[Solved] 1000Mb and 100Mb

[WhatUsernameIsFree?]

Hi all,

I have a 1000Mb network card, but currently connected to a 100Mb switch going into a 1000Mb router. If I were to change that router to a 1000Mb one, would I need to do anything else to make the network work at 1000Mb? I hear of 'Cat 6' cable, but I think I have a 'Cat5e' connection.

Are there any settings in Mint I'd need to change? Is there anyway I can then maximise my wireless speed (I've heard of 'binding' channels to double the speed? Is that fantasy or reality?)

Thanks

[wayne128]

I hear of 'Cat 6' cable, but I think I have a 'Cat5e' connection

What is the length of cat5e cable from computer network card to the router's LAN port?

[AlbertP]

Cat5e (or even Cat5) cables are usually OK for gigabit ethernet according to the comparison at http://discountcablesusa.com/ethernet-cables100.html. For long lengths Cat6 may have better signal quality.

[mank_in]

You must using 1000Mb swicth/Hub to connect between 1Gbit ethernet card and 1Gbit router.
CAT5E cable is good enough, CAT6 usually use in outdoor environment. The longest cable i tried using CAT5E without repeater is 95m .

If you want to binding connection you must have 2 internet connection and using gateway server like CentOS .
Theoretically :

multiple router ---------------------> gateway server ---------------> swicth/Hub----------------------> clients

Don't ask me way , i never try CentOS

[AlbertP]

Indeed, all equipment in-between needs to support gigabit if you want to use that speed.

[WhatUsernameIsFree?]

The longest cable I've got in use is 25 meters (the one which goes from the 1000Mb internet router downstairs to the 100Mb switch upstairs). I'm thinking of splashing out and getting a 1000Mb switch upstairs, so my network will run faster, but didn't want to splash out if it requires some serious configuring on the computer end.

So basically, I buy the new switch and everything will automatically select the faster speed? Is there a reliable way to test the speed my network is currently at? I've actually got my Media PC plugged into the 1000Mb router downstairs, but no idea if it's actually using the 1000Mb or if it's just running at 100Mb.

Thanks

[AlbertP]

It should work fine out-of-the-box for most network cards (Atheros, Broadcom, Intel, etc.). For Realtek 8111/8168 ethernet you might need the driver from https://code.google.com/p/r8168/ to connect with gigabit speed. You can check what network hardware you have with:

Code: Select all

inxi -N

[WhatUsernameIsFree?]

Ahh, 'Broadcom' network cards in both the machines which are wired. Top banana, Gigabit network speeds, here I come.

Thanks for all the help everyone.