Wireless gigabit routing / router? Configuring a gigabit switch with a 10/100 router?

[MIDIman]

Hi all,

I currently have a 4-port 10/100 wireless router (which I'll probably upgrade to Super-G anyway, but that's besides the point). I have three computers, one with dual 10/100, one with single 10/100, and one with single gigabit. They all need to have internet access from my Comcast cable.

What I'd like to do is upgrade to gigabit. This of course will require at the least, two new gigabit PCI cards.

I don't think I have seen a wireless gigabit router, and if they do exist, they can't be cheap. I also have not seen a cheap gigabit router, period (they are generally well over $200 yes?). I have however seen under $100 4-port gigabit switches, like this one.

So - am I looking at purchasing a gigabit switch and configuring it with my current 10/100 wireless router? I'm not quite sure how that would work so that all three have gigabit speed transferring files, and internet access.

Thanks in advance.

 

[spidey07]

the gigabit switch will auto sense whatever is connected to it and negotiate the highest speed.

attache a 10/100/1000 NIC to it and you'll get 1000 full duplex.

attach a 10/100 wireless AP to it and you'll get a 100/full connection.

so in other words, just plug it in!

 

[JackMDS]

It is only 2004.:shocked:

Internet Giga, and Wireless Giga are Not really related yet as a viable entities

For LAN Traffic: Peer to Peer Giga Home Networks (Current State at mid 2004).:thumbsup: :thumbsdown:

:sun:

 

[MIDIman]

Awesome thanks JackMDS! Such feedback is important to consider. I suppose I was impressed by a gigabit solution we have in place here at work, and figured that even a sub ~$100 gigabit switch and simple cards could yield similar performance, but it sounds like it very likely may not...

If I WERE to try this out. spidey07, are you saying I just basically have a normal Cat5e go from one of the ports in my 10/100 wireless router to a gigabit switch's uplink or what? I'm not sure I understand how exactly this would be integrated. I know that from what we've learned with our high-end gigabit switch here at work, if you plug into it a 10/100 connection it brings all connections down to 10/100. Not sure if this applies to all gigabit switches...

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: MIDIman
Awesome thanks JackMDS! Such feedback is important to consider. I suppose I was impressed by a gigabit solution we have in place here at work, and figured that even a sub ~$100 gigabit switch and simple cards could yield similar performance, but it sounds like it very likely may not...

If I WERE to try this out. spidey07, are you saying I just basically have a normal Cat5e go from one of the ports in my 10/100 wireless router to a gigabit switch's uplink or what? I'm not sure I understand how exactly this would be integrated. I know that from what we've learned with our high-end gigabit switch here at work, if you plug into it a 10/100 connection it brings all connections down to 10/100. Not sure if this applies to all gigabit switches...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WHAT!!!!!!!!

plugging in a 10/100 NIC into your gigabit ethernet ports makes them all drop down to 100 megabit? Something is seriously wrong with that switch then.

That is insane and I hope you guys get it resolved. The 10/100/1000 (sometimes called triple speed) ports autonegotiate to the highest speed of the connected device. Plug in a gig nic, get gig connection.

Oh - and yeah. Just treat a gigabit switch exactly like it is...just another switch. So your switch will provide the "LAN connectivity" with all wired NICs attaching to it, then plug your access point into the switch.