toc-tom
asked on
Network configuration for fastest possible speed
I have two "experts" telling me conflicting facts. The first expert says the locking down a NIC and switch port to 100 full duplex will make the network go as fast as possible. The other expert says that he has seen better network speed with leaving both ends set to auto negotiate.
Personally to me it seems that 100 FD would give the fastest performance because the devices would not have to “talk” about the speed and duplex rate, but I didn’t want to go through the lengthy process to prove the facts. If anyone has any first hand experience with this question, please include the type of devices you have seen this scenario tested on.
Thank you for your time.
Personally to me it seems that 100 FD would give the fastest performance because the devices would not have to “talk” about the speed and duplex rate, but I didn’t want to go through the lengthy process to prove the facts. If anyone has any first hand experience with this question, please include the type of devices you have seen this scenario tested on.
Thank you for your time.
That being said, auto-negotiation has been know to fail, and sometimes setting them manually is your only choice...
Here's a good article on auto-negotiation, auto sensing, etc...
http://inetd.com/CriticalNetworks/resources/index.html
http://inetd.com/CriticalNetworks/resources/index.html
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http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/CableNut/3000-2155_2-10124235.html?tag=lst-1-11
"CableNut is a tool for optimizing your Internet Connection. We have provided a way to tweak almost every possible TCP/IP registry entry via the CableNut program. You can load 'CableNut Custom Setting' files that are included with the program to tweak your Internet connection. You can make your own 'CableNut Custom Setting' files save them for later use, or distribute them to anyone with the CableNut program. Cable, DSL, Satellite, and Dialup connections are supported out of the box."
"CableNut is a tool for optimizing your Internet Connection. We have provided a way to tweak almost every possible TCP/IP registry entry via the CableNut program. You can load 'CableNut Custom Setting' files that are included with the program to tweak your Internet connection. You can make your own 'CableNut Custom Setting' files save them for later use, or distribute them to anyone with the CableNut program. Cable, DSL, Satellite, and Dialup connections are supported out of the box."
To auto-negotiate or not is really a question of choice I think - i've worked in several disparate environments, where when a user moved he might be on 100Mb, he might not be, so hard-coding produced extra work. If you're in a heterogenous environment, then hard-coding would be easy, and wouldn't result in any extra work for you.
I guess my understanding of the speed/duplex negotiaion might also be wrong - but maybe not - I thought that once both ends were in link active state, they didn't bother with any further speed/duplex negotiation.... with the exception of flow control information.
I personally always lock servers to speed/duplex settings, but thats because they're directly under my control, and I know what they're being plugged into, and I'm always in the server room anyway.
I guess my understanding of the speed/duplex negotiaion might also be wrong - but maybe not - I thought that once both ends were in link active state, they didn't bother with any further speed/duplex negotiation.... with the exception of flow control information.
I personally always lock servers to speed/duplex settings, but thats because they're directly under my control, and I know what they're being plugged into, and I'm always in the server room anyway.
What the hell is that message from tosh9iii? damn spammers will find a way every time eh
ASKER
I don't have any idea why tosh9iii wants me to optimize my internet connection, but I'm sure the peolpe that click on the link need optimization because of all the spyware they have!
I also thought that network cards would decide on a speed and then keep the setting until they are reset. Maybe I am mistaken as well?
I also thought that network cards would decide on a speed and then keep the setting until they are reset. Maybe I am mistaken as well?
Well, toc-tom, I know that the link I provided wasn't "exactly" what you wanted, I just thought there was a chance that it might help. Sorry.
I guess I just misread your question, I request that it be deleted.
Yeah my understanding of auto-negotiation is that one both cards are in "link-enabled" state (ie the link light comes on) they don't negotiate speed/duplex again until you unplug the cable and plug it back in. So hard-coding wouldn't make a difference to overall network speed.
ASKER
Max,
I was going to split the points on this question, but I didn't see how to do that. I thought you should get half the points because of your participation. If there is a way to send those points to you, let me know how.
I was going to split the points on this question, but I didn't see how to do that. I thought you should get half the points because of your participation. If there is a way to send those points to you, let me know how.
I have no idea if its possible - its no big deal I'm sure I'll have no trouble getting to 10k expert points :)
Max.
Max.
Leaving devices on auto-negotiate is usually the best option, because then if you change network equipment (say your primary breaks down, and you only have an old 10Mb hub as backup) then you'd have to re-visit all those machines to reset the speed/duplex.