10/100 NIC Cards

[LordofEchoSide]

What does 10/100 mean on the cards? I'm thinking 10 is the internet speed and 100 is the LAN speed.

[RJ]

Both are LAN speeds. 10/100 means that the NIC supports both 10mbps and 100mbps data transfer rates.

There is no "internet speed". Can't be, coz you can't get online with a NIC, you need a modem for that.

RJ

[LordofEchoSide]

a friend of mine was saying that if 2 computers are on a LAN and on the internet, it slows the computers down to 57k. this isn't correct is it?

[LawyerRon]

No, that's not correct. I have 5 computers connected to a Router on a LAN at home and all surf the web at the same time with almost no slowdown. The router acts as an intelligent "switch" which multiplies bandwidth. The older "hubs" divide bandwith into as many computers you have connecting at once, which is one reason (there are several others) why the Router is the preferred way to connect several machines to the net.

[LordofEchoSide]

wow so I can actually get 1500 (or the best I get with 1 computer) down on each computer?

[LawyerRon]

Sure, why not? But a lot depends on the bandwidth you've got available coming into the house. Bottom line; you need a Router, 2 NIC's (one in each machine) and the necessary patch cables of the required length. Then it's just a matter of plugging the Router into the Cable or DSL Modem and plugging the computers into the Router. Then just apply the necessary settings in Network Neighborhood. It's quite simple really.

[Computer Hobbyist]

You use straight cables, and not crossover cables. Remember that when you go to the store to buy cables. Buy a little longer than the length you need. Remember you need to go around corners and along the edges of rooms. If you are going to run cable over the top of your room, avoid florescent lights and power lines. You need to do some planning before you start buying.

If you want to spend a little money, or if you plan on stringing a lot of cable in the future, you might consider buying a crimping tool and connectors, and make your own connctions. The tool will allow you to run just the length of cable you need.


CH

[LordofEchoSide]

how much would the crimping tool and connectors be?

[LordofEchoSide]

and pre-made ones for that matter

[LordofEchoSide]

another networking question, will each computer have it's own IP with a router. a friend (same one as mention) said if they have the same IP, the connection is very slow

[J Phillies]

Originally posted by LordofEchoSide
another networking question, will each computer have it's own IP with a router. a friend (same one as mention) said if they have the same IP, the connection is very slow



lordofechoside... i never expected to see you here
thats "maad whicckkkeet" :p

[LordofEchoSide]

=-O


hahaha good job phillies :hombre:

[Computer Hobbyist]

I suggest you read the PCMech Networking Articles (http://www.pcmech.com/networking.htm). The short answer is that a private network hooked to the internet via a dial up connection can run very slowly depending on how many people are on the line and sharing the same connection. It's not the connection that slows the network down, its the active sharing of the available bandwidth. You can get the same effect with cable. If it is the middle of the night and everybody has gone to bed your cable connection to the net is super fast. If it is early evening and 80 other people are on line the connection seems very slow.

CH

[glc]

You will be sharing the Internet bandwidth - you won't really notice the difference unless you are downloading or uploading files on both machines simultaneously. Even a 10Mbps LAN is much faster than your Internet connection anyway.

You will still only have one REAL ip with a router - but each machine will have its own "private" ip.

[LordofEchoSide]

on PCMech Networking Articles, under setting up a basic lan, what do I do for steps 13 and after. I have Windows XP

[glc]

With a router, all you have to do is run the networking wizard on XP and take the defaults. The router will assign all IP addresses to the computers.

For a small home network, just buy premade cables. It's only worth buying bulk cable, ends, and a crimping tool if you are wiring a whole house or office or running a lot of cable through walls. Don't waste your money on Cat 5E or Cat 6, standard Cat 5 will work just fine for a small home network.

[LordofEchoSide]

I read through the wizard and picked other, then selected this computer connects to a network hub. The it gives me a warning that this is not recommended because theres no reliable way to share files. is this right?

[glc]

Go ahead and take it - and you can modify your shares later. The important thing is for it to set the TCP/IP on the nics to obtain IP addresses automatically, install file and print sharing, and put all computers in the same workgroup.

[Computer Hobbyist]

With a router, a simple home network is just as easy as glc says. The router takes all the "fun" out of the process. In addition to being easier the router naturally provides your individual computers with greater security.

CH

[piasabird]

If you have a speed of 1.5Mbps. That is your total possible speed. So if you are both downloading that speed is shared between you. With a cable modem for example you can not go beyond the possible speed of the cable modem itself. It doesnt matter about the other parts of the network.

Also check both the Downstream speeds and upload speeds of your connection. If you have an upstream intensive task, a lot of services limit the upload speed significantly. For instance if you are doing FTP upstream to a web page directory you have an even slower rate of speed and less bandwidth.

This is called the the bottleneck theory. In a network, if everything goes through the same device say a cable modem, or a T1 line. The bottleneck limits everything.

Normally a cable modem has some speed that is the maximum. Even if you could go faster than that most cable modems and most every router designed for the cable modems has a 10Mbps port on the Wide Are Network (WAN) side. No matter what happens you will not go faster than your weakest link or bottleneck.

[glc]

Cable modems are capable of going a lot faster than what most cable companies "cap" your speeds to.