gigabit network problem

[mattdcknsn]

I have just upgraded my network to a dedicated gig connection between client and server. Now the problem is that both nics only show 100/full.

The server has a broadcom built in NIC and the client has a PCI D-link. I am using Cat5E for the connection. I have tried the standard crossover (that I would use for a 100mb connection). I then tried a standard straight through cable. Both times all it sees is a 100/full connection.

I am not using a switch or router between the computers. Just one cable. Thanks for all your help.

[gplasky]

Number 1-Go buy a switch.
If no to Number 1-Number 2-If you're connecting network card to network card you need to use a crossover cable. I would suggext you double-check your cable and crossings. Is this homemade or purchased as a crossover?

Once you have the crossover cable in place take the NICs off Auto and force them to Gig-full or Gig-half. Whatever both cards support. You need to set the cards to lowest common denominator. Go to Properties of Network Place, Porperties of Local Area Connection. Press the configure button of the network card and go to the Advanced tab-Speed and Duplex settings.

Gerry

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Number 1-Go buy a switch.
If no to Number 1-Number 2-If you're connecting network card to network card you need to use a crossover cable. I would suggext you double-check your cable and crossings. Is this homemade or purchased as a crossover?

IIRC the Gigabit spec supports auto crossover negotiation.

[mattdcknsn]

Doing some more digging (its not that easy to find) I did locate some specs for gigabit. The major difference between 100 and 1000 is that 1000 uses all four pairs of cables, 100 only uses two pairs of cables. I am going to test what I found and let everybody know.

Also, in answer to gplasky, its all homemade. I have around 300 ft of Cat5e cable and I am not afraid to use it.

Thanks for the replies.

[mattdcknsn]

What I found worked, (http://www.ertyu.org/~steven_nikkel/ethernetcables.html towards the bottom under crossover). Technically what you need to do is cross all four pairs of cables in the Cat5 cable. What I was doing was going the old route and only crossing two pairs.

Basicly what you need to do is make one end normally and then on the other end go in this pattern, WG G WO WBr Br O Bl WBl.

I now have a direct gigabit connection between server and client. Thanks

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by stanger89

IIRC the Gigabit spec supports auto crossover negotiation.

True-and I've seen this on switch ports but not on the NICs.

Originally Posted by mattdcknsn

Technically what you need to do is cross all four pairs of cables in the Cat5 cable. What I was doing was going the old route and only crossing two pairs.

And also all the pairs need to be properly crossovered.

Seeing that he did test a straight-thru cable it seemed that one or both cards didn't support auto crossover negotiation.

Gerry

[mattdcknsn]

Originally Posted by gplasky

True-and I've seen this on switch ports but not on the NICs.


And also all the pairs need to be properly crossovered.

Seeing that he did test a straight-thru cable it seemed that one or both cards didn't support auto crossover negotiation.

Gerry

I did test a crossover cable initally, but I made an crossover cable for 10/100 networks, the gigabit nics required a new way for making it. The original crossover cable I made only crossed 2 pairs of the cable (the ones that 10/100 networks use) the gigabit nics require all 4 pairs of cables to be crossed.

Since I have never used gigE before I was using the outdated way of making crossover cables. Because of this the Nics only saw a 10/100 network.