Gigabit Networking problem

batfink

batfink

batfink

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6 Jan 2006
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Having just invested in a Synology DS209 and a new PC, I wanted to get the two talking to each other at Gigabit speeds.

I bought a Netgear GS605 switch and connected to this are now:

- Router (Linksys) with 10/100 ports;
- PC (with a Gigabyte motherboard - on board networking via Realtek Gbe Controller)
- DS209

The DS209 connects to the switch at Gigabit speed without fail, every time (green light on the switch to confirm). I can't get the PC to connect at this speed though. It maxes out at 100Mbit but often drops to 10Mbit.

I run both Windows and Linux and both have the same problem. I've tried disabling auto-negotiate to force 1000Mbit but that doesn't work, I swapped cables with the DS209 but that doesn't change things either (the DS209 connects at 1000Mbit with either cable).

After a bit of Googling, it looks like it may be either:

- a compatibility issue between the Realtek and the Netgear
- the GS605 is generally a **** switch

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to try next? I think my options are:

- buy a PCI Network card (but most seem to use Realtek controllers? so may still be a compatibility issue)
- get a decent switch (any recommendations?)


Thanks.
 
batfink said:
- the GS605 is generally a **** switch
Click to expand...
This, in my experience.

batfink said:
- get a decent switch (any recommendations?)
Click to expand...
The Netgear GS105 or GS108 is much better.

I'm using Gigabyte mobos with Realtek NICs too and they really didn't get on with the GS605 I used to have - either wouldn't connect at 1Gb or ports would randomly drop to 100Mb. No such problems with the GS10x range - ports all solid at 1Gb.
 
Last edited:
Snapshot said:
This, in my experience.

The Netgear GS105 or GS108 is much better.

I'm using Gigabyte mobos with Realtek NICs too and they really didn't get on with the GS605 I used to have - either wouldn't connect at 1Gb or ports would randomly drop to 100Mb. No such problems with the GS10x range - ports all solid at 1Gb.
Click to expand...

Really? From what I'd read on the Netgear forums, the same applied to the GS105 - it was just as bad as the GS605. What surprises me is Netgear use Realtek in their own PCI NIC's so surely they're going to have compatibility problems there too?

At the moment I'm torn between either going for an Intel® PRO/1000 GT NIC or a Zyxel or Edimax switch. I'm thinking long term a new switch might be better so I don't have compatibility problems when I add more connections to it.
 
Netgear seems to have updated the GS1xx range - they run much cooler than the old versions and I think any port speed problems have been nailed.
 
For anyone interested or for anyone searching for this problem in the future, I've solved the problem by getting rid of the GS605 and buying an HP Procurve (1410-8G) that I've heard so much about. Result = instant gigabit connection in both Windows and Linux.

Only problem to solve now is it's not running as fast as I would like. Getting around 30mb/s transfer speed when I was hoping for double that at least. Is this likely to be something to do with jumbo frames that I hear mentioned a lot?
 
batfink said:
For anyone interested or for anyone searching for this problem in the future, I've solved the problem by getting rid of the GS605 and buying an HP Procurve (1410-8G) that I've heard so much about. Result = instant gigabit connection in both Windows and Linux.

Only problem to solve now is it's not running as fast as I would like. Getting around 30mb/s transfer speed when I was hoping for double that at least. Is this likely to be something to do with jumbo frames that I hear mentioned a lot?
Click to expand...

Have you tried a Vista/Win7 -> Vista/Win7 transfer? I get 100MB/s like that without jumbo frames, but Linux on the same hardware is limited to around 40MB/s. I think it's to do with some per-connection auto tuning feature that Microsoft implemented which adjusts the TCP receive window.
 
Duke said:
Yep the HP is great, although pricey - worth it though.
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I got it cheap ;) due to a pricing error on a competitors' website. £35 - only a couple of quid more than the Netgear for 8 ports and better qualilty! They've "corrected" the price now to almost double that :D

Zarf said:
Have you tried a Vista/Win7 -> Vista/Win7 transfer? I get 100MB/s like that without jumbo frames, but Linux on the same hardware is limited to around 40MB/s. I think it's to do with some per-connection auto tuning feature that Microsoft implemented which adjusts the TCP receive window.
Click to expand...

I'll give it a go. To be honest, I was only really using my Linux install last night so didn't get to test it out under Windows. Do you know any way of increasing the throughput in Linux?
 
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