n0cmonkey]

What OSes? How many hubs?

/me crosses his fingers and hopes you dont say Windows...

 

[mboy]

Ok figured it out. Easier then I thought. 4 Hubs main server is NT 4. workstations 95 (yeah I know) 98 a couple 2k and 2 XP.

Traced the collisions back to server, so rebooted main server. After reboot no more collisions. Waiting to see if there are any more today after everyone logs back in. If there are more, I will trace it to the individual computers (I noticed there were 2 stations with severe collisions).

 

[Woodie]

Go through the change logs...(you do have those, right?)...find what network changes were made. I'd look for a replaced 10/100 card (or port) that's configured for 100 instead of 10.

That's my WAG*, and I'm sticking to it.

--Woodie


* WAG- Wild Assed Guess

 

[mboy]

Dont the cards configure themselves? How would I change it from 100 to 10 in 95 or 98?
Thanx.

 

[FFC]

Collisions are normal on. Ethernet is a bus based network which is properly called CSMA/CD (Collision Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection). As a result of this stations on the network can attempt to transmit simultaneously when this happens you get a collision. Both stations will back-off for a random period of time before attempting to transmit again.

I'm surprised that a server reboot has caused your collisions to dissappear. What kind of traffic levels are you running?

 

[shadow]

55comps (at your estimated maximum) networked only through hubs. That's getting close to saturated, depending on usage. I would think about a nice, cheap, little, cute, 5port switch and cut your collision domain in half.

 

[mboy]

I am thinking more in the lines of 3 unmanaged $500-600 switches (+ 1 warm spare) and upgrading the older NICs. Just ordered 30 of them for the $0.81 deal from Dell. Will I need anything else besides the switches and NICs? Is it as easy as unplugging from HUB and plugging into switch?
Thanx.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< I am thinking more in the lines of 3 unmanaged $500-600 switches (+ 1 warm spare) and upgrading the older NICs. Just ordered 30 of them for the $0.81 deal from Dell. Will I need anything else besides the switches and NICs? Is it as easy as unplugging from HUB and plugging into switch?
Thanx. >>



That should be about all you need. Unless you are upgrading to 100basetx, then you may need cat5 cable (depends on if you have cat 3 or 5 now). Windows likes its broadcasts so this may not help as much as you would like. But good luck.

 

[mboy]

All of our cabling is CAT 5. Will I notice a BIG difference going from 10m unswitched to 100 switched?

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< All of our cabling is CAT 5. Will I notice a BIG difference going from 10m unswitched to 100 switched? >>



That will depend on a lot of factors, but I think you should see a noticable difference. You will definitely cut down on collisions, and as long as the machines arent broadcasting too much give yourself a *LOT* more bandwidth.

 

[me19562]

Well on my experience u r gonna see a big difference


Good Luck

 

[daverji]

If you got the $ to migrate to an all switched network, with 100Mbps NICS. you'll be stoked.
If not, definitely replacing the hubs with switches where your servers, backbones, and major users reside will be a very good start.
NT and probably 2K and XP have Network Monitor. Comes in handy in to find out who is "squawkin".

 

[IgorTs]

I saw nice cisco Catalist 2924XL switches on ebay, they're the best and in your range, 24 managed ports

 

[me19562]

3 unmanaged $500-600 switches this is each switch?

 

[mboy]

Most likely going to go with the D-link DSS-24. Good reviews and very inexpensive. Should be perfect for my needs. Already ordered the 10/100 NICs. The $.81 (30) from Dell, so should be rockin the house soon enough.