Network Speed

[Bob S.]

I'll be researching this on the MS site and others this evening but thought
a quick question here now might save me hours of looking.

1. Have a 5 system, peer-to-peer network all running XP Home with SP-1.
(small local business firm I help out at)

2. All networks cards are 10/100Mb rated and 4 are Intel Pro models

3. Have a 3Com 10/100Mb switch (changed out to a 10/100Mb router for a test
and got the same result)

4. All network cards are configured to Auto (for the speed) but I have tried
other settings.

5. Network works fine except.....

And the problem is -- it always say's it running at 10Mb. If I change the
cards settings to any of the 100Mb settings (half or full-duplex) and
keeping them all the same, I get an error from XP telling me a network cable
has been disconnected. I have simplified the system down to two systems,
configure the cards for 100Mb (full or half-duplex) and nada - same error.
Put it back to Auto or a 10Mb selection and the network is fine.

I've isolated the network from the internet, the wiring is Cat 5 and I'm now
scratchin my butt as to why this won't allow 100Mb. Is this an XP Home
issue or am I missing something obvious (most likely).

I plan on installing a network monitoring program that will measure speed
and then dump a few large files across the network and see what it really is
doing but if you have any suggestions on what I'm missing I sure would
appreciate the education.

Thanks,

Bob S.

 

[Carey Holzman]

Try a different Ethernet cable.

Carey

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I'll be researching this on the MS site and others this evening but thought
a quick question here now might save me hours of looking.

1. Have a 5 system, peer-to-peer network all running XP Home with SP-1.
(small local business firm I help out at)

2. All networks cards are 10/100Mb rated and 4 are Intel Pro models

3. Have a 3Com 10/100Mb switch (changed out to a 10/100Mb router for a test
and got the same result)

4. All network cards are configured to Auto (for the speed) but I have tried
other settings.

5. Network works fine except.....

And the problem is -- it always say's it running at 10Mb. If I change the
cards settings to any of the 100Mb settings (half or full-duplex) and
keeping them all the same, I get an error from XP telling me a network cable
has been disconnected. I have simplified the system down to two systems,
configure the cards for 100Mb (full or half-duplex) and nada - same error.
Put it back to Auto or a 10Mb selection and the network is fine.

I've isolated the network from the internet, the wiring is Cat 5 and I'm now
scratchin my butt as to why this won't allow 100Mb. Is this an XP Home
issue or am I missing something obvious (most likely).

I plan on installing a network monitoring program that will measure speed
and then dump a few large files across the network and see what it really is
doing but if you have any suggestions on what I'm missing I sure would
appreciate the education.

Thanks,

Bob S.

It's likely that the network wiring is substandard and can't transmit
100Mb signals. A common reason for that is improper wire pairing in
cables -- pins 1-2 must be from one pair, and pins 3-6 must be from
another pair. See this site for the proper configuration (in the
"Straight-Through" chart):

http://www.linksys.com/faqs/default.asp?fqid=20
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Bob S.]

Steve,

What you said certainly makes sense and I will verify the wiring and pinouts
to be absolutely sure everything is to spec. I can borrow a cable analyzer
and not have to trust my old eyes or a simple ohm meter and loopback plug.

I'll post what I find so it can benefit others also.

Thanks,

Bob S.

 

[Bob S.]

Arrrrrggghhhhh.......

Hate it when I overlook the simple things...

The 3Com Switch model 610, states it's a 10/100Mb switch right on the front
label - and it is except the 24 ports are all 10BaseT and there are only 2
ports which are 100Mb (used for stacking and/or connecting to servers).
Even changed it out with another router - which I now know also only had
10Mb ports. Can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear no-how with old
hardware. Owner will be updating switch also now along with 4 new
computers.

I did verify cables, they are "Verified CAT 5" and the pinouts were correct
for straight-thru cables.

Lesson learned...don't overlook the obvious when it's starring you in the
face...

Bob S.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Arrrrrggghhhhh.......

Hate it when I overlook the simple things...

The 3Com Switch model 610, states it's a 10/100Mb switch right on the front
label - and it is except the 24 ports are all 10BaseT and there are only 2
ports which are 100Mb (used for stacking and/or connecting to servers).
Even changed it out with another router - which I now know also only had
10Mb ports. Can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear no-how with old
hardware. Owner will be updating switch also now along with 4 new
computers.

I did verify cables, they are "Verified CAT 5" and the pinouts were correct
for straight-thru cables.

Lesson learned...don't overlook the obvious when it's starring you in the
face...

Bob,

thanks for reporting back! This is always appreciated. Leads to
the thing we call experience. -)

Hans-Georg