I live in the Pittsburgh, PA, USA area and I've decided to get faster UP internet.
I have comcast currently, but its UP is fairly slow.
I get about a 550kbps to my server from my friends house about 5mi away...which is painfully slow. Its twice or three times as slow if theres more than one person connected, or if someone's SSH'ed into my server.

Any suggestions for how fast I'm going to need (I have pictures, videos, counterstrike: source, and ventrilo to host eventually).

Also, my server's internet goes through 2 hubs and a router, is this slowing it down much?

If you are really using hubs and not switches then yes. Hubs are subject to collisions. The more data being moved the more the slowdown. Switches do not suffer from this problem.

Lazlow

are switches hard to install?
expensive?

Most switches look just like hubs. The normal ones are just plug and play (no configuring necessary or possible). If you just need 10/100 they start at $10. Newegg has a netgear 10/100/1000 with eight ports for $70. It all depends on what you need. From your description I would replace your two hubs with one switch (if it is physically possible). It would not hurt anything to have two switches either. First I would make sure that you do not actually have switches already. Some people call switches hubs. You will have to check with the manufacture to be sure. Post back the names and model #s and I can help.

Lazlow

HT-810T HUB
Intel InBuisness SH10T5US 5 port HUB
Asante ????model 100mbps router
RCA DCM315 cable modem w/ comcast



http://tuxxman.homelinux.net/users/z...workconfig.jpg

^thats how my network is run...only physical way...
my desktop and servers are all in the basement

Them looks like hubs to me. I would replace them with switches. Your physical layout is not uncommon that is why I mentioned physically possible.

What it comes down to is if you want to go GigE(10/100/1000) or 100 ethernet. If you go with GigE you will want all your computers to be running GigE. Most newer onboard nics are but check. The GigE will only help you "in house". I have yet to see a cable modem that was GigE, so speeds out to the net will remain vitally unchanged. If you are a gamer, some have seen reduced latency (going to the internet) by going with GigE. If you can only afford one at a time start with the one closest to the modem.

What speed is your account with comcast? Most isps will shape your bandwidth if your server gets much traffic. Here switching to a T1 line(1.5 up and down) is $100 a month (or more) and goes way up if you want faster.

Lazlow