1 Jan
2007
1 Jan
'07
11:03 a.m.
Chuck Guzis wrote:
I'm beginning to wonder if it's time I upgraded
my home network. The
NICs on most of the machines are 100BaseT, with the odd old machine
sporting a 10BaseT. But it's the hubs I wonder about--two old
National Semi 6-port Datamover 10BaseT units coupled together with a
10Base2 (coax) link. It's that coax that I dread replacing--it goes
between floors and snaking it through the walls was a real chore.
My DSL speed is 1.6Mbps, so I'm thinking that
there's little reason
to upgrade the setup. Am I thinking correctly or am I likely to see
an improvement in internet access speed if I upgrade?
My home network is rather different. My "data center" is out in the
shop. The network out in the shop is centered on a 1GB/Sec. Ethernet
switch, with all of the infrastructure servers hooked up to it. There's
also an earlier 10/100 switch, which supports a couple of older machines
that don't really need GigE (dedicated SETI at Home machines). My DSL
connection is 1.5Mb/Sec., and I use a nice router/firewall with a
separate seconday firewall creating a DMZ between the main home network
and the Internet. The secondary firewall connects into the GigE fabric.
There's an 802.11G (108Mb/Sec. link speed) wireless access point in the
shop for wireless use when I'm out there. The shop is also completely
wired with Cat6 cable to many drops. I have two GigE Cat6 lines, one
active, one as a spare) that run in conduit underground between the shop
and the house. In the house, there's a GigE switch, a 10/100 switch for
older machines, an 802.11G wireless access point. The wireless stuff
all uses WPA for improved security, although out there where I live, the
chances of "snoops" is pretty small. The wireless access point are
long-range devices...I can actually connect to the WAP in the house from
anywhere within about 100 yards of the house. The house is all wired
with Cat6 cable also, with lots of drops.
All of these upgrades (previously, everything was 10/100), have made a
dramatic improvement with regard to 'response' of end-user machines.
The GigE interconnect between the servers and the end-user machines. As
far as Internet connectivity goes...in networks, as in racecars, the
weakest part is the limiting factor. The T1-equivalent DSL connection
is SO much slower than any of the rest of the network, that upgrading
everything to GigE made absolutely no detectable difference in terms of
speed of access to the Internet.
So, if your main concern is Internet connectivity, leave your network
as-is.
Spending the money to upgrade really won't make any substantial
difference there. If you have any time of server-based infrastructure
(file server, media server, Email server, etc.) then upgrading the
"core" network can make a big difference in terms of response to core
network services.
If you want your Internet to be faster, spend the money to try to get a
faster connection (if possible). With DSL, the limiting factor on speed
is the distance from your home to the closest DSLAM, and the equipment
used by your ISP.
Rick Bensene