Re: [Astlinux-users] Connecting topology

[Phil M. <ph...@mc...>]

> From: "Kristian Kielhofner" <kri...@gm...>
> Subject: Re: [Astlinux-users] Connecting topology
> To: "AstLinux Users Mailing List"
> 
> ...The net4801 can ROUTE at about 40 mbit/sec between interfaces.
> That's pretty good.  Chances are your Netgear can't get 
> anywhere close to that...

>From memory it can, but I'll check.

> ... However, your Netgear probably also 
> has a layer two switch built in.  Switches have ASICs to do 
> simple ethernet switching at wire speed - 100 mbit/sec.  
> Comparing the throughput of a router to a dumb switch is 
> nowhere near a fair fight...

Exactly, that's why I wondered about the choice of hardware.

> ...  Do a speed test with the Netgear routing - from the "Internet"
> interface to any port on the switch and see how fast it is...

I'm not worried about that, I know it keeps up with my 4 Mbit/s internet
connection.

> Even IF you were to bridge the ports together to act like a 
> switch, the speed would be nowhere near wire speed on your net4801:
> 
> http://facweb.cti.depaul.edu/jyu/Publications/Yu-Linux-TSM2004.pdf
> 
>   As you can see, these tests were conducted with a 1.2ghz 
> Duron processor with TWO ethernet ports.  Your 266mhz Geode 
> has seven :).

Interesting link, thanks. Actually, I'm only likely to run two ports flat
out at once (e.g. when transferring files from one PC to another).

> ...  Your best bet is to connect your internet connection to 
> eth0 and connect a switch (not a router) to eth1 and then 
> connect all of your local devices to the switch.

Including the IP phones? Like this?
            __________      ________
           |          |    |        |----IP Phone
INTERNET---| astlinux |----| Switch |----IP Phone...
           |    box   |    |        |----Computer
           |__________|    |________|----Computer ...

Phil McKerracher
www.mckerracher.net