fox_statton
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Would a gigabit switch improve my network?
Hi all,
I have a medium sized LAN, which for the most part users gigabit based networking, however the modem/router supplied by my ISP only had four 100mbs ports. I was wondering, if I bought a gigabit switch/firewall, and connected my lan to it, and then it to the modem, would that speed up the network, as not all traffic would need to go to the modem/router?
Also, I guess I would just like the assurance of a hardware firewall.
I have a medium sized LAN, which for the most part users gigabit based networking, however the modem/router supplied by my ISP only had four 100mbs ports. I was wondering, if I bought a gigabit switch/firewall, and connected my lan to it, and then it to the modem, would that speed up the network, as not all traffic would need to go to the modem/router?
Also, I guess I would just like the assurance of a hardware firewall.
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for sure yes,, but be ware that your users are using gigabit computers ..
ASKER
Hi,
there are just three users, but yes we exchange large files, as we have a central NAS which is connected to the modem/router, and the computers are automatically backed up to it. At the moment it takes about 10 mins to move 1gb... but I think the slow part may be that part of the network is connected via powerline (homeplugs)
there are just three users, but yes we exchange large files, as we have a central NAS which is connected to the modem/router, and the computers are automatically backed up to it. At the moment it takes about 10 mins to move 1gb... but I think the slow part may be that part of the network is connected via powerline (homeplugs)
if your current network speed is 10/100 , then 10 min is normal ...
agreed with memo you will need to get cat 6 cables and directly connect them from the 1gbs switch to the back of the PCs or you will have to change the whole infrastructure.
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I fail to see how my answer can not be counted as an assist to the solution?
I recommend #3. The author was not interactive in this, posting only one response. I believe that, given the nebulous nature of the question and lack of specifics, the following assisted:
stergium, profgeek, alexfisher, xmlmagician
stergium, profgeek, alexfisher, xmlmagician
I'm not sure points should be awarded to the author's that have incorrectly stated that cat6 cable is required for gigabit networking.
A Cat6 installation is typically more expensive. Whilst it may provide some future proofing in terms of being the minimum requirement for faster ethernet standards, it is not needed to support 1000Base-T over standard distances. Cat6a is needed to support 10G ethernet over the standard 100m distance. Normal Cat6 will only do 10G ethernet over a shorter distance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabit_Ethernet#1000BASE-T
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_6_cable
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/ethernet/g/cat5-cables.htm
And for an argument about whether plain Cat5 can support 1000BaseT, see the wikipedia discussion page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Gigabit_Ethernet
A Cat6 installation is typically more expensive. Whilst it may provide some future proofing in terms of being the minimum requirement for faster ethernet standards, it is not needed to support 1000Base-T over standard distances. Cat6a is needed to support 10G ethernet over the standard 100m distance. Normal Cat6 will only do 10G ethernet over a shorter distance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabit_Ethernet#1000BASE-T
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_6_cable
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/ethernet/g/cat5-cables.htm
And for an argument about whether plain Cat5 can support 1000BaseT, see the wikipedia discussion page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Gigabit_Ethernet
Cat 6 is definitely not a requirement. To award points for that suggestion is to endorse an incorrect or at least misleading solution IMHO.
Objecting to point split since Cat 6 is not a requirement for gigabit ethernet.
a switch firewall should improve things although remember that the gigabit part is not important as i assume that you have cat5e that gives you up to 100mbit/s. the topology i would use for better performance is
modem
firewall
switch (obviously modem behind firewall)
let me know how many users you have on your network and then i can advise on the hardware