<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 10:49 AM, Bobby Gill <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bobbygill@rogers.com">bobbygill@rogers.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
I've installed linux many times, it wouldn't be a problem, and the idea of turning the mythbox into a router is very interesting-- never thought of that-- and when time permits I would surely look into it. For the moment, I am glad I have the sucker up and running and all is "back to normal" hehe.<br>
<br>I do move large files over my network, so I'm wondering if gigabit would be worth it for me. What would roughly be the cost? I have one desktop and the mythbox server, and we have a couple laptops in the house (would they see any benefit via their wireless connections?).</blockquote>
</div><br><br>Gigabit won't help you on a wireless connection. But PCCard and Expresscard adapters are available for laptops if your internal network port isn't gigabit. The desktop and Mythbox could need adapters, recent motherboards come with gigabit these days. Adapters can be had reasonably cheap these days. You also need a gigabit switch, about $50. I don't recomend the plastic Netgear ones, I have 2 and both of them have decided that some ports aren't gigabit anymore. No idea why. I replaced one with a D-Link "Green Ethernet" unit and it works great. It also doesn't get as hot as the Netgear units do. I hear the metal Netgear units are better. <br>
<br>Also, you might need to upgrade your cables, depending on how long the runs are. Cat5 should work in most cases. 5e or 6 might be required on long or noisy runs. I use 5e here and it works fine. Make sure you terminate the cables properly. Follow the color code or your connections won't work at gigabit speed. <br>
<br>I have my main patch panel area served by a 5 port gigabit switch and a 24 port 100M switch. Most connections are on 100M as I'm dealing with older stuff that doesn't do gigabit. The few computers I have that can use the higher speed are connected to the 5 port and another 5 port in my office where the server resides for now. The router connects to the 100M unit, and there is a patch cord connecting the 100M and the gigabit switches so everything can talk. It sounds far more complicated typed out than it is in practice. :) <br>