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network setup help - gigabit + 100mb?

M

Mertous

2[H]4U
Joined
Aug 10, 2001
Messages
2,096
Right, well preferably I'd have gigabit everywhere, but I can't afford it, so we're going for a mix.

Me and a few mates are all moving into a house together. 4 of us in all. 3 laptops, 3 desktops (I have a desktop and laptop because I'm l33t :D). All the laptops are going to be connected wirelessly, the desktops will be wired. OK, so we're gonna get a linksys wrt54g for the router as I got one the other day for my parents and it rocks so I'm sticking with that. Basically it's going to be me setting this thing up because most of the others are retards.

OK so let's just disregard the laptops for the minute. What I'm trying to achieve is a gigabit connection between the two desktops - everything else I'm not concerned about ... 10mb/s will be fine.

The thing is, I don't know if this is possible with the wrt54g as the built in switch is 10/100. So, my solution is to get a gigabit switch, uplink that to the wrt54g (wired) so we're connected to the net and the laptops, but plug both the desktops into the gigabit switch.

My question is, will the two desktops then communicate at gigabit speeds? or does all the data have to go through the router first (and consequently slow us down to 100mbit?)



Oh and for gigabit I'm presuming we need a gigabit network card for both desktops, the gigabit switch, all connected with cat5 cable? or is there more to it than that?
 
Because the computers will be on the same subnet, the switch will not forward the packets to the router unless its outside of the subnet mask. Switches learn the MAC addresses of the computers NICs hooked up to it. When one packet from a machine enters the switch, the switch looks at the MAC address from the PC it came from and the PC it wishes to go. It then forwards the packet to the correct machine while the routers sits there and twiddles its thumbs.

As long as you have a gigabit NIC cards and Cat5e *some regular Cat5 will not do gigabit* you should be ready to go.
 
Anything you want to have gigabit speed needs a gigabit nic and to be plugged into a gigabit switch.

The router only routes stuff between networks, not between devices inside the network, the switch routes stuff between devices plugged into the switch, so the gigabit enabled desktops will get gigabit speeds when talking to each other over a gigabit switch, regardless of other devices.

And you need cat5e for gigabit (I don't think I've even seen regular cat5 for sale in a long time, but it's something to be aware of).

*edit* Never mind, guess that's what happens when you get a drink before hitting submit...
 
I just got the new D-Link DGL 4300 yesterday and so far im liking it alot.

dlinkblue4or.jpg
 
I ordered the D-Link DGL 4300 yesterday from Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=33-127-158&depa=0
They also had some cheap gigabit network cards from Zonet @ $12 each, plus shipping.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=33-130-103&depa=0

You could do this for under $200 probably, unless you require network cable. Even so, a large spindle of cable, crimping tool & plastic ends can be had for under $40 to make your own for the run in the house.
 
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