[SOLVED] Subnets and a Switch

removed111108e · 07-09-2007, 02:39 PM

I admin three different companies all under one roof sharing a T2 line thru a firewall/router that runs at GigBit speeed and then hits 4 different switches each from their own port on the router/firewall they all are 24 port switches at gigbit speed. I have switch 1 running server critical stuff for the company i work for. switch 2 runs the buisness servers for the compnay i work for. switch 3 is for another company altogether. and switch 4 is for the third and final company in the building.

My question is this. Would i be better off subnetting a segment for each company to improve network speeds and efficinecy that way requests arent made across the whole network? Or since I have them physically all seperated by switches are the requests staying inside the switch since most requests are made to computers on the same switch segments and therefore no need to subnet based on the physical connection nature of the network?

Thanks for any help!

**kinbard** · 07-09-2007, 03:26 PM

I don't really see a reason to subnet with this setup. It would seem it is currently set up optimal.

**johnwill** · 07-10-2007, 11:11 AM

I think I agree, I fail to see how that would improve your speed.

removed111108e · 07-10-2007, 07:53 PM

My logic went somthin like this. If packets on a LAN are broadcast across the LAN to all hosts until it finds the host that the packet was destined for, that would create unnecesary traffic when multiple hosts are broadcasting at once therefore I would subnet; that way only the hosts who need to talk to each other can live on the same subnets and not broadcast across the whole LAN. But then I wondered does the packet even make it out of the switch, since I setup the network so that hosts who need to talk to each other are physically on the same switch?

Its not so much about gaining speed its more about the efficency of the network.

My network knowledge is limited to what I can figure out from the net I have no formal training, so forgive me if this seems stupid.

**kinbard** · 07-11-2007, 07:56 AM

The question isn't stupid. Sorry if it came across that way. Sometimes we are working a lot of threads at once, many of us while at work, so to keep up we have to keep things short and sweet. I can see your reasoning behind what you asked, but I don't really see that it would help your current setup. Even if you subnet they are still going to broadcast outside of the subnet to reach those destinations outside of the subnet, so in essence you will have the same situation, maybe even a slowdown. If you are not experiencing latency, keep it the way it is.

removed111108e · 07-11-2007, 10:54 AM

Oh no, I wasnt saying any of your answers were rude or anything, it was the fact that i kept pushing the issue. I appreciate the input from the members greatly.

No Im not experienceing any lag or sluggishness on the network, Im just always looking for room to improve things and had come up with this theory in my head about subnets; but didnt know if it was practical. Thanks for all your help, you guys answered my questions and we can mark this thread as closed.

**kinbard** · 07-11-2007, 10:56 AM

Glad to be of service! Enjoy your time here.

07-09-2007, 02:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
removed111108e Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 14 OS: OSX	[SOLVED] Subnets and a Switch I admin three different companies all under one roof sharing a T2 line thru a firewall/router that runs at GigBit speeed and then hits 4 different switches each from their own port on the router/firewall they all are 24 port switches at gigbit speed. I have switch 1 running server critical stuff for the company i work for. switch 2 runs the buisness servers for the compnay i work for. switch 3 is for another company altogether. and switch 4 is for the third and final company in the building. My question is this. Would i be better off subnetting a segment for each company to improve network speeds and efficinecy that way requests arent made across the whole network? Or since I have them physically all seperated by switches are the requests staying inside the switch since most requests are made to computers on the same switch segments and therefore no need to subnet based on the physical connection nature of the network? Thanks for any help!

07-09-2007, 03:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
kinbard TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,459 OS: Experimenter	Re: Subnets and a Switch I don't really see a reason to subnet with this setup. It would seem it is currently set up optimal. __________________ Half viking, half pirate, stronger than both XP Repair Malware Removal Vista Repair Downgrade Vista

07-10-2007, 11:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,921 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Subnets and a Switch I think I agree, I fail to see how that would improve your speed. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-10-2007, 07:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
removed111108e Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 14 OS: OSX	Re: Subnets and a Switch My logic went somthin like this. If packets on a LAN are broadcast across the LAN to all hosts until it finds the host that the packet was destined for, that would create unnecesary traffic when multiple hosts are broadcasting at once therefore I would subnet; that way only the hosts who need to talk to each other can live on the same subnets and not broadcast across the whole LAN. But then I wondered does the packet even make it out of the switch, since I setup the network so that hosts who need to talk to each other are physically on the same switch? Its not so much about gaining speed its more about the efficency of the network. My network knowledge is limited to what I can figure out from the net I have no formal training, so forgive me if this seems stupid. Last edited by removed111108e; 07-10-2007 at 07:58 PM.

07-11-2007, 07:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
kinbard TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,459 OS: Experimenter	Re: Subnets and a Switch The question isn't stupid. Sorry if it came across that way. Sometimes we are working a lot of threads at once, many of us while at work, so to keep up we have to keep things short and sweet. I can see your reasoning behind what you asked, but I don't really see that it would help your current setup. Even if you subnet they are still going to broadcast outside of the subnet to reach those destinations outside of the subnet, so in essence you will have the same situation, maybe even a slowdown. If you are not experiencing latency, keep it the way it is. __________________ Half viking, half pirate, stronger than both XP Repair Malware Removal Vista Repair Downgrade Vista

07-11-2007, 10:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
removed111108e Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 14 OS: OSX	Re: Subnets and a Switch Oh no, I wasnt saying any of your answers were rude or anything, it was the fact that i kept pushing the issue. I appreciate the input from the members greatly. No Im not experienceing any lag or sluggishness on the network, Im just always looking for room to improve things and had come up with this theory in my head about subnets; but didnt know if it was practical. Thanks for all your help, you guys answered my questions and we can mark this thread as closed.

07-11-2007, 10:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
kinbard TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,459 OS: Experimenter	Re: Subnets and a Switch Glad to be of service! Enjoy your time here. __________________ Half viking, half pirate, stronger than both XP Repair Malware Removal Vista Repair Downgrade Vista