Modem to switch.. do extra patch cables make any difference?

Gimpymoo · 12 Jul 2017 at 00:59

Virgin Modem<====> Switch <====> 6 computers

Would connecting more than one patch cable from modem to switch even work and if it did, would it offer any benefits?

My thinking is no.

Any p2p transfers are terminated at the switch so no benefit there.
Download bandwidth is much less than 1Gb so no benefit there.

Thanks.

bremen1874 · 12 Jul 2017 at 03:44

It wouldn't work (Switching loop), and even if it did you'd see no benefit because you aren't short of LAN bandwidth.

Rroff · 12 Jul 2017 at 04:02

If you have a router (I can "make" it work with my n66u) and a switch that supports it as well you can use link aggregation. Can't see any benefit in your use case though.

ChrisD. · 12 Jul 2017 at 08:00

As above, it wouldn't work.

bledd · 12 Jul 2017 at 22:42

Only one cable between devices unless they support LACP and it's enabled both sides.

(Unless you're using layer 3 switches and know what you're doing)

Rainmaker · 12 Jul 2017 at 23:00

It's worth noting also that Virgin hubs only have one port enabled in modem mode anyway.

bremen1874 · 12 Jul 2017 at 23:44

True, but as the OP has

Virgin Modem<====> Switch <====> 6 computers

the Virgin box is presumably still configured as a router.

Rroff · 12 Jul 2017 at 23:52

Yeah not sure on that - I don't know many people with VM currently - I was just assuming OP had something like the setups from a few years back when it was normal to have cable modem->router and assumed they than had a switch connected to the router.

Rainmaker · 12 Jul 2017 at 23:55

bremen1874 said:
True, but as the OP has

the Virgin box is presumably still configured as a router.

Rroff said:
Yeah not sure on that - I don't know many people with VM currently - I was just assuming OP had something like the setups from a few years back when it was normal to have cable modem->router and assumed they than had a switch connected to the router.

I hadn't thought of it that way actually... He said 'modem' but that could just be tech illiteracy.

I don't think any of the current tiers support the old Surfboard modems, but I may be wrong. The legacy tiers were killed off to allow DOCSIS upgrades AFAIK.

Rroff · 12 Jul 2017 at 23:58

I really don't know in regard to the surfboard modems - not really had anything to do with cable since the days those were the common method of hooking up.

Gimpymoo · 13 Jul 2017 at 00:21

bremen1874 said:
the Virgin box is presumably still configured as a router.

Just to clarify, it is

Plugging the switch into a modem would do.. erm.. nothing

ChrisD. · 13 Jul 2017 at 09:01

If it's configured as a router, then the ports remaining will be switch ports. Plugging in more than one cable between two switches will cause a switch loop.

Steveocee · 14 Jul 2017 at 13:17

Even if it did work. Why would you need 2Gb between your router and switch when you only have a 300Mb connection. Presumably all your devices are already switching at 1Gb off the switch anyway.

ChrisD. · 14 Jul 2017 at 13:53

Steveocee said:
Even if it did work. Why would you need 2Gb between your router and switch when you only have a 300Mb connection. Presumably all your devices are already switching at 1Gb off the switch anyway.

If his VM box is working in router mode, then the ports on it are switch ports, so if the OP has devices hanging off the VM box as well as his switch, if it worked then the bandwidth would be 2Gbit. But LACP and other protocols are not that simple, especially in consumer equipment.

Steveocee · 14 Jul 2017 at 17:00

ChrisD. said:
If his VM box is working in router mode, then the ports on it are switch ports, so if the OP has devices hanging off the VM box as well as his switch, if it worked then the bandwidth would be 2Gbit.

If OP had filled his router with devices then he wouldn't have spare ports to connect his switch to. Again, why would you need 2Gb between the router and switch, no device will take advantage of that as they would be 1Gb themselves unless of course you are using LACP on connected devices. OP also clearly states that P2P transfers go through the switch and not the router so yeah, 1Gb is overkill for a VM connection that would do 300 at best never mind 2.

Rroff · 14 Jul 2017 at 17:05

ChrisD. said:
But LACP and other protocols are not that simple, especially in consumer equipment.

Aside from having to use a non-standard firmware (which is already on my router anyhow) and dabbling a little in the command line its pretty easy to setup between my router and netgear managed switch. I've not played with it extensively to see if there are further issues beyond that or in more advanced use though.

Caged · 14 Jul 2017 at 19:35

The only point of doing this would be to cover yourself in case a patch cable failed, and if you're looking for some sort of resilient service then you probably shouldn't be using a residential broadband connection.