2nd NIC on G5

[Sven]

I am using artnet to control 3 Catalyst servers. In addition I need to access the content drives on the servers via Gigabit Ethernet (constantly). As Artnet runs at 10t it would drag the speed down across the network. I would like to install a 2nd NIC for the pupose of running a Gigabit network alongside the Artnet network. How does Catalyst behave when a 2nd NIC is installed? Is there a NIC which is preferable?

Any help and advice is much appreciated

Thanks,
Sven

PS.: this post ended up in pixelmad tech question by mistake earlier

[samsc]

you have to use a gigabit switch which is also 10bt compatible,

on an ethernet switch each port runs at its own data rate, and the data is buffered.

[samsc]

i have this netgear 5 port gigabit switch which i have used without any problems,

http://www.netgear.com/products/details/GS105.php

there have been reports of problems with other gigabit switches, but these are from several years ago.

[Mr_P]

So does this mean that if the MAC internal network card is set to 1G, under the network setup last tab - and a 1G switch is used, then the whole network will run at 1G?

What happens about Artnet wanting to run at 10M? - will the switch automatically compensate?

Essentially we need the ability to move large files over a small network of catalyst servers using 1G speed, but also maintain the Art-Net control of the servers.

- Do I assume that a 2nd 1G network card is not needed? - and it's simply a case of changing the network settings to force 1G in conjunction with a 1G switch

Cheers

Simon

[samsc]

the switch will run the artnet port at 10bt, and the rest of the network will run at gigabit speeds.

the switch will convert the artnet data from the 10bt port to gigabit

the network will not be slowed down by the 10bt connection on one port of the gigabit switch.

[Mr_P]

I understand now - so the only 10bt port will be the dmx-arnet converter port

- all the others will run at 1G, therefore files will still be able to travel between each connected MAC at 1G at the same time as they are receiving ArtNet data....

therfore no need for 2nd 1G network cards in the macs - it can all happen via the inbuilt port (which supports 1G) along with the 1G switch we;re using....

thanks for that! - it;s all clear now......

[samsc]

yes.

There might be manufacturers differences in how data is buffered in the switch, and how fast the switch actually works, but ethernet links do not change speed dynamically. ( they can auto-detect the speed of the connection - but once connected they do not switch speeds to accomodate different speed links on the switch. )

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec.../secmod40.mspx

a single chip design might look something like this.

http://edevice.fujitsu.com/fj/MARCOM...-4e/pdf/36.pdf

this is a manufacturers ethernet chip datasheet

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...docs/22925.pdf

[Mr_P]

Cheers - that's been really helpfull....

Just put up another query about the 'tech info' screens too....

Cheers

Simon