We set up this LAN primarily to share a DSL connection and a fileserver. Initially it had a half dozen users, now it probably has 25.

It sort of grew and the cheap consumer grade (Xnet/Billion) hardware appears not to be coping. Were seeing some PCs particulary the older ones not able to connect anymore, while others have no problems at all. Also i get some odd ping results. My guess is the 2 switches labeled cupbaord and office below are the most likely culprits. Appreciate your thoughts about the highest priority upgrades.

Eventually the plan is to go to a PC based router to feed the whole segment, and decommission the two Billion DSL routers.

Billion 7100 DSL Router (g/w)
.... Xnet 8port switch (cupbaord)
........ Etch intranet fileserver
........ Xnet 8port switch (office)
............ 2 computers
............ Xnet 8port switch (E)
................ Billion 7100 DSL Router (EF g/w)
................ 6 computers
................ Dlink wireless router
.................... 1 computers
................ Xnet 8port switch (F)
.................... 4 computers
............ Xnet 8port switch (G)
................ 3 computers
................ Xnet 8port switch (G2)
.................... 2 computers
................ Xnet 8port switch (H)
.................... 4 computers
.................... Xnet 8port switch (H2)
........................ 3 computers **
............ Xnet 8port switch (I)
................ 6 computers
................ Linksys wireless router (I2)
................ 3 computers

The biggest connectivity issues are at ** ie 5 levels of switch deep, and at the end of 70m cable.

Its all on the one /24 subnet.

I would say it's time to invest in some 16, 24 or 48 port switches. May be even a L2 managed one for your primary switch so you can at least have some control over network traffic.

But i guess you've got such an odd configuration because you've got all your computers dotted around different rooms.

You didn't say whether this is a business, college dorm or school lan so i've no idea what kind of budget you have.

There are issues that arise when a switch is plugged into a switch and another switch is plugged into that switch and so forth. I have read never to go more than 2 switches deep unless using a router in the next hop. Since it sounds like you go 5 switches deep then I also say time to invest into bigger switches or at least all switches coming back to a single switch. A smart switch would be a worthy investment.

Brian

The LAN is in an apartment complex. I had to set it up cheaply becasue residents didnt understand the value of it at the time. Consequently there are several non-ideal aspects. Amongst them:

- underground Cat5e (exterior grade) runs (Buildings are v.close and have a brand new well earthed electrical system but nonetheless ethernet is not designed for inter-building use.
- theres even some interior grade cable used underground in some places, although ironically those segments are running fine.
Only one cat5e cable to each block of 12 units. Hences the need for so many levels of switch. Switchs are cheap, cable and cabling is not.
- long cable runs around 70-80m.

Now that they understand the value of it, ie cheap internet, they are more willing to upgrade it.

In the short term rebooting the office switch solved the odd connectivity issues. I think either a power spike upset the switch, or the switch banned the problem segment for some reason. There are some flakely computers in the block concerned, and actually i found a duplicate (static) ip address. The whole thing is on static becasue it started that way as a simple way of gaining some measure of control over who could connect. In hindsight it would be better on DHCP, and with IP accounting, and macaddress iptables filtering set up on the linux based router. Thats in the works.

Ive also taken your advice and upgraded the office switch to a 16 port rack mount model. Will look at reducing the switch stack from 5 to 3. I think thats doable with only a little extra cable.

I also want to fit a UPS on each switch.

I dont know much about managed switches, can anyone point to some reading?

Thanks guys/gals.

Peter