Gb Networks

[imdying]

I sometimes have a need to move a lot of data on and off a friends network, the bottleneck here is the lan connection right (he's 100Mb).

If I get him a 1Gb NIC for his server, that'll save me a whole heap of time if I wanna move multiple gigs of stuff right?

Hmmm... anybody know where to get a Gb switch (small one) for a good price (read cheap :D)

If I stuff this card in alongside his existing 10/100 card (assuming I don't have a switch, and therefore don't wanna unplug the rest of the network so I can rape the server), will this work ok?

And if I can get a switch cheap enough, would I be better leaving both NICs in the server, and running two sub networks (i.e. leave both the 10/100 switch and the 1Gb switch hooked up),
or,
Using only the Gb card, and taking mine and other Gb equiped PCs off the 1Gb switch and uplinking said switch to the existing 10/100 switch.

Yep... long and complicated, but I've heard funny things about building in bottlenecks into networks, so any advice would be appreciated. Oh, and is it feasible to run a 1Gb NIC off the PCI bus? Is a Gb network a waste of time (considering a NIC is only $110 now)

[Grrr!!]

How cheap ... gigabit switches are 4-5 figures dude.

Also, you'll probably find the HDD to be the bottleneck.

[imdying]

Gigabyte GSV2401S 24x10/100 + 2xGigabit Switch. $710.22 $799.00 www.dragonpc.co.nz

Now this puppies only got 2 gig ports, so only the server and I would benefit. However, none of the boys have gig ports yet anyway, so meh for the mean time. I assume we could string another switch on later when the prices get realistic? I accept that they're will always be a bottleneck somewhere :D

Its just that we like to lan up, and we need a decent switch anyway if our lans are going to get any bigger (stuck at 16 ports at the mo, 14 if you take off the leech and BFDC servers).

Having said all that... I've seen you guys going on about the L3 lans, they sound wicked, I'm keen to go somewhere someone else does the organizing :p

[Grrr!!]

Originally posted by imdying
Gigabyte GSV2401S 24x10/100 + 2xGigabit Switch. $710.22 $799.00 www.dragonpc.co.nz

Now this puppies only got 2 gig ports, so only the server and I would benefit. However, none of the boys have gig ports yet anyway, so meh for the mean time. I assume we could string another switch on later when the prices get realistic? I accept that they're will always be a bottleneck somewhere :D

Its just that we like to lan up, and we need a decent switch anyway if our lans are going to get any bigger (stuck at 16 ports at the mo, 14 if you take off the leech and BFDC servers).

Having said all that... I've seen you guys going on about the L3 lans, they sound wicked, I'm keen to go somewhere someone else does the organizing :p

But does that actually include the 2 x Gigabit add-ins?

[imdying]

Hmmm.... don't know, I'd hope so. Is it unlikely at that price? I guess the only way to know is ask... :) Bit cruel of them to wind me up if they don't :p

[Grrr!!]

It is unlikely at that price. I've been looking around, and saw that exact switch without 'em for $999 before ... so probably.

[City_Idiot]

I can say that there will be a MAKRED increase on a 1gb netowork

On a standard 100mb netowkr you can expect 10mb/sec

THats on a high quality nic

On 1gb you can expect 25-30mb/sec tranfer rates - that was testes on a standard 7200rpm 2mb cache drive FYI

[imdying]

Thanks guys :( We're not desperate yet... but it never hurts too look ;)

[Tiggerz]

I think the transfer figures are a little out there.

The Intel Pro1000/T client side nicks are good for a sustained 250megs per sec., 350 meg peak burst. These are the fasted ranking cards on the market..

Using two of the server cards instead will give you an average of 500megs 750 peak, but then you'd need a 2 gig processor to drive them properly.

Having said that they are about 150 to 200 each for the client nics, not sure the price of the server nics off the top of my head, so considereing the expense, not worth the hassle..

Realistically it'l just save you the time it takes to have a cup of coffee.