How can I speed up my copying and moving huge files across my network

Also (but looking at the article you already guessed that) copying a large amount of small files takes more time than transferring 1 large file.

Get a gigabit switch, replace any 100MB NICs with 1GB NICs, and change the settings on your NICs to auto negotiate. Whenever you force a setting, you have to set the port on the switch to the same settings, and as hubs and cheap switches aren't managed, you can't change their settings.

I have each card configured as 100 or 1000 half duplex.   <-- Why?

Consider getting a Gigabit Switch (as has been noted above). I use 3-Com (was HP) and they are good.

Hook up both computers to your switch and then the switch to your network.

Don't forget that the machines will look to the source of DHCP (usually a router) for addressing and that can slow things down.

I have Cisco RV042G as my main router and it has Gigabit ports and is capable of 800Mbits / second throughput.

I have wired connections from it directly to my Desktop and to my Laptop (or I can use the Laptop with N wireless). Either way I get full 800Mbits / second transfer speed on large files (up to 50Gb).

A simple network with no extra connections will be your fastest.

Thanks for all the input experts.
Yes, all of my cards are gigabit capable , that is if you all mean the 1000 in 10/100/1000 for each of my nics. As I don't have a router (except for my Comcast broadband modem) , all of my dhcp request are coming from that, but that is not the issue. I am getting great upload and download speeds from the INTERNET ( from 50 megabits/second bursting up to 150 ). I have no internet issues. I just want to copy files across my network between the 7 computers that I have on my peer to peer network.  My network is really simple ( you cant get much more simpler than peer to peer workgroups).

To my point, and I think it has been made by your wonderful feedback:

1.

All my cards are hard-coded as either 100  or 1000

2.

I need to verify this

3.

My Netgear hub is  10/100/1000

4.

Expert Hurst, you queried me as to why I have the cards set at 100 or 1000 half duplexthe only good answer is that I don't have a configurable switch to hard set at 1000 full duplex and my nics are set to
either 100 or 1000 and this needs to be fixed. I don't use auto negotiate because I don't have said Gigabit switch.

5.

Once I have purchased a Gigabit switch , I can then ensure that the communication from the switch to the computers are the same (preferably 1000 full duplex

Just to make sure that I am not assuming to much, when you say gigabit switch , you are referring to capabilities of a 1000base T correct Hurst???

Just to make sure that I am not assuming to much, when you say gigabit switch , you are referring to capabilities of a 1000base T correct Hurst???

Yes. I use a 3-Com as noted, the ports are autosensing, and my PC network cards are all 1000baseT (Gigabit) Full Duplex.

As I mentioned earlier, don't hard code your NIC's. When hardcoding your switch also has to be set to the same speed, and as you can't set any speed on your hub, that isn't possible. Just set them to auto negotiate, they will then run at the optimal speed.

What model Netgear "hub" do you have?   Hubs haven't been used much (or sold much) in at least 15 years.  And a Gigabit hub was almost unheard of as far as I recall.  You may be mistaken, so please humor us and tell us the model of the Netgear "hub"

Rindi, to your comment about hard coding nics. In one of my previous situations (jobs) , I found that auto-negotiating the nic cards did not cause the network to run at optimal speeds, because the system engineer that was responsible for setting ports in the network didn't always match the speeds on the computer , thereby causing havoc across the network.., so in fear, I have always hard coded, but I see the value of what you are saying and I control my little network here so , auto negotiating shouldn't be a problem.

Lee,
The model of my hub is: wait, wait, wait, I just turned the netgear hub over and its not a hub but a switch,

Can I assume that it is not a manageable switch???

No, it is not a managed switch, just a plain switch.

"I am only getting about 9 to 10 mb/s. how can I speed that up to at least 30 meg per second or more. I have checked the adaptors on all of my computers and they are capable of 10/100/1000 throughputs. "

Now that we have come full circle , my original request still stands. I want to get 30 megs per seconds and not the paltry 9 meg per seconds that I am currently getting across my peer to peer network. From your responses, I take it that the answer is yes , I can increase the throughput with my existing equipment.

When you say plain switch, it makes me think that it is no better than a hub.

Check your speed directly at the modem to make sure it is delivering good speed. Then hook up only one device to the switch and do the same test. Are you getting the same speed?

Netgear is a consumer switch (likely to be) and may not have the throughput you want.

Good to know

Hi John,
I just performed at test. i disconnected two of my computers from the INTERNET and modem. I hard coded an iP address to both machines and connected them to the switch and wow, the 2.4 gig file that usually took 5 minutes to copy, took only 45 seconds. I guess I know what my bottleneck is now.

Great work John.

@REGISHYDE - Thank you and I was happy to help. Good luck with your network - I am very happy with how fast my own network works.