Gigabit switch ok with a 100mbps network?

valve90210 · 1 Apr 2011 at 14:26

I've got the chance of a free Gigabit switch which would be very useful but I just want to check it'll be fine to use in my home network where everything is currently 100mbps?

I'm guessing it'll be fine but obviously limited to 100mbps right?

Valve

mast3r · 1 Apr 2011 at 15:26

correct! all will be fine.

valve90210 · 1 Apr 2011 at 15:39

Lovely, thanks for confirming that for me.

Fingers crossed I might be able to get hold of a couple more next week too, very handy for future use!

bigredshark · 1 Apr 2011 at 15:48

*Usually*

Cheap switches will be fine but more expensive gear is occasionally not, we have a few boxes where the architecture means the gigabit ports do not run at 100Mbit, usually related to media presentation (SFPs are gigabit only usually, even copper SFPs won't run at 100MBit).

Likely irrelevant for you but it's worth noting Gigabit isn't always backwards capable to 10/100 speeds.

Skidilliplop · 1 Apr 2011 at 16:25

Provided it supports auto negotiation it'll be fine. The ports are usually described as 10/100/1000 rather than "gigabit explicitly". The former indicating that it supports 10 and 100mbit as well.

As Bigredshark says, Fibre ports and hotswap modules don't always negotiate speed, as do dual personality ports ('shared' with SFP slots) on some devices.

valve90210 · 1 Apr 2011 at 21:33

I've had a better look and it's marked up as 10/100/1000 so should be fine.

It's a netgear prosafe gs108 if anyones interested.