Small Network

I'm sure this is real simple for most of you but i'm new to all this so..... I'm setting up a simple network. I've got a Cable Modem attached to a Belkin Router w/ built in hub. I branch from there to 2 standard hubs. With 3 comps attached to each of those hubs. Since setting this up my internet has been crawling along at a snails pace. Slower than a standard 56k connection. I expected it to be marginaly slower but not this much. Does anyone have any tips or advice something to look for to help speed up my Internet?

 

Sounds like you don't have enough systems to even load up a hub (although switches are lots faster).

One thing that will cause this sort of behavior is if you have the NICs set to auto-negotiate connection speed with the hub/switch port they connect to. Sometimes they struggle and the negotiation process ties up lots of resources.

Figure out what is the best speed that BOTH NIC and HUB port can manage (probably 10mbs half-duplex if older or inexpensive hubs and/or NICs) and set the NICs to that speed. If the HUBs have settings, do them as well but many don't.

If that doesn't do the trick, post back since there are some diagnostics you can run if need be.

 

I tried setting my NICs to 10BaseT but i didn't change much. My hub doesn't have any settings. The reason i use 2 hubs is because of the pysical location of the comps.

 

Another thing i noticed is that if i try rearanging the network for example, disconnecting one of the hubs or plugging three of the comps in directly disconnecting the rest, my speed goes back up to normal, but within a hour or two it will be slow again. It really doesn't make much sense to me.

 

OK. Was hoping it was something that simple.

Next step is to find out exactly where the slow-down is happening. Cable is a likely suspect but there are a few other possibilities.

I'm not familiar with the router/hub you are using. Does it provide any services other than just routing and connectivity via the hub? For instance, lots of the router/switches will also provide DHCP services, use NAT to deal with addressing and packet routing, and a few other odds and ends.

Does a PC connected directly to the router/hub do OK?

Try some "ping" testing. Both from a PC to another on the same hub, on the other slave hub, on the router/hub. To get a good idea, use a couple of settings with the ping command and do it both by ip and by name. For instance

From PC1 on Hub1 (call it PC1.1)

Ping -t -l 1024 PC2.1 (which would be PC2 on Hub1)
This will force the ping to continue until you stop it with a CTRL-C. The larger packet size of 1024 will put a little stress on the system for more realistic results.

Do this in combinations so you have tried from each PC and to each PC.

You are looking for good returns with low lag time and consistant results.

 

Okay i tried Ping from all my computers to all the others and they all seemed fine. On most time=1ms and on 1 time<10ms. I let it run 50-60 times on each and it was pretty consistant. (My internet was running slow while in did it).

My Cables are all CAT5e, fairly new. My NIC are all 10/100 as are my hubs and router.

Yes my router does a lot of things NAT Firewall, DCHP, suports VPN and the protocols to go with that, also it has a built in switch not a hub like i'd said before.

Yes if i have only one computer connected to the Router that one runs fast without problems

 

one question

did you make the cables(put ends on) or where they purchased?

sam

 

how about this

The maximum cable (RJ-45) distance between two 100Mbps or 10/100 hubs without a switch is 5 meters (16 feet).

sam

 

Sorry but I had missed this one before my last suggestion. Still, the ping testing pretty well says your issue isn't any of the usual internal (on your LAN portion) problems.

And the fact that your speed will be normal then degrade with a change in configuration is interesting. To me it sorta points to an issue with the Belkin although I'm not sure right off what the problem might be. Resource leakage of some sort.

I'd suggest at this point you get in touch with tech support for the router/switch and see if they have any bright ideas. Provide the information and results you have gotten so far.

I'll rack my brain some more as well - maybe I will have some sort of "Ah Ha" moment. It would help at this point to know what OS your PCs were running. And if any are NT systems (NT/2K/XP) to know what service pack and if the XP is pro or home.

 

All my cable is store bought and the distance between modem and routers is about a foot. One question though? whats the max distance for a normal cable.

I have 1 win2K(pro), 4win98 and 1 XP (home)

I'll try getting in touch w/ belkin tech support and see if they can help.

 

With cat5 cable that is properly terminated, realistic lengths are 100 mts maximum and recommended 90 mts (so you can use up to 10 mtrs patch cables from hub to PC).

This means the total length from router to PC.

Cautions:

1. Stay away from electric wires and fixtures. At least 12 inches and more is better. If for some reason you do have to cross an electric line, better to cross at 90º than to run parellel for any distance.

2. Avoid having long sections of the cable untwisted for connections. Long = anything over about 1/4 inch. The technical name for the stuff is UTP (unshielded twisted pair) and the twists are used to cut down on interference. In fact, the only real difference in Cat3 and Cat5 cable is the number of twists per inch.

 

duplex mode

Sounds to me as if the duplex mode on your nics might be incorrect. If you're using 10/100 hubs the duplex on the nics should be set to 100 mbs half duplex, not hardware default or auto.