Network connectivity

[CCS]

I should know this, but....

For render farm purposes, should I be looking at a router, switch or hub? I have a couple of routers daisy-chained right now. I want the fastest, most-efficient, and cheapest solution.

[czoog]

Re: Network connectivity

I should know this, but....

For render farm purposes, should I be looking at a router, switch or hub? I have a couple of routers daisy-chained right now. I want the fastest, most-efficient, and cheapest solution.

You want a switch, get a managed one if you can afford it. Also I would go with gigabit.

[jujubee]

A switch is way to go as this this allows information to be traveling two directions at same time. Traditional hubs did not allow this and were only one way. Routers are for connecting to the Internet and some come with built-in switches.

I do recommend gigabit switches especially for tasks such as network rendering - although for older computer systems you may have to upgrade the 10/100 network cards to 10/100/1000 ($20?). Also, there are newer networking cables (I forget the number/letter designation - 5E?) which allow accurate gigabit transmission.

[Syclone1]

I agree, a gigabit switch will improve network traffic as well as either cat5e or cat6 cableing. Im just running a couple cheep d-link gigabit switches here on cat5e and cat6 cables and love it...

-dave

[DaForce]

Yeah definitly get a switch.. preferable gigabit, and make sure your computers have gigabit network cards.
A managed switch would be good, but i dont think it would be worth the extra cost if your just using it to link a few machines up.

Get cat6 preferably to make sure you get the fastests speeds possible

[siliconbauhaus]

a couple of soup cans and some string work just as well mate ;P