1. You are viewing our forum as a guest. For full access please Register. WindowsBBS.com is completely free, paid for by advertisers and donations.

LAN very slow with LinkSys wireless router.

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by Rooster6975, 2004/07/08.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. 2004/07/08
    Rooster6975

    Rooster6975 Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/07/08
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hello,

    I have a Linksys Wireless G w/ speedbooster router. I have 3 computers in my network, hooked up to a single IP from my ISP. Internet for all 3 works just fine, with very fast download speeds. Also, wireless (I am only using it at 802.11b speeds) works well. However, I am having problems with the network switch included in the router. I currently have all 3 computers hooked up via the Ethernet ports on the router. All are cat 5 cables, all 3 computers are detecting 100 Mbit Ethernet. When I transfer a large file (300 MBs) from one computer to another, it takes 20 minutes. I can actually download the same file much faster from the Internet than I can transfer it from one computer on my home network to another!

    Network Utilization in Task Manager rarely goes above 1%, at absolute most it will go to 5%. It seems as if the switch is limiting all traffic to 802.11b speeds, regardless of whether or not the computer is wired or wireless. I have tested many aspects of my installation, including transferring files between different computers (all are at the same lame speed), I have turned off wireless in the router admin page, I have tried to adjust the MTU and RWIN to maximize efficiency, I have turned off Antivirus and FW on all 3 computers, I have ensured nothing is running in the background (ie. downloads), I have installed and run SpyBot and AdAware and run them both, I have run AV both from my installed version and from TrendMicro's free online Housecall site..... nothing seems to help. Whenever I do a wired transfer, speeds are pathetic.

    I used to have a NetGear non-wireless 10/100 router. Transfer speeds with it were exactly what I expected. The only reason I moved to the LinkSys was to get the wireless connectivity. Because my 3 computers stayed the same, and only the router changed, I am pretty sure that the router is at fault. I have a ticket open with LinkSys, but they have not been able to help me as of yet. They do keep coming back with more suggestions so I certainly can't fault their support, but I would really like to get this resolved. Any ideas?

    - 2 of 3 computers are running XP SP1, the third is Win2k SP4
    - All have Norton AV 7.61 enabled, but I have tested with it disabled as well.
    - All have Zone Labs integrity client 3.5, and I have tested with it disabled.
    - No NetBeui is configured anywhere
    - XP internal FW service is off on both XP machines
    - No change to local network except the router (ie. cat 5 cabling works)
    - Internet download speed is excellent, the router is working fine
    - The switch is not working fine, something is hindering it's speed.
    - My desktop has a 10/100 3COM card configured to run at 100 Mbps
    - One laptop has a GB Ethernet card configured to run at 100 Mbps
    - The other laptop has a 10/100 card configured to run at 100 Mbps
    - I have turned off autosense on all 3 computers and run at 100 Mbps Full duplex

    Thanks,
    R.
     
  2. 2004/07/08
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

    Joined:
    2004/05/12
    Messages:
    2,786
    Likes Received:
    2
    The first pragmatic solution is to buy a small switch and use that to connect the computers together and then use an uplink to the router to provide internet access. But that's a quick fix that doesn't solve the fundimental problem.

    This sounds to me like a hardware problem. I suspect cables or the router itself.

    When you say CAT5 cables, what do you mean? There is CAT5 cabling and CAT5 cabling! If you have installed cabling, have you tried connecting computers directly to the router with shop bought (as opposed to self made) cables? Have you tried disconnecting each computer in turn.

    However, while I would check cables, my main suspect would be the router itself. I'd take it back to the supplier and ask for a replacement. Considering the efforts you've gone to, I think you could well have a faulty unit.

    If that doesn't work, I think it is time to get a packet sniffer on the case.

    If it was a file share setup problem, I'd expect the problem to be no or intermittant connection/transfer. The fact that download from the internet works suggested that basic network functions are fine. The more I think about this, the more I think faulty hardware is at the bottom of it
     

  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2004/07/14
    OldBob

    OldBob Inactive

    Joined:
    2004/04/03
    Messages:
    63
    Likes Received:
    0
    I had a similar problem with a Linksys "b" system. Internet was fine, but wireless file transfers across the network would run SLOW and finally fail. Wired transfers were fine. I spent too much time with Linksys tech support ... nice guys, but they couldn't help. I went to Costco and bought a D-Link extreme g setup. Now everything works the way it is supposed to. I know of two other guys (both computer professionals) who had similar problems with the Linksys wireless stuff and replaced it with another brand. No further problems.

    I've used linksys for years, and was always happy until my wireless experience. BTW, the wireless worked ok for a while, so I presume it was some hardware problem.
     
  5. 2004/07/19
    Rooster6975

    Rooster6975 Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/07/08
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    The plot thickens...

    I replaced the LinkSys router with a new one, same make, same model. Unfortunately, same problem. It looks like this router is incapable of using it's rated 100 Mbit switch at that speed. LinkSys support originally suggested I replace the router, which I have done. Then they sent me a very detailed message indicating that in their testing, they could transfer a 362 MB file in 6 minutes, thereby proving that I am wrong. They also indicated they had tested on 100 Mbit and GigaBit Ethernet LANs with no difference in results. I quickly pointed out that they have simply proven my point, a 362 MB file transferring in 360 seconds is almost exactly, 1 Mbyte a second. Which is the rated speed of 10 Mbit Ethernet operating at 80% efficiency. That same file should have transferred in 36 seconds with 100 Mbit Ethernet at 80% efficiency (ie. 10 Mbyte a sec).

    I have also involved the editor of TomsNetworking.com, who posted a review of the WRT54GS LinkSys Wireless G router. This guy has been great! He freely admitted that he did not test the switch capabilities when he wrote his review; he tested the router and the wireless connection speeds only. But he also volunteered to haul out his LinkSys and test the switch. The maximum speed he could attain was 950 KB/sec transfer with the LinkSys!!! He has asked for my model number of the NetGear and is going to run some more tests. I am hoping he will tell me he easily attained the same results as I did as he has contacts at LinkSys.

    I then hooked up my old NetGear RT314 non-wireless router to my 3 computers. I transferred files at blazing speeds, only taking between 30 and 40 seconds to transfer 222 MBs files. The same files on the LinkSys were taking up to 17 minutes to transfer. I changed no settings at all. I quite literally unplugged my computers from the back of the LinkSys and plugged them into the NetGear. The DHCP server connected and accorded me different IP addresses (the default pool of IPs are different on these two makes). File transfer doing exactly the same thing was dramatically better.

    Conclusion : The 10/100 Mbit switch on the LinkSys is incapable of running at its 100 Mbit rated speed. Even in optimal conditions at the LinkSys lab using all LinkSys products on a Gbit Ethernet LAN!!! (Since the router is only rated at a max of 100 Mbit, using Gigabit Ethernet is somewhat of an illogical test as the data will flow at max 100 Mbit speeds, but the point is, the router is the bottleneck, not the NICs nor the cable - I also pointed this out to LinkSys support). LinkSys support have agreed to escalate this issue to their product Manager, but I have yet to hear anything. I will give them a few more days, then take my router back and exchange it for a NetGear wireless router.

    Cheers,
    Rooster.
     
  6. 2004/07/28
    Rooster6975

    Rooster6975 Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/07/08
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    LinkSys support confirmed they could only get 10 Mbit as well

    Very disappointing, but LinkSys support have confirmed they could only achieve a max of 1 MegaByte per second transfer even in optimal conditions. Using all LinkSys NICs, the LinkSys Wireless G router with the 10/100 network switch,, and Gigabit Ethernet, the best they could do was 1 MB/sec.

    I hooked up my old NetGear cable modem router and it regularly was giving 5.5 Megabytes per second between the same 2 computers. I could only get 300 KB/sec with the LinkSys. In the end, I was forced to use my NetGear router as a switch and hook it directly into the LinkSys router which now handles only the Internet connection and wireless. Now I can transfer files at 100 Mbit speeds, surf the net at cable modem speeds, and use wireless G. However, I was forced to use 2 routers to accomplish this feat, which is a waste and very frustrating.

    Conclusion - The LinkSys WRT54GS is incapable of using the 100 Mbit advertised speed of its 10/100 Switch. I now have confirmation from the editor of tomsnetworking.com who performed tests and could not get it to surpass 1.25 Megabytes per second (max speed of 10 Mbit), my own experiences, and LinkSys support to back up this claim. I cannot recommend this router to anyone unless they will use it solely as a wireless router. Otherwise, purchase any NetGear product as their switch does indeed function at 100 Mbit (at least with the NetGear RT314 which I have - too bad it also doesn't have wireless!!).

    R.
     
  7. 2004/07/29
    Scott Smith

    Scott Smith Inactive Alumni

    Joined:
    2002/01/12
    Messages:
    1,950
    Likes Received:
    4
    I think your getting Mb = (Megabits) and MB = (Megabytes) mixed up.

    I want a lan that can transfer 5 MB (Megabytes) per second. :D :D
     
  8. 2004/10/11
    Rooster6975

    Rooster6975 Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/07/08
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    No, I am not.

    A 100 Mbit Ethernet LAN can transfer data at a max throughput of 12.5 Megabytes/sec. 8 bits in a byte, therefore 100/8=12.5.

    A 10 Mbit Ethernet LAN can transfer data at a max throughput of 1.25 Megabytes/sec. 8 bits in a byte, therefore 10/8=1.25.

    No LAN ever consistently achieves maximum theoretical speed, therefore a good measure of a fast LAN is if it were capable of 10 Megabytes per second, which is 80% of the maximum theoretical speed of 100 Mbit Ethernet. A fast 10 Mbit Ethernet LAN would transfer files at 10 times slower speeds, or about 1 Megabyte per second (80% of 1.25 MByte/sec). If you ever get over 1.25 Mbyte per second, you know you have moved into 100 Mbit Ethernet territory because the Switches literally have 2 choices; 10 Mbit or 100 Mbit. Therefore, even if LinkSys support had managed to achieve 2 Megabytes per second, they would have proven that their switch was running at 100 Mbit Ethernet (albeit 2 Megabytes/sec would be very poor 100 Mbit performance).

    Any 10/100 switch should be able to transfer data at 10 Megabytes per second if all components meet the 100 Mbit criteria (NICs, cable, switch). Mine do, as do the NICs, switch, and Gigabit LAN tested by LinkSys support. And yet, they (and I) were only able to achieve an absolute maximum of less than 1 Megabyte per second transfer. Even when LinkSys support tested this in laboratory conditions, with nothing else on the Gigabit Ethernet LAN, they could only achieve 1 Megabyte per second. The obvious conclusion is that their product is flawed. Either the switch is not 100-capable, or their firmware is preventing its use at full speed.

    When I change nothing at all on my local LAN other than swapping the LinkSys for the NetGear, I suddenly get 5.5-6 Megabytes/second. My 700 Megabyte file which used to take more than 1 hour to transfer, now transfers in under 2 minutes.

    R.
     
  9. 2004/10/11
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

    Joined:
    2004/05/12
    Messages:
    2,786
    Likes Received:
    2
    Those figures look right to me. Nice piece of work Rooster.

    I wonder if this is a good example of dedicated kit being better than "jack of all trades" equipment. Looks like a good reason to keep routers on the perimeter of the network (connection to WAN) and use dedicated switches for the core. The classic network design wins again.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.