ScoobLou

iTrader: (21)

We currently run a 10/100 switch. We have just bought new pcs with network cards capable of Gigabit.

Is it worth upgrading the Switch? Will we see a considerable difference to network performance? Sometimes users will complain of the network being slow?

Thanks.

brendy76

iTrader: (6)

Networks are nly as slow as their weakest link, usually hard drives.
Depending on what 10/100 you currently have though it could already be handicapped with low bandwidth as not all switches are made equal.
Personally Id go with a 10/100/1000 as they arnt as expensive as they used to be and you might as well ring every bit of speed out of it, you wont be blamed for not trying!.

ScoobLou

iTrader: (21)

Thank you.

Any recommendations on what to go for? Want a managed one with power save capabilities. 48 ports.

HHxx

Is you network slow as in files from your server takes an age to copy/open? Or are your users complaining about the internet speed?

If you are going managed switch, it might be standard but if it doesn't cost too much, look for link aggregation support where you can bond multiple network cards say in your server to boost lan throughput. (Assuming the server is not going to be the bottleneck here)

I only know about Cisco/Juniper but these are not worth it (IMO) for smaller businesses. I would recommend, based on talk with no practical/first hand experience, Netgear switches. Cheap, has a fair few features dependant on model and is probably the most common one I hear people talk to me about down the pub (not about their problems with the gear but with their network design).

HHxx

Forgot to say, you should monitor your network to see what is being moved across it and by whom ;-) Or at least if your switch supports it, graph the throughput of certain ports via SNMP and see if it is really running near max.