FWIW, with PCI gigabit NICs, you're only going to get 200-300 Mbps max. Maybe a little better if everything is using jumbo frames, but the bottleneck becomes the PCI bus. Copying machine to machine, I can see a jump in the throughput once the last of the file is read into memory and there's no longer bus contention with the PCI RAID controller. So get PCI-E NICs if the desktops can use them and you want any chance at gigabit throughput. I wouldn't worry too much about the switch itself unless you've got management features in mind - a SOHO gig switch from any of the "big 4" should do the job. The first batch of cheap SOHO gig switches didn't support jumbo frames very well if at all (got one for sale if anyone wants it - D-Link DGS-1005D), but most everything does nowadays. Carl
_____ From: David Lum [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 10:49 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Gigabit on the cheap Slightly OT, but only a little. At home I have a network where my two 2K3 servers are on desktop hardware. I am using the integrated 10/100 NIC's and a cheap 10/100 switch. I'm going to move to gigabit and all I need is 5-8port gigabit switch. Going to my favorite place to shop for such stuff (pricewatch.com) I can find all manners of inexpensive gigabit switches. Are any of those cheap (<$75) switches any better than the other? I see some brands I don't recognize and I also see the usual Linksys, Netgear, SMC and 3Com stuff. For under $100 I even see some refurbished heavier duty stuff Comments? Dave Lum - Systems Engineer [EMAIL PROTECTED] - (971)-222-1025 "When you step on the brakes your life is in your foot's hands" ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
