Re: router vs switch

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 08:28:54 -0500, "L..." <ofallons12320@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>"Chuck" <none@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:pemnk11btf24r61s1bhhkicjbaf051u42k@xxxxxxxxxx
>> On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 08:39:24 -0500, "L..." <ofallons12320@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Chuck" <none@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>news:41nlk1t6lelgqns4md00n11b8h41kdi06j@xxxxxxxxxx
>>>> On Mon, 10 Oct 2005 13:31:12 -0500, "L." <*email_address_deleted*>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>"Chuck" <none@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>>>news:of7lk11k1btc7mojmn4nubsi1flsnt6fps@xxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>> On Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:22:22 -0500, "L." <*email_address_deleted*>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"Chuck" <cdkuder@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>>>>>news:etYgoTJzFHA.3408@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>>>>A switch is generally just that. A router is much more, and can be
>>>>>>>>setup
>>>>>>>>to
>>>>>>>> match the user's needs.
>>>>>>>> In addition, a router usually is seen by the ISP as a single
>>>>>>>> computer,
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> the switch as multiple computers.
>>>>>>>> Some Cable and DSL modems have a one or two port router built in.
>>>>>>>> A lot of things besides the switch can impact speed. Most of the
>>>>>>>> time
>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>> get better results with a router. However, some routers slow down
>>>>>>>> when
>>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>>> are set up to do MAC filtering and similar tasks.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "L..." <ofallons12320@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>>>>>> news:OPbUV$5yFHA.1040@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>>>>> 5 xp's, 1x98se wireless and one win2k running as a server.
>>>>>>>>> All are plugged in to either the modem or "router".
>>>>>>>>> Had problems over past couple of months wiht connection so a guy
>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>> helping us replaced wires and then replaced our 5 port router with
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> 5
>>>>>>>> post
>>>>>>>>> switch.
>>>>>>>>> Come to find out the cable modem was going bad.
>>>>>>>>> Everything seems to be working ok now.
>>>>>>>>> We're signed up for 1.5 speed but only running ~ 800-900.
>>>>>>>>> Tried to read the difference in different articles but still having
>>>>>>>> problem
>>>>>>>>> understanding, router vs switch.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Is there that much of a difference?
>>>>>>>>> Anything to change?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> L.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Thanks for the info.
>>>>>>>The cable modem is a Prestige 900 which I understand is a
>>>>>>>modem/router.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>We run a single connection to a D-Link switch which the server(win2k)
>>>>>>>and
>>>>>>>other machines(winXP) connect to.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Would/should we be running through a router or does it matter?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Prestige 900 appears to be a ZyXEL cable modem / router combo.
>>>>>> <http://www.zyxel.com/product/model.php?indexcate=1115187948&indexFlagvalue=1117177316>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You shouldn't need another router below it - just a switch will do -
>>>>>> as
>>>>>> long as
>>>>>> you're not trying to isolate your LAN from your neighbor. In the
>>>>>> latter
>>>>>> case,
>>>>>> you need 2 routers - one for you and the other for your neighbor.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If you're having speed problems, you should maybe be working with your
>>>>>> cable
>>>>>> company. You may also get results from BBR Forums - maybe BBR
>>>>>> Networking
>>>>>> or
>>>>>> Cable Forum.
>>>>>> <http://www.dslreports.com/forum/sharing>
>>>>>> <http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cablechat>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There may be a specific forum for customers of your ISP in BBR Forums.
>>>>>> <http://www.dslreports.com/forums/all>
>>>>
>>>>>Again, thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>>I ran a couple of more speed checks
>>>>>@(http://reviews.cnet.com/7004-7254_7-0.html) and get two different
>>>>>readings.
>>>>>When I select "cable modem" get average of 875-950kbps BUT if I select
>>>>>LAN
>>>>>get 1175-1275kbps. Signed up for 1.5 (1500) but if we're within 80% with
>>>>>5
>>>>>systems on network, isn't bad....
>>>>>
>>>>>L.
>>>>
>>>> Lem,
>>>>
>>>> Fascinating. The CNet Bandwidth Test is one that I hadn't seen before.
>>>> Now to
>>>> figure out how and why it performs as it does...
>>>>
>>>> On the off chance that your problem is caused by signal and / or load,
>>>> did
>>>> you
>>>> post any questions in any of the BBR Forums? This is a Windows XP
>>>> Networking
>>>> forum, which is concerned mostly with Windows XP networking
>>>> functionality.
>>>>
>>>> There are not too many experts that get into WAN (ISP service) QOS
>>>> issues
>>>> here.
>>>> BBR Forums provides discussion about Internet (DSL originally) QOS, and
>>>> there
>>>> are a lot of experts there who can help you analyse and diagnose any QOS
>>>> problems related to your Internet service.
>>
>>>Passed on some information and links I found on the BBR Forums, esp NAT
>>>filling up.?.!
>>>Most of the "stuff" I read was/is way over my head.
>>>Seems that most of our problems start/started in late afternoon after
>>>several hours of 5 systems being on line.
>>>
>>>Will let you know.
>>>Thanks,
>>
>> If your symptoms are chronic, I'd bet you have either 1 of 2 problems:
>> 1) Saturated network link from neighbors traffic (a classic cable
>> broadband
>> scenario).
>> 2) Degraded electrical signal level.
>>
>> The cable company is responsible for making sure that the cable modem has
>> a good
>> signal level. The saturated network link, because you share your service
>> with
>> all of your immediate neighborhood, can be a problem with cable broadband.
>>
>> Did you post any questions in BBR Forums (if so, which one?) or just read
>> the
>> "stuff"? BBR Forums is like any other techie forum (no different here) -
>> you
>> have to ask questions, and wait patiently. When the "stuff" is over your
>> head,
>> you have to learn to ask the right questions.
>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#Waiting>
>>
>> --
>> Cheers,
>> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
>> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
>> My email is AT DOT
>> actual address pchuck mvps org.
>
>Sorry it took a couple of days to get back with you.
>I passed on the links and a couple of posts to Dan.
>
>We're all thinking it was a modem problem AND saturation for two reasons.
>1. We had Charter replace the modem/router which has stopped 99% of the
>disconnects and
>2. we notice the slow down and a couple of disconnects starting at ~ 3 PM
>when kids are gettting home from school.
>
>Since Monday, things have been running "normal"...
>
>One suggestion we received is to limit d/l speed. We're signed up for 1.5
>speed. Another small business owner has limited his speed to 1.2 and he
>never disconnects. Not sure what this does or how to do it, at this point.
>Guessing he's set his router to limit speed.

Lem,

If your service (signal to modem) is a problem, and your download speed is set
too high, your modem will waste a lot of time and bandwidth trying to download
at too high a speed, and recovering from situations where the service can't
provide signal to handle the speed. In extreme situations the modem may simply
restart.

If the problems are time related (and if you're in a residential area that will
happen), that would be one thing. But if Charter is getting around their
inability to give you a decent signal level, by telling you to limit your
downlink, you ought to investigate. Unless they are reducing the service charge
anyway.

Have you asked in the BBR Charter HSI Forum about this situation?
<http://www.dslreports.com/forum/charter> They may be able to help you check
the modem, and verify the signal level, That will tell you if the problem can
be resolved.

Don't pay for service that you don't get. That's not good for anybody in the
long run.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.
.

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