Ethernet questions

[john-o]

I finally got my new 8-port gigabit switch installed last night. Took awhile to get things all squared away, since I swapped my two wireless routers out so that the more reliable Buffalo became the primary and the SMC (with built-in print server) became secondary. I didn't finally get the print server working correctly again until this afternoon.

I have a rev.2 PowerMac G5/2GHz dually, a 20" 'USB2' igloo iMac, a PBook G4 Al 1.5GHz and an old Cube that runs headless as a fileserver. I'm not seeing the gigabit light on the Cube or the iMac, for some reason. I don't recall if the Cube did gigabit, but I know the iMac should. Is there something esoteric I should be doing to kick start it? I know I've read things about 'enabling full duplex' or some such verbage, that was in relation to this. Suggestions? BTW, I made new CAT5e cables for everything before putting the new setup into action, so that shouldn't be the problem...

Also, I now have a variety of old enet cables that are mostly CAT5, but I found one that I think says CAT3 and only seems to have four wires (two pair). Is that beast worthless or what? I suppose it would serve some PC user in need of a crossover cable maybe?

Thanks in advance for any tips or hints regarding getting gigabit working with all of the machines.

John-o

[Pat]

Only 10/100 on the igloo:

http://support.apple.com/specs/imac/iMac_USB_2_0.html

[mikebw]

Cat3 is no good for gigabit, since it requires 8 conductors. If you were interested in installing new phone jacks in your home though you could use that same wire and run up to 2 separate lines on it. Just an idea.

[mattkime]

as mikebw says - cat 3 is best used as two phone lines.

[john-o]

I realize the CAT3 is not going to do gigabit; as I said above, it was one of the cables left behind after swapping everything on my network out with CAT5e. I was just curious if the CAT3 had some use I was unaware of, like the phone idea. Not needing that though, it's going in the trash...

Bummer about the igloo. Same must go for the Cube then, eh?

Oh well, no biggie…

Thanks all,
John-o

[mikebw]

You may be able to recycle or give away the Cat3 to save it from the landfill, if you are so inclined.

[The Grim Ninja]

The CAT3 cable will work just fine for 10/100 speeds on low runs. It's probably smaller diameter or at least more flexible, too. Good to keep around for a quick patch cable, which is why I keep a length around.

[Gareth]

Gigabit was a BTO option on the Cube, and a very rare option at that.

[mikebw]

Really? I have not ever heard of that before. Curious...

[quote Gareth]Gigabit was a BTO option on the Cube, and a very rare option at that.

[morlock]

I may be wrong, but I think cat 3 will only do 10mbps, not 100 or 1000(giga)