NICs' speeds

[slicardie]

Hi everyone. I have a LAN with 8 computers in it, and I have a switch that indicates me which nic is in 10 or 100MBPS. I've always wanted to know how can I change the speed of an ethernet card, and since the switch shows me which one is in 10 or 100 MBPS, I know that there is only one computer that transmits at that speed (this computer is the only one running on win98, I have one server running on NT and the other 6 are running on win95). I tried to change the speed of the nics in winipcfg and in the control panel, but I couldn't find and option that would let me to. Do I have to have a software (from the nics vendor) that would let me do this? I don't think so, because every nic I have came only with their respective drivers...

Thanks for your help.

 

[hexn]

Speeds are auto-negotiated. If a NIC can only do 10MB, then there is nothing you can do.

You can try setting the switch port to 100MB and see what happens.

 

[slicardie]

So, you can not set a NIC at the speed you want it to transmit? (is it not possible by any means??). I am asking this because I think every NIC in my LAN is capable of 10 or 100 MBPS speeds, so if one is transmitting at 100 MB, everyone of them should have that speed...

 

[hexn]

There may be a way, but if there is, it is not standardized, like you wont find it in control panel or anything. It is probably like some dipswitches on the that actual card or something.

It is easiest just set the speed on the switch port, if that is possible.

 

[jimbopalmer]

the usuual place in windows is Start> Settings> Control Panels> Networking then highlight the card and (if Possible) choose Properties. At that point it will be different for every card vendor and there is no general advice I can give. Some will not even let you select properties for their card.

It is my general observation that the cards select the fastest possible setting by default, the only purpose in choosing your own settings, is when the error rate of the 'fast' settings makes them slower than the slow settings. (a 100 meg setting with 50% errors is slower than a 10 meg card with .1% errors) I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[wybnormal]

' I think every NIC in my LAN is capable of 10 or 100 MBPS speeds, so if one is transmitting at 100 MB, everyone of them should have that speed.. '

No.. there are several variables that decide if the NIC can really get the 100 Mb link. Cable quality is a biggie. Many times I've been told by a client that the cable is *CAT5* and yet when I test it on my scanner, it fails. Can be that they were taken by a scummy cabler, old cable, pinched cable(a large bundle tied wrapped and sitting on a D ring is real common. The bottom ones get squashed) and so on. With crappy cable, there is no way you will get 100Mb even if the NIC can do it. It's possible to make it worse then 10Mb by forcing it to 100 when it can not do it. The NIC will spend all its time retransmitting the packets over and over.

MikeS
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