[Sussex] Wired Network Talk...

[Nico Kadel-Garcia]

Antony wrote:
>> Anyway, next month the plan is to do a talk on wired networking - both
>> the hardware and the software - including practicals.  So, if everyone
>>     
> <snip>
>   
>> have a play and do some packet capture.
>>     
>
> Can I add a request to try some performance analysis/explanation as
> well?
>
> I got a D-Link Gigabit switch and gave it time to train to my mac
> addresses, but it ran at about 20% the speed of a crossover cable.
> So I returned it and forked out the extra for a Netgear equivalent
> (DG834G), and guess what?  8-(
>
> The concensus seems to be that Consumer Networking Kit Is C**p, but I
> can't help wondering if there's a way to give it a helping hand.....
>
> Anthony
>   
Hmm. Did you try the new switch with the same cable layout?

Also, a lot of casual setups turn off auto-negotiation, or turn it off, 
and wind up with the other end of the connection set the other way. This 
causes *BOTH* ends to drop to the lower speed: it drove me absolutely 
bugfutz when I've worked with upstream networking personnel who say "it 
just works!" and never actually looked at their performance, settings, 
or allowed me to talk with the actual technical people because they 
tossed my Linux based results in the "we don't support that" bin.

This has led to occasional friction with such personnel, or at least 
with their ticketing system that ran me in merry circles trying to reach 
the actual technicians.