auto negotiation or set it to fixed?

[chrisrichard]

Is it more stable to set it to fixed 1GB or just put it on auto?
Both works fine but setting it to 1GB seems bit different. Any comments will be appreciated.

 

[kanewolf]

Autonegotiation should only happen when the machine boots or if the link to the router drops. Assuming it successfully negotiates to 1Gb then there is no difference.

 

[CrzyGK]

Auto-Negotiate is the best route to go about 95% of the time. I only use a fixed speed when dealing with troublesome networking equipment. What are you setting this on/to?

 

[chrisrichard]

Auto-Negotiate is the best route to go about 95% of the time. I only use a fixed speed when dealing with troublesome networking equipment. What are you setting this on/to?

One of the machine I just checked. When I put it to auto, it gives me 100mbps via speedtest. But when I set to 1gb it gives me full 300mbps. Should I only set that machine to 1GB and rest of the computers to auto?

Settings to my media httpc and other home computers.

 

[bill001g]

The largest issue you have is that most consumer routers and switch ONLY run in auto mode. There is no way to change it. Generally if you have one end set to auto and the other to some fixed rate you set yourself up for problems. You must either set both ends to some fixed value or leave both ends at auto.

On auto the speed seldom negotiates wrong it was the duplex that caused all the issues. Since gig transmits on all 4 pair on both ends at the same time the whole concept of duplex is not used and why you can not set the duplex on gig ports.

 

[chrisrichard]

The largest issue you have is that most consumer routers and switch ONLY run in auto mode. There is no way to change it. Generally if you have one end set to auto and the other to some fixed rate you set yourself up for problems. You must either set both ends to some fixed value or leave both ends at auto.

On auto the speed seldom negotiates wrong it was the duplex that caused all the issues. Since gig transmits on all 4 pair on both ends at the same time the whole concept of duplex is not used and why you can not set the duplex on gig ports.

So its best to leave everything to auto?

 

[CrzyGK]

If your getting higher speeds when setting it to 1Gb, then, by all means, set it statically.

Edit: But if you set other devices that are not gigabit-capable to gigabit, then you'll have issues.

 

[chrisrichard]

If your getting higher speeds when setting it to 1Gb, then, by all means, set it statically.

But do I need to set other machines to 1Gb as well? or Leave other ones to auto?
I heard you have to fully go one way or the other.

 

[chrisrichard]

Edit: But if you set other devices that are not gigabit-capable to gigabit, then you'll have issues.

Hmm...alright best conclusion is to leave it as auto.

 

[CrzyGK]

If your getting higher speeds when setting it to 1Gb, then, by all means, set it statically.

But do I need to set other machines to 1Gb as well? or Leave other ones to auto?
I heard you have to fully go one way or the other.

I've never seen a router or switch that forces you to go all-in one way or the other. Usually if the firmware allows you to select an option, it's not an all-in. You'll be fine setting that computer to 1Gb and the rest to auto.

 

[chrisrichard]

I have this ASUS RT-N66U hooked up to my modem and one of the line is hooked up to TP-LINK TL-SG108 8-Port 10/100/1000Mbps Desktop Gigabit Steel Cased Switch. Which that switch is hooked up to my media machine.
Can I just put my media machine to 1Gb and rest to auto?

 

[CrzyGK]

I have this ASUS RT-N66U hooked up to my modem and one of the line is hooked up to TP-LINK TL-SG108 8-Port 10/100/1000Mbps Desktop Gigabit Steel Cased Switch. Which that switch is hooked up to my media machine.
Can I just put my media machine to 1Gb and rest to auto?

Well, since that switch in unmanaged, You'll be setting the speed from the router to the switch. The switch will auto-negotiate with anything plugged into it and there's no way to change that. So definitely set the speed to 1Gbp/s from the router to the switch.

 

[chrisrichard]

I have this ASUS RT-N66U hooked up to my modem and one of the line is hooked up to TP-LINK TL-SG108 8-Port 10/100/1000Mbps Desktop Gigabit Steel Cased Switch. Which that switch is hooked up to my media machine.
Can I just put my media machine to 1Gb and rest to auto?

Well, since that switch in unmanaged, You'll be setting the speed from the router to the switch. The switch will auto-negotiate with anything plugged into it and there's no way to change that. So definitely set the speed to 1Gbp/s from the router to the switch.

How do you set the speed from the router to swtich? I just do it on the NIC from machines. Is there a way to access router/swtich speed as well?

PS Also would it be better to get managed version?

 

[CrzyGK]

I have this ASUS RT-N66U hooked up to my modem and one of the line is hooked up to TP-LINK TL-SG108 8-Port 10/100/1000Mbps Desktop Gigabit Steel Cased Switch. Which that switch is hooked up to my media machine.
Can I just put my media machine to 1Gb and rest to auto?

Well, since that switch in unmanaged, You'll be setting the speed from the router to the switch. The switch will auto-negotiate with anything plugged into it and there's no way to change that. So definitely set the speed to 1Gbp/s from the router to the switch.

How do you set the speed from the router to swtich? I just do it on the NIC from machines. Is there a way to access router/swtich speed as well?

PS Also would it be better to get managed version?

Managed switches are usually only used in enterprise equipment and are fairly large and expensive. Are you setting the speed on the PC or the router?

 

[chrisrichard]

I have this ASUS RT-N66U hooked up to my modem and one of the line is hooked up to TP-LINK TL-SG108 8-Port 10/100/1000Mbps Desktop Gigabit Steel Cased Switch. Which that switch is hooked up to my media machine.
Can I just put my media machine to 1Gb and rest to auto?

Well, since that switch in unmanaged, You'll be setting the speed from the router to the switch. The switch will auto-negotiate with anything plugged into it and there's no way to change that. So definitely set the speed to 1Gbp/s from the router to the switch.

How do you set the speed from the router to swtich? I just do it on the NIC from machines. Is there a way to access router/swtich speed as well?

PS Also would it be better to get managed version?

Managed switches are usually only used in enterprise equipment and are fairly large and expensive. Are you setting the speed on the PC or the router?

Setting it on each PC. I couldn't find it anywhere to set the speed on router.

Also isn't this one managed version of what I have?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A121WN6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

BTW, thank you for helping me out.

 

[kanewolf]

If auto-negotiation is failing at 1Gb, then it is quite possibly a cable problem. Try the same connection with a brand new cat5e cable. Many times a new cable will fix negotiation problems.

 

[CrzyGK]

I have this ASUS RT-N66U hooked up to my modem and one of the line is hooked up to TP-LINK TL-SG108 8-Port 10/100/1000Mbps Desktop Gigabit Steel Cased Switch. Which that switch is hooked up to my media machine.
Can I just put my media machine to 1Gb and rest to auto?

Well, since that switch in unmanaged, You'll be setting the speed from the router to the switch. The switch will auto-negotiate with anything plugged into it and there's no way to change that. So definitely set the speed to 1Gbp/s from the router to the switch.

How do you set the speed from the router to swtich? I just do it on the NIC from machines. Is there a way to access router/swtich speed as well?

PS Also would it be better to get managed version?

Managed switches are usually only used in enterprise equipment and are fairly large and expensive. Are you setting the speed on the PC or the router?

Setting it on each PC. I couldn't find it anywhere to set the speed on router.

Also isn't this one managed version of what I have?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A121WN6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

BTW, thank you for helping me out.

Well, I'll be damned. I've never come across a managed consumer-level switch. Anyway, if your getting better performance by setting your NIC to Gigabit, then, by all means, set it to Gigabit. Your not going to hurt anything. Feel free to do the same on any other device that may be in a similar situation. That is just setting the speed at which the computer communicates with the switch and won't have any negative impact on the rest of your network.

 

[chrisrichard]

If auto-negotiation is failing at 1Gb, then it is quite possibly a cable problem. Try the same connection with a brand new cat5e cable. Many times a new cable will fix negotiation problems.

Alright thank you, I'll have that written on my check off list.