> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Hilton Travis
> Sent: Monday, June 18, 2001 3:20 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: [Leaf-user] Stupid Newbie questions
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I tend to agree with Jon here. Since you are new to Linux and
> networking in general, you need to have the simplest setup you can, so
> that there are fewer things to go wrong. In your case, I'd install 2
> NICs in the LRP box as per Jon's suggestions, locate the box at one end
> of the house, run the DSL box into one of the NICs, and a switch (not a
> hub) into the other NIC. This switch should be big enough for all the
> computers PLUS the router PLUS the link to the other switch. Then run a
> link from the uplink port on the switch to the switch/hub at the other
> end of the house (into a regular port, not the uplink port), and away
> you go.
>
> I'd strongly recommend a switch for the end with the router (and
> realistically one at the other end too) over a hub as you will have
> better network performance with a switch than with a hub. With ethernet
> networking, it works with what is known as "collision domains".
> Basically a hub is a single collision domain - only one device attached
> to a hub can communicate at a time - if two devices try to talk at the
> same time, they are both told to keep quiet for a bit and try again
> later. These "collisions" reduces network performance.
>
> Now with a switch, every port is a separate collision domain. This
> means that if your machine (A) wants to talk to the LRP box (R), and
> another machine (B) wants to copy a file from a third computer (C), then
> all of this can happen simultaneously without any collisions. However,
> a collision will occur if two machines try to talk to the LRP box (or
> any other box) at the same time - this is unavoidable.
>
> Also, hubs are half-duplex devices. This means that a computer (or any
> other network device attached to it) can either talk or listen - they
> cannot both talk AND listen. This means that a 100Mbps hub can have a
> single computer talking to another computer at 100 Mbps, but then a
> collision occurs if the "listening" computer needs to reply to the
> "talking" computer before the "talking" computer has finished what it
> has to say.
>
> Switches are full-duplex devices. A device attached to a switch port
> can walk and chew gum... oops - talk and listen simultaneously.
> Basically, this means that if you are copying a large file from machine
> (A) to machine (B), and also copying from machine (B) to (A), the copy
> will take well under half the time on a switch than on a hub.
> Generally, switches look at the devices attached to each port and
> determine if the device is able to talk in full-duplex (all NICs,
> routers, bridges, etc) or half-duplex (a hub) and configures that port
> according to the device attached to it. The 10/100 switches also
> determine if the device attached will talk at 100Mbps or only 10Mbps,
> and configures the port accordingly (as do 10/100 hubs).
>
> In reality, if you have a number of machines attached to a 100Mbps hub,
> and the same number of machines attached to a 10Mbps switch, the network
> based on the switch will be the faster network. Even though it is
> operating at 20% of the maximum speed of the hub (10Mbps full-duplex, vs
> 100Mbps half-duplex), the far reduced number of collisions due to the
> multiple collision domains will greatly increase the network
> performance.
>
> Now, of course at home you may not care about this increase in speed,
> therefore stick to hubs as they are cheaper. However, I'd recommend
> that at least the device that YOUR computer and the router are connected
> to be switches. :-)
>
> Regards,
> Hilton Travis
>
>
After thinking about this awhile I've decided to go with the two switch
setup. I'm leaning toward using a D-Link DSS-5+ (connected to the router)
and a D-Link DSS-8+ connected to the uplink port on the DSS-5+. Anyone know
of any problems with these.
Where can I find a list of supported NICs for an LRP/LEAF?
BTW, thank you everybody for suggestions.
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