[AccessD] [dba-Tech] Hub problem

jwcolby jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com
Wed Dec 30 12:40:53 CST 2009


Michael,

Yes, video will play smoothly on 100 mbps.

And true, a gigabit switch does no good if any part of the path goes through a 100 mbit switch.

OTOH, if you have servers that need to talk to each other, gigabit between the servers is the way to go.

My home / office is a good example.  I have a 100 mbit router with wireless in the middle of the 
house.  My office is upstairs at one end, the living room is downstairs on the other end.

I have a gigabit switch that serves the entire office, however everything from my office to the 
living room is 100 mbit because it goes through the 100 mbit router in the middle.  Even if I wanted 
to run gigabit to the living room I terminate in another wireless router in the living room which 
has... a 100 mbit switch.  I have THREE wireless routers in my home, one at each end of the house 
and one in the middle.  Each has a 100 mbit switch.  I could go gigabit in the routers but the cost 
so high that I don't.

Out of curiosity, I just went down to the living room and looked at the network utilization as I 
watched a 720p video.  It peaked at 25% of the 100 mbit link and averaged about 13%.  That is one 
stream to one tv, at 720P.

I think that full gigabit is good in concept, but I personally don't because of the cost of gigabit 
wireless routers.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com


Michael Bahr wrote:
>> You NEED a Windows Home Server to back up all those machines. Pay no
>> attention that mine is still giving me grief. The concept is sound.
>> Once you start streaming HD video that 100 mb switch ain't going to
>> cut it. Don't buy anything less than Gigabit now. Mark my words. Gary
> 
> This is sooo NOT true!!  I stream HD content from my computer upstairs to
> my HD TV downstairs using a 100Mbs connection.  There is absolutely no
> studdering--just smooth playback.  I record OTA broadcast and record
> directly from my cable Set Top Box using an HD-PVR to my computer and edit
> out the commercials.  Even Blu-Ray can be streamed through 100Mps
> connection.
> 
> A 1000Mps switch will do no good unless the router is also 1000Mps.  Also
> a 1000Mps is much less than 10 times faster, more like 2-4 times at best. 
> You are better off sticking with 100Mps unless you get a good deal.
> 
>> Kjos, December 29, 2009, 3:07pm CST  ;-)
>>
>> GK
>>
> 
> 



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