Gigabit switch

Hello Folks,

I'm setting up two new servers on our network.One will be a terminal server
for SQL, the other will hold the SQL database. We have cat5e cabling,100mbit
switches now. A friend suggested hooking the two new servers and the DC to a
gigbit switch (he calls it a backplane), then uplink that
to my 100mbit 3coms. So even though all the clients are still
on 100mbit, he says having just the servers tied to this gigabit switch will
be beneficial. I don't really get the concept. Can someone explain
please,Thanks ,Adysthemic

"Adysthemic" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello Folks,
>
> I'm setting up two new servers on our network.One will be a terminal server
> for SQL, the other will hold the SQL database. We have cat5e cabling,100mbit
> switches now. A friend suggested hooking the two new servers and the DC to a
> gigbit switch (he calls it a backplane),

It is not really a "backplane". The backplane is the internal part of the
switch used to interconnect all the switches ports. Traffic going into a switch
port crosses the backplane to get to the next port that it is going to go out
of. So it doesn't really apply to what he is saying. The correct term would
probably be "backbone" which is the Layer2 network segment between the switches
themselves which may also include LAN Routers. It is synonymous, or at least
overlaps, with what is known as the "switch fabric". There are no "computers"
on a properly designed "backbone".

> to my 100mbit 3coms. So even though all the clients are still
> on 100mbit, he says having just the servers tied to this gigabit switch will
> be beneficial. I don't really get the concept.

There is nothing wrong with doing that, and is generally a good thing to do if
you have the money to do it. But there is no measurable benefit unless there is
a lot of traffic moving directly between the servers themselves, and I don't
see that happening there. It doesn't make much different between Clients and
Servers.

Terminal Servers are "low traffic" because it is just screen updates,..that's
why they are great over slow links. The DCs are always "busy" but it is not a
heavy load,...it is a low or medium load although it is somewhat constant,...so
being "busy" doesn't always mean "heavy", it depends on what the content of the
traffic really is. The SQL Server has the potential to create a lot of heavy
traffic,..but that depends on the nature of the Application using the data and
where the Application is physically located which determines the physical path
the data has to take.

Also keep in mind that a Gigabit link that is "acting up" due to a problem can
end up being slower than a 100mbps link that is functioning properly.

--
Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed (as annoying as they are, and as stupid as they sound), are
my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft, or anyone else associated
with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------
Understanding the ISA 2004 Access Rule Processing
http://www.isaserver.org/articles/IS...cessRules.html

Troubleshooting Client Authentication on Access Rules in ISA Server 2004
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...7/ts_rules.doc

Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Partners
http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/partners/default.asp
-----------------------------------------------------

"Phillip Windell" <@.> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Adysthemic" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hello Folks,
> >
> > I'm setting up two new servers on our network.One will be a terminal
server
> > for SQL, the other will hold the SQL database. We have cat5e
cabling,100mbit
> > switches now. A friend suggested hooking the two new servers and the DC
to a
> > gigbit switch (he calls it a backplane),
>
> It is not really a "backplane". The backplane is the internal part of the
> switch used to interconnect all the switches ports. Traffic going into a
switch
> port crosses the backplane to get to the next port that it is going to go
out
> of. So it doesn't really apply to what he is saying. The correct term
would
> probably be "backbone" which is the Layer2 network segment between the
switches
> themselves which may also include LAN Routers. It is synonymous, or at
least
> overlaps, with what is known as the "switch fabric". There are no
"computers"
> on a properly designed "backbone".
>
> > to my 100mbit 3coms. So even though all the clients are still
> > on 100mbit, he says having just the servers tied to this gigabit switch
will
> > be beneficial. I don't really get the concept.
>
> There is nothing wrong with doing that, and is generally a good thing to
do if
> you have the money to do it. But there is no measurable benefit unless
there is
> a lot of traffic moving directly between the servers themselves, and I
don't
> see that happening there. It doesn't make much different between Clients
and
> Servers.
>
> Terminal Servers are "low traffic" because it is just screen
updates,..that's
> why they are great over slow links. The DCs are always "busy" but it is
not a
> heavy load,...it is a low or medium load although it is somewhat
constant,...so
> being "busy" doesn't always mean "heavy", it depends on what the content
of the
> traffic really is. The SQL Server has the potential to create a lot of
heavy
> traffic,..but that depends on the nature of the Application using the data
and
> where the Application is physically located which determines the physical
path
> the data has to take.
>
> Also keep in mind that a Gigabit link that is "acting up" due to a problem
can
> end up being slower than a 100mbps link that is functioning properly.
>
> --
> Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
> www.wandtv.com
>
> The views expressed (as annoying as they are, and as stupid as they
sound), are
> my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft, or anyone else
associated
> with me, including my cats.
> -----------------------------------------------------
> Understanding the ISA 2004 Access Rule Processing
> http://www.isaserver.org/articles/IS...cessRules.html
>
> Troubleshooting Client Authentication on Access Rules in ISA Server 2004
>
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...7/ts_rules.doc
>
> Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Partners
> http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/partners/default.asp
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
>

Phillip,
Thank you.Your explanation reflected my intuition when the consultant was
"explaining" it. I'm self taught. As a result, on occasion I hire
consultants. I know that NO single person
knows it all, no matter how much you pay. This person has knowledge in more
than a few areas I do not. When semantics in an area I know a bit about
aren't quite correct it disturbs me, I just don't know how much I can trust
their opinions after a certain point. I "caught" him in a couple situations
similar to this. He does have an agenda, as he also
consults for the company that writes our practice managment software. Geez
who do you trust nowdays? Thanks for the knowledge,Adythemic

"Adysthemic" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thank you.Your explanation reflected my intuition when the consultant was
> "explaining" it. I'm self taught. As a result, on occasion I hire
> consultants. I know that NO single person
> knows it all, no matter how much you pay. This person has knowledge in more
> than a few areas I do not. When semantics in an area I know a bit about
> aren't quite correct it disturbs me, I just don't know how much I can trust
> their opinions after a certain point. I "caught" him in a couple situations
> similar to this. He does have an agenda, as he also
> consults for the company that writes our practice managment software. Geez
> who do you trust nowdays? Thanks for the knowledge,Adythemic

Keep thinking like that and you will be fine :-)

I don't know that he was trying to mislead,...probably wasn't. The whole IT
industry (in my opinion) is in the midst of a "terminology crisis" brought on
largely by the explosion of the Home User market. It is saturated with the
misuse and abuse of terminology. Although I don't claim to be always right
myself,..sometimes in these newgroups I am a bit like the "English Teacher from
Hell" because I believe firmly that "words mean things" and if the correct terms
aren't used it becomes chaos.

--
Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed (as annoying as they are, and as stupid as they sound), are
my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft, or anyone else associated
with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------