Gigabit Network is not running at Gigabit speeds!

[Singh400]

My network layout is as follows:


(click here if you can't see the image)

For some reason, I get the same speeds before when I was connected to my server via my router. Since then I've bought and just hooked up my Netgear Gigabit Switch. And the speeds are still the same. Now I've check both NICs on the Server and Main Workstation and they are both Gigabit capable. But I'm at a loss as to why the speeds are the same.

I've connected directly to the server from my workstation and I get an instand speed increase. From 11 MB/s to 45 MB/s (which still isn't Gigabit speeds I believe).

I'm using on-board NICs. P5Q-Deluxe in the main workstation and it's a Marvell LAN connection. P5QL-CM in the Server and it's a RealTek LAN connection.

Switch is a Netgear GS608.

Cables are labelled as CAT5 PATCH CABLE UTP.

Does anyone have any ideas as to why my Gigabit network isn't running at full speed?

Thanks for any help!

[Blastuk]

does the connection say it has connected at 100mbps? or 1gbps?
not sure about cat5 but cat5e is usuable for gigabit speeds

also try this thread
http://forums.hexus.net/networking-b...onnection.html

[Singh400]

does the connection say it has connected at 100mbps? or 1gbps?
not sure about cat5 but cat5e is usuable for gigabit speeds

also try this thread
http://forums.hexus.net/networking-b...onnection.html

The orange light (on the switch) indicates its connected at 100Mbps. Funny thing is when I connect directly from my main workstation to the server it connects fine at gigabit speeds!

[Singh400]

Errrr I solved it

The ports are setup like this

#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8

#1 = Goes to my router and provides my LAN with net connection
#2 = Goes to the main workstation
#3 = Goes to the server

The rest are empty.

Anyway, just playing about. I yanked #1 and replaced it with #2 and it lit up green indicating Gigabit Connection.

So I plugged them back in the original order to find #1 was orange (expected), #2 was green (what I want) and #3 was orange (not good). So I moved #3 to #4 and it’s green!

I’ve come to the conclusion that I was somehow causing some crosstalk between ports #2 and #3 thus dropping the speed to 100Mbps.

Just tested the network speed and it's 45 Mb/s which is great, but still isn't gigabit speeds. However I think thats a hard drive limit.

Ahh, I dunno. You spend your entire life working with computers, and they can still pull this kind of **** on you! It’s true – you learn something new every day. Thanks for all the help guys!

[arthurleung]

You need Cat5e or Cat6 cable.

45MB/s aren't bad. Disk-to-Network access is quite slow unless it is cached by OS into memory. I rarely get over 45MB/s on typical LAN transfer even though my disks could hit about 80MB/s fine.

Although last week when I installed a new Express-Card on my laptop, Managed to hit 121MB/s (until the cache filled) then fall back down to 20MB/s. That is copying from XP64 to Win7-64 on Cat6 cable, no jumbo frame

[Singh400]

Yeah I think I could probably squeeze more speed by tweaking the settings on both NICs. IIRC Jumbo Frames are disabled on the Server NIC by default. Might have a play on the weekend.

[blueball]

Just remember that 45MBps is a lot more than 45Mbps and that Gig Ethernet is Gbps!!!!!

[Singh400]

Just remember that 45MBps is a lot more than 45Mbps and that Gig Ethernet is Gbps!!!!!

Errrrr

I'm just going by what my Windows tell me ...


(click here if you can't see the image).



Is 45Mbps = 45 MB/s or 45MBps = 45MB/s?

[Funkstar]

45MB/s is the same as 45MBps as the '/' degates the need for 'per'. which is standard notation for measuing anything.

Now, thats 45 Megabytes per second. Networking brandwidth however is measued in mega or giga bits per second. So gigabit networking is the equivelant of about 125MB/sec (note we are now talking about bytes here). This however doesn't inlcude protocal overhead or slow hardware. The most usable data you are likely to get out of consumer networking gear it about 100MB/sec, 45MB/sec is probably more likely what you would see two. Perahps one or both NIC's in the PCs isn't the best and although it connects at GB line speeds, can't actually handle that amount of data. Or the switch could be limited too.

[Singh400]

45MB/s is the same as 45MBps as the '/' degates the need for 'per'. which is standard notation for measuing anything.

Now, thats 45 Megabytes per second. Networking brandwidth however is measued in mega or giga bits per second. So gigabit networking is the equivelant of about 125MB/sec (note we are now talking about bytes here). This however doesn't inlcude protocal overhead or slow hardware. The most usable data you are likely to get out of consumer networking gear it about 100MB/sec, 45MB/sec is probably more likely what you would see two. Perahps one or both NIC's in the PCs isn't the best and although it connects at GB line speeds, can't actually handle that amount of data. Or the switch could be limited too.

Ahhh I see. Transferring files over last night and I maxed out at 64 MB/sec. Do you think buying some CAT6 will give me a boost?

[Funkstar]

no, I wouldn't expect so.

Cat6 is really for structured cabling and longer distnaces, it isn't going to give you a majical performance boost over Cat5e.

64MB/sec is pretty good actually.

[Singh400]

no, I wouldn't expect so.

Cat6 is really for structured cabling and longer distnaces, it isn't going to give you a majical performance boost over Cat5e.

Ahh cool, k.

64MB/sec is pretty good actually.

Yeah, I assume thats because the Main Workstation, Server and Gigabit Switch are all within 0.5m of each other. Have plans to spread them out later on (relocating the router and switch so they are hidden). So I don't expect the speeds to stay at 64 MB/sec once I do that. I suspect it will drop back down to 45 MB/sec.

[Jay]

I doubt the speeds will change to be honest.

[Funkstar]

Yeah, I assume thats because the Main Workstation, Server and Gigabit Switch are all within 0.5m of each other. Have plans to spread them out later on (relocating the router and switch so they are hidden). So I don't expect the speeds to stay at 64 MB/sec once I do that. I suspect it will drop back down to 45 MB/sec.

Are you using 0.5m of cable between them? then replacing it with cable that is dozens of meters long?

No? then your transfer rates won't change. They don't magically get faster just because they are sitting next to each other

[Singh400]

Are you using 0.5m of cable between them?

Yes.

then replacing it with cable that is dozens of meters long?

Not currently no, but will have to when I move the switch and router.

No? then your transfer rates won't change. They don't magically get faster just because they are sitting next to each other

I wasn't talking about them getting faster, I was talking about them getting slower. More distance, more noise, less speed.

[Jay]

you won't see a speed drop unless you go over 100m