why don't i get gigabit?

[velvetpants]

hey guys
At work we have 2 main workstations and a file server. I just finished setting up the server today but I'm getting frustrated cause I'm only getting 10/100 transfer speeds.

Here's a little sketchup of how it's all hooked up.

all the computers have 10/100/1000 NICs and they're all connected with brand new cat6 cables but I'm still limited to 12.5MB/s, both between PC1&PC2 and between either PC and the fileserver.

I have no idea why this is happening. I have a very similar setup at home and everything works flawlessly.

 

[pitz]

Everything on the same logical subnet?

 

[velvetpants]

Everything on the same logical subnet?

that would mean they would all need to have the same subnet mask? that 255.255.... number?
I am really clueless when it comes to networks
I'll look into that tomorrow, thanks

 

[Genx87]

You set the nic's to auto negotiate? Also are these switches manageable? If they are make sure the ports arent set to 100Mbps. But instead auto.

 

[velvetpants]

You set the nic's to auto negotiate? Also are these switches manageable? If they are make sure the ports arent set to 100Mbps. But instead auto.

I did not set to auto-negotiate specifically, I'll have to check on that tomorrow.
I have no idea how to do this in linux though...

The switches are just plug-and-play, there's no settings or anything to change. They're supposed to automatically go for the highest speed available.
This is the model http://www.cnetusa.com/eng/CGS-801E.php

How about other PCs on the network, connected to these same switches? Could they possibly interfere with the communications between these three or is that a stupid question?

 

[Fardringle]

How long are the cables between the two switches and between the switches and the computers, and are they all store bought patch cables, a combination of patch cables and solid core wire in the walls, hand-made patch cables, etc.?

When you look at the status of the connections on the computers, do they say that they are connected at gigabit speed or 100mbps? (In Windows, right-click on the My Network Places icon, choose Properties, then right-click on the icon for the Local Area Connection and choose Status, then look at the line labeled Speed to see the speed of the link.) I'm not sure how to check the negotiated speed in Linux but do the same on all computers to verify that all computers are connecting at 1000mpbs.

 

[velvetpants]

How long are the cables between the two switches and between the switches and the computers, and are they all store bought patch cables, a combination of patch cables and solid core wire in the walls, hand-made patch cables, etc.?

When you look at the status of the connections on the computers, do they say that they are connected at gigabit speed or 100mbps? (In Windows, right-click on the My Network Places icon, choose Properties, then right-click on the icon for the Local Area Connection and choose Status, then look at the line labeled Speed to see the speed of the link.) I'm not sure how to check the negotiated speed in Linux but do the same on all computers to verify that all computers are connecting at 1000mpbs.

All store bought patch cables and the longest one between the two switches is 15 meters. The rest of the cables are like 2-3 meters so that shouldn't be a problem.

I haven't checked what it says in the connection status, but the lights on the switches are all orange, indicating 100mbps, they would be green if it was gigabit.

 

[imagoon]

Test with a shorter patch between the 2 switches. Could also be a bad cable. 15 meters of stranded is getting close to the "iffy" range for some devices

 

[JackMDS]

As a frame of reference for the components. Take off two computers off the Network connect them directly one to the other give them a static IPs, and see what you get.

 

[ikky68]

As a frame of reference for the components. Take off two computers off the Network connect them directly one to the other give them a static IPs, and see what you get.

Will that work without the crossover that the switch provides?

 

[Crusty]

Will that work without the crossover that the switch provides?

Shouldn't be a problem. I don't think it's an absolute requirement that gigabit interfaces support Automatic MDI/MDI-X, but I haven't run across a single NIC that doesn't support it.

 

[imagoon]

Will that work without the crossover that the switch provides?

Gigabit requires auto-mdx (auto crossover) so if one fails to connect with a straight cable, odds are you have a 100meg device in there someplace.

 

[Emulex]

switches have lights - modern intel drivers also have signal quality test indicators which show you a percentage or bar color scale on the quality of the cable.