Gigabit Ethernet switches and network adaptors.

[W Bauske]

Steve Gaudet wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> 
> > On Mon, Nov 19, 2001 at 10:00:46AM -0500, Steve Gaudet's all...
> > > Here's some of the network GIG E hardware we'd like to recommend:
> > >
> > >   AceNIC/NetGear GA620(T)/3C985B
> > >   SysKonnect
> > >   NS chipset:
> > >      Cameo           SOHO-GA2000T    SOHO-GA2500T
> > >      D-Link          DGE-500T
> > >      PureData        PDP8023Z-TG
> > >      SMC             SMC9462TX
> > >      NetGear         GA622
> >
> >
> > How do you find the performance of these NS82830 cards? Do they do
> > block interupt xfer or whatever it is for more efficient
> > xfer? How much
> > system/interupt time do they chew up?
> 
> The NS based stuff is low-end and cheap - you get what you pay for - but the
> drivers are rock solid and provide a good way to get started with GigE.
> 
> On a high enough powered box, you might even get decent throughput but it's
> at a
> cost of cycles.
> 

If you consider 57MB/sec for a $45 card bad, then the ns83820's
are a bad deal. I consider that a good buy. CPU is around
30% of a P4 1.5ghz system, both sending and receiving sides.

It would be nice if the cpu was lower but it's acceptable for what
I do. (YMMV)

Also would be nice if Gbe switches were cheaper. Latest pricing I
see is $600 for an 8 port switch, or $75/port+$45/card for $120
per connection.

Wes