full duplex port settings

[cmyers]

I am new to switching. Having intermittant connectivity with workstations on a 4400 series 48 port switch. 40 Workstations (WIN98) connected. Should the ports on the switch be set to full or half duplex? The workstation nics are 3com 10/100, 3C509B. During peak periods some machines lose net connection or will not access domain controller.

 

[jimbopalmer]

Ok this generic advice as I am not 'up' on a 4400

To the greatest extent possible, you wish to leave both the card and the switch port on autonegotiate. this is the mose reliable mode, as they can switch down in bad times.

If you need to switch either the card or the port to a fixed setting, then you MUST switch both. Auto negotiate makes horrible choices if one side won't autonegotiate.

I sometimes find that the card/port cannot go 100 on an older wire, (my wireplant dates to 1992) but 10full does work. more rarely, I find 3com PC cards were the 10 meg does not work at all, just 100, no idea why. be kind to yourself and mark these wires! one generation of Lexmark laser printers thought they could do 10/100 but would only do 10.
I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[cmyers]

Thanks for your help, Some of the ports were set to full by some of the other techs who were "learning" how the switch works. I set all to auto and things seem to much better now.