10Base full / half or autosense problems..

[Ruffus]

Heres the story.
I have 2 windows 2000 machines networked together with a 12port managed hub inbetween them.
Each win2k pc has a dlink 10/100 base card inside it.
When i tell then cards to go into 10M full duplex mode it brings the network to a grinding halt like 30-40Kbps.
If i tell it to autosense then i can get up to 1Mbit simplex but never anything close in both directions..
Any ideas, as i really should be able to get them to work nicely at 10Base full..
Thanks for any help you can give..

[gtaylor]

Ideally if you're looking for the highest possible connection speed, use a switch rather than a hub. Hub's broadcast packets to all ports, creating a bottleneck at the hub. Switches only braodcast to the required port.

I have also never known a hub that is comfortable with full duplex connections, switches are another matter here as well. Check out reviews and get a decent switch, for 12 ports, probably about £100 - £200 would do ya.

Graeme

[BipolarBill]

Short answer:

D-Link NICs stink.

Other options:

Bad cables
Crossover cable

[Ruffus]

Thanks for the replies.
Ive tested the cables theyre ok, changed the network cards for some Allied Tellysyn cards, and still no joy..
Anyone.?

[Midknyte]

I'm pretty sure you need a new switch. that hub is what's holding you back. Hubs don't do duplex, as I recall. As GTaylor said, hubs will spread the data to all ports on the hub. switches can direct data between 2 ports. in a hub, you are splitting the bandwidth with all the other clients. if you have a 12 port that is full, you are getting 1/12 of the available bandwidth. This is a generalization, but that's basically how it works. a switch will give you dedicated bandwidth between the communicating clients. if there is 1 client talking to another, they will get the full speed.:D

[Ruffus]

Ok peeps thanks for the replies..
New difference between hubs & switches, etc, just didnt realise hubs dont do full duplex..
Ok never mind, thanks for your help..
Bye for now

[gtaylor]

Try an Allied Telesyn AT-FS708, an 8 port switch which handles it well, and costs under £60 from our supplier (microwarehouse). Let me know how you get on.

Graeme