Firewire LAN or 1000mbps

I need the best speed I can between 3 PC's

There are 9 on my network, all connected by a Compaq Managed 24 Port
Switch, But I want to conenct my main PC, fileserver and pdc faster than
100mbps. I got a Fibre module with my switch, so I accuquired some Fibre
PCI cards, but if im correct they only go to 200mbps anyway. (Is that right)

So then I looked at Firewire. I was going to connect my PC and
Fileserver together using Firewire, still connected to the LAN so that
all PCs can see each other, but the two PCs connect directly via
FireWire and the Metric distant is 1, so would route there before going
to the switch, but I just can't get it to work, if someone has the time
to help me through this that would be great.

The Fileserver is running Windows 2003 Server, which I believe runs the
same as XP regarding Networking Firewire.

But I dont think this helps with want the 3 PC's joined, and the only
other option is Gigabit. I have found a few PCI cards that now support
2003 so am I best of having the 3 PC's link together using Gigabit and
the uplinked to the 24 Port Switch for the rest of the next work.

The rest of the network doesn't make much traffic at all, so won't give
me a problem as the Fileserver, and PDC are behind a single 100mbps
cable to the 100mbps switch.

Thanks for any info.

"Paul Goodyear" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:xkWCc.2546$(E-Mail Removed)...

" But I dont think this helps with want the 3 PC's joined, and the only
other option is Gigabit. I have found a few PCI cards that now support 2003
so am I best of having the 3 PC's link together using Gigabit and the
uplinked to the 24 Port Switch for the rest of the next work. "


'IP over 1934' will only give you 400MBps at the moment, so if I were you, I
would change your existing switch for a Gigabit switch. It'll be compatible
with your existing 10/100MBps network, and it will be easier to fully
upgrade to 1000MBps in the future, if necessary.

http://www.homenethelp.com/network/
http://www.homenethelp.com/network/firewire.asp
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/expla...t-ethernet.asp

I'm not going to upgrade all as 24 Port Gigabit Switchs are still too pricy.

I have found a suitable 4 Port Gigabit switch at a resonable price, with
one 3Com PCI 10/100/1000mbps card for the Windows 2003 box and two
cheaper 10/100/1000mbps PCI cards for the XP boxes.

there are 4 main PCs that get used. PDC, Fileserver, My PC and the
router, and simce there is only 512kb internet coming from the router,
that will be fine on the 100mb switch.

Cuzman wrote:

> "Paul Goodyear" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:xkWCc.2546$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> " But I dont think this helps with want the 3 PC's joined, and the only
> other option is Gigabit. I have found a few PCI cards that now support 2003
> so am I best of having the 3 PC's link together using Gigabit and the
> uplinked to the 24 Port Switch for the rest of the next work. "
>
>
> 'IP over 1934' will only give you 400MBps at the moment, so if I were you, I
> would change your existing switch for a Gigabit switch. It'll be compatible
> with your existing 10/100MBps network, and it will be easier to fully
> upgrade to 1000MBps in the future, if necessary.
>
> http://www.homenethelp.com/network/
> http://www.homenethelp.com/network/firewire.asp
> http://www.homenethelp.com/web/expla...t-ethernet.asp
>
>