New gigabit desktop switch showing half duplex

[amheck]

Hi all, I just got a Trendnet 5-port desktop switch and a couple of the link, which I think, should be showing up as 1000M are amber (not green), which means they are 10/100. Anything else I can check?

Link 1 is a new cat6 cable from my Linksys E4200 router to the switch port 1. Link light is showing amber, which means 10/100. When I login to the Linksys, its also showing the port I have the switch plugged into as 10/100. I'm not aware of anything I can change on either end of this connection?

Link 2 is from my desktop PC to the new switch. It's a Dell XPS8300 with the built in gigabit ethernet port. Under device manager, the link speed is set up to Auto Negotiate, which is I think what you want for gigabit. This is also using a brand new cat6 cable and I've verified with another new cable.

This probably isn't a huge deal, but it is bugging me somewhat why these connections are showing up as 10/100.

BTW, my laptop, hooked up to the switch, does show a green 1000M link ok, so I know its working for at least 1 connection.

Any ideas what else I can check?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Try the known working cable (laptop) in the other ports to verify they are working properly. If they all work fine then it boils down to either the other cables or devices.

 

[amheck]

thanks for the idea. I did swap the smaller cables between the switch and PC (and even pulled out another - I bought a 5 pack) and it's the same. So the issue seems to be with the hardware, at either end, which I can't seem to change much that I'm aware of. Especially at the router and the (dumb) switch.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

How long are these cables?

And just to clarify - with the laptop plugged into any port on the switch, you get the green LED. Is that correct?

 

[amheck]

from the router to the switch, its 50ft. from the 2 PCs to the switch, they are 3ft cables.

And yes, swapping cables and ports on the switch, I can always get the laptop to light up green 1000M.

I went to Dell to see if there was an update for the LAN port, but everything is up to date.

The connections between the switch and router bothers me, cause there's just no configuration on each end I can even change or toggle.

I don't do that many large files transfers, so in real world, this probably isn't a big deal. I can still almost hit 100M on my speed test, which is what my ISP gives me. So I guess I should be happy for that. I was on wifi, and unhappy, for the longest time.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

from the router to the switch, its 50ft.

Take the switch to the router and connect it with a known good 3ft cable. This will tell you if the 50ft cable is the culprit. As for the PC, try reinstalling the driver and see if that helps.

 

[bruceb]

See below from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_6_cable

I would almost make a bet you are using an "off the shelf' probably stranded wire type patch cord for the 50 Foot run. You need one with Solid Conductors to support that 1GB speed over that long a run. Also for that speed do not cheap out on the cables or the connectors.

Maximum length

When used for 10/100/1000BASE-T, the maximum allowed length of a Cat 6 cable is 100 meters (328 ft). This consists of 90 meters (295 ft) of solid "horizontal" cabling between the patch panel and the wall jack, plus 10 meters (33 ft) of stranded patch cable between each jack and the attached device. For 10GBASE-T, an unshielded Cat 6 cable should not exceed 55m. [7]

 

[amheck]

I still haven't gotten a chance to move the new switch next to the router and test a new cable - it's on the to do list.

But yeah, dang, I didn't know about the soldi conductor requirement for a 50ft cable run.

this is the one I got, seemed to be really well rated.
http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Looks like there's a solid conductor model for just a couple bucks more

http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Gi...0988053&sr=8-2&keywords=Solid+Conductors+cat6

 

[frowertr]

I have plenty of 200'+ runs with stranded copper Cat5e that give me gigabit speeds. Never heard or have seen that there was any requirement to use solid cable for anything over 50'.

Just about all the pre-made patch cords your buy (connectors already on them) are going to be stranded copper. I'm not saying I like them but sometimes it easier to use a pre-made long patch cords for particular situations.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you're swapping cables around and still getting bad signals (10/100 instead of GbE) you might have just bought a bum switch. Exchange it for a replacement.

I have an 8-port TrendNet and it's been fine. But stuff happens.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

If you're swapping cables around and still getting bad signals (10/100 instead of GbE) you might have just bought a bum switch. Exchange it for a replacement.

The switch appears to be fine:

And yes, swapping cables and ports on the switch, I can always get the laptop to light up green 1000M.