Upgrading to 1000mbit

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
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2
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From what I have read having a switch and nics that support Jumbo Frames will increase my network speeds significantly.

Here is the problem though, there is only going to be a small segment of my network that is on gigabit, my server, htpc, and desktop. There are going to be other 100mbit devices as well as some wireless devices on the network. Is it possible to have the Jumbo Frames coexist with the 1500 byte frames?

I came across this, which says it can...but doesn't give any more details or explanations of it.

How can I ensure that my network will be performing the fastest it can. I am using a Linux Router as well.

Any insight would be great :)
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
you can't have jumbo frames on a 100 Base-T network.

as to a speed increase it is supposed to be beneficial but it all depends on the hardware used as to how beneficial it is.
 

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
2
81
Well I want to have my htpc, server, and desktop all on the gigabit switch, no 100 Base-T on that switch, other then the uplink to my other switch. Will the switch run with Jumbo Frames for those three ports and then fragment the frames to be sent to the rest of the network?
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
no.

very, very expensive switches/routers can do the fragment and reassembly.

Take an IP datagram and all the associated layers - each layer has a checksum, length whatnot. The ability to chunk up the 9000 byte frame and reassemble it into 6-7 IP datagrams takes serious processing power (actually done in hardware)

So you could have jumbo frames but the hosts with jumbo frames won't communicate correctly with the ones that don't support it (100 Base-T)
 

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
2
81
Originally posted by: spidey07
no.

very, very expensive switches/routers can do the fragment and reassembly.

Take an IP datagram and all the associated layers - each layer has a checksum, length whatnot. The ability to chunk up the 9000 byte frame and reassemble it into 6-7 IP datagrams takes serious processing power (actually done in hardware)

So you could have jumbo frames but the hosts with jumbo frames won't communicate correctly with the ones that don't support it (100 Base-T)

Okay, so the only way to take advantage of the Jumbo Frames is to have my entire network be gigabit? Or will that not work either because my router won't be able to fragment the packets to send out through my cable modem?
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
every host from a layer2 perspective must support jumbo frames.

So it would all work well, except for traffic destined to the layer2 port of the router
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,543
421
126
I Do Not know what you need it for, but you can leave your current 100Mb/sec as is.

Add a Giga NIC to each computer, connect all the Giga NICs with Jumbo Frame Switch (SMC make an inexpensive one), and run a second parallel Network for LAN only.

As far as the outcome Speed: Peer to Peer Giga Home Networks.

P.S. Pursuing your current course you are wasting your time. In the past few years I never saw some one ??defeating?? Spidey on things of these nature.

:sun:
 

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
2
81
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Do know what you need it for, but you can leave your current 100Mb/sec as is.

Add a Giga NIC to each computer, connect all the Giga NICs with Jumbo Frame Switch (SMC make an inexpensive one), and run a second parallel Network for LAN only.

As far as the outcome Speed: Peer to Peer Giga Home Networks.

P.S. Pursuing your current course you are wasting your time. In the past few years I never saw some one ??defeating?? Spidey on things of these nature.

:sun:

I wasn't really trying to defeat him ;), just trying to get as much info out him as possible!

But I didn't even think of your idea, running two lans! I'm almost positive that is what I will do :).

I was looking at the SMC switch too, so that looks like a good one to get now :).
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,543
421
126
LOL.

Notice the double qua. marks ??defeating??. ;)

:sun: