Ethernet Throughput

[xTheOlahx]

My question is about throughput through Ethernet. Say theoretically I have my main internet coming in off my modem then off to my router. My modem is only 10/100 Mbps. My Router is 10/100/1000 Mbps. So the next run that would be coming off from my router would be going somewhere in the house and then where that cable is terminated there is a gigabit switch introduced. From the switch goes off to 2 computers.

So I guess the best way that I can think of to word this is, is there really going to be any performance loss of two computers running from a switch up to the main line to the router vs. running an individual cable to each device from the router? Given I understand that with the switch will add latency. But if the modem will originally only have a max of 100 Mbps and the line from the router to switch is running at gigabit speeds and this is not doing LAN transfers, that would mean that theoretically the line from the router to switch wouldn't induce a speed drop because the modem is the weakest part of the whole system because its only at 100 Mbps (not including the actual internet speed just throughput of the lines)?

[Broseephus]

I'm not following you. It sounds like you have a router with 4 gigabit lan ports connecting to a switch with gigabit ports. Then the PC's connect to the switch?

Just make a diagram in paint real quick X's and O's.

[Denned]

Not sure if I understand it. Buut.. If the computers are connected through the router, then they'd be able to reach whatever speed it's theoreticly certified to be using, which in your example is 1G? This is because your router is handling the packet switching on the LAN.. From your router to your modem and beyond, you'd be limited to 100mbps.

[rufee]

You will not see any performance drop when using the switch for a few devices.

[xTheOlahx]

Thank you for the replys that is what i thought. Basicly my setup consists of:

100 Mbps modem then goes to a gigabit router with 4 gigabit ports, and then from there i have a computer off it and then i have a line running down to my basement and then that is what has the switch on it with two computers.

What I had originally thought then was correct that the limitation on throughput was from the slowest device and that having multiple computers connected through one switch really wouldn't make a difference for internet speeds because the modem is still the slowest out of the whole chain.

[rufee]

Don't forget LAN and WAN are separate, even though your WAN throughput is 100 your LAN still operates at 1000.

As long as a point to point 1000 connection can be made they will work at 1000, if one device is only 100 and the other is 1000 it will dial itself down to 100, but the rest of the network is still 1000.

[P3rad0X]

What are you planning to do on the network?

And what are your internet Download and upload speeds ?