Server Networking

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rob G
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Rob G

Hi

Just looking for a few opinions on the best way to Network Servers
Physically in a networked enviroment. I know it would all depend on network
traffic/bandwith etc., but really just looking to see if standard 100Mbs
Ethernet would be feasible for a small company, or is it best to have the
backbone connected via higher speeds than the workstations?

Thank You
 
In a small environment it would even work fine on 10mbps. Larger
environments work on 100mbps. 1000mbps is used on very heavey traffic
situations. But really it isn't the size of the network that determines it,
it is determined by what you actually *do* over the wire and what kind of
traffic is created due to it.

Too many people go "hog wild" over wire speed and spend a bunch of money and
don't really gain anything other than "bragging rights". The bottom line is
if your wire speed isn't the true bottle-neck (or there isn't a bottle-neck
to begin with), then spending $$$ for faster Layer1&2 equipment isn't
gaining anything. Save the money for where it is really needed (CPU, Memory,
ect) and then upgrade the wire when you really need to.

Also remember that regular CAT5 cable isn't going to go faster than 100mbps
even if the hardware can do it, so upgrading may mean replacing all the
cable with higher grade.
 
Phillip said:
In a small environment it would even work fine on 10mbps. Larger
environments work on 100mbps. 1000mbps is used on very heavey traffic
situations. But really it isn't the size of the network that determines it,
it is determined by what you actually *do* over the wire and what kind of
traffic is created due to it.

Too many people go "hog wild" over wire speed and spend a bunch of money and
don't really gain anything other than "bragging rights". The bottom line is
if your wire speed isn't the true bottle-neck (or there isn't a bottle-neck
to begin with), then spending $$$ for faster Layer1&2 equipment isn't
gaining anything. Save the money for where it is really needed (CPU, Memory,
ect) and then upgrade the wire when you really need to.

Also remember that regular CAT5 cable isn't going to go faster than 100mbps
even if the hardware can do it, so upgrading may mean replacing all the
cable with higher grade.
Click to expand...

Gigabit runs on Cat5.
 
Great Information!

Thank You
Phillip Windell said:
In a small environment it would even work fine on 10mbps. Larger
environments work on 100mbps. 1000mbps is used on very heavey traffic
situations. But really it isn't the size of the network that determines it,
it is determined by what you actually *do* over the wire and what kind of
traffic is created due to it.

Too many people go "hog wild" over wire speed and spend a bunch of money and
don't really gain anything other than "bragging rights". The bottom line is
if your wire speed isn't the true bottle-neck (or there isn't a bottle-neck
to begin with), then spending $$$ for faster Layer1&2 equipment isn't
gaining anything. Save the money for where it is really needed (CPU, Memory,
ect) and then upgrade the wire when you really need to.

Also remember that regular CAT5 cable isn't going to go faster than 100mbps
even if the hardware can do it, so upgrading may mean replacing all the
cable with higher grade.


--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com


Rob G said:
Hi

Just looking for a few opinions on the best way to Network Servers
Physically in a networked enviroment. I know it would all depend on network
traffic/bandwith etc., but really just looking to see if standard 100Mbs
Ethernet would be feasible for a small company, or is it best to have the
backbone connected via higher speeds than the workstations?

Thank You
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
CJT said:
Gigabit runs on Cat5.
Click to expand...

CAT5E (Enhanced), but not the original regular CAT5. Although most CAT5
you buy now probably fits into that "E" catagory. I remember when CAT5E was
called CAT7 before they came out with the "official" CAT7 we have now (which
is different) and CAT6 was never even heard of. The flat Belden Media-Twist
fell into that when I went to one of those Seminar/Sales things where
Belden had Reps there doing "sessions". At the time they almost seem to
avoid the "CAT" designation and were emphasizing that it ran at 300mhz, but
I don't think anyone really knew what that translated to and were afraid to
ask.

We run the Media-Twist here and it should run Gigabit, but we don't have the
hardware or testing tools to verify it.
 
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