GigE 10/100 Jumbo Frames mixing
 

Hey Guys

Be kind, I know just enough to be dangerous.

Previous setup was 4 desktops(10/100) + 1 wireless notebook tied into one wireless router with 4 ports.

Starting with my current project, I bonded two 10/100 nics together (/machine on two machines)in mode 6 (high throughput bidirectional no failover) with all four nics tied to the router. This jumped my speed by about 1.8X when moving 10gb (not mb) files. For this project to work I will be needing more speed so I am going to switch to GigE ( I am aware of the HD/pci bus speed limitations and I am not concerned about that for now). The plan is to get a GigE 8 port switch and insert it between the machines and the router(bringing my other machines back online). I am aware that this will not increase my speed going out to the internet, only speed up machine/machine transfers.

The question is, how well do switches handle mixing 10/100 and GigE?
I assume that GigE to GigE will be fine even with the other 10/100 machines attached (correct?). GigE to 10/100 and the GigE will "shift down" to 10/100 (correct?). And the same for the GigE going out to the net through the router (correct?). Now add Jumbo frames into the equation and answer all the above questions again (the data I have suggests a 20 to 30% throughput increase using jumbo frames).

Any suggestions for this switchor in general?(You guessed it, money is an issue) I had heard that netegear stuff has a arp(sp?) problem with linux leading to ping incompletion(true?).

Thanks
lazlow

I have to do a little research regarding Jumbo frames but you are right about the different speeds mixing ok. The way which most switches work are they set up virtual paths between computers and there is usually a buffer if data transfer gets too great excceding the ability for the recieving machine to recieve. In this case that buffer will be able to hold info from multiple sources (clients) and the server recieving shouldnt be the issue. The Jumbo frames thing I believe won't work well if most of your clients are going to be 10/100 because Jumbo frames are for high speed situations. Let me do som research and get back to you with better info though.

Alex

scheidel21

I ran accross and article entitled :'Squeeze Your Gigabit NIC for Top Performance". Not too much on Jumbo Frames but useful. http://www.enterprisenetworkingplane...le.php/3485486

At least it seemd so last night at 3am.

Lazlow