[resolved] Will a 10/100 switch speed up my internet browsing?

Stealth3si · 09-14-2005, 05:56 PM

I'm on a single LAN. Two workstations connect to a Linksys BEFSR41 v2 router. The router's WAN port is connected to the DSL modem. Of course, our ISP has given us limited dl/ul bandwidth. Both computers also have internet access using CAT5 cables and share the LAN bandwidth and ISP bandwidth. BY modifying the current setup by adding a 10/100 switch to the network, I will allow both computers to fully utilize the LAN bandwidth @ 10 or 100 mbps depending on the network cards/cables, therfore increaseing local traffic. However, I'm not quite sure the same concept applies to the WAN traffic, such as internet browsing, downloading and/or uploading. So my question is, will adding a switch improve WAN traffic for both workstations? Why or why not?

**johnwill** · 09-15-2005, 03:17 PM

Not a bit. You have a specific bandwidth from your ISP, nothing you put behind it will affect that bandwidth. I have a gigabit network behind my broadband account, but my Internet browsing isn't any faster than it used to be.

Stealth3si · 09-17-2005, 02:17 AM

How do I mark this thread as closed? The thread tools menu doesn't give me the option to close it or solve it.

**johnwill** · 09-17-2005, 10:10 AM

It's near the top, "Problem Resolved". I marked it this time.

FWIW, we have issues at times with that option, sometimes it doesn't work for me either.

09-14-2005, 05:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stealth3si Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Takoma, South Carolina Posts: 220 OS: Windows XP PRO SP3 My System	Will a 10/100 switch speed up my internet browsing? I'm on a single LAN. Two workstations connect to a Linksys BEFSR41 v2 router. The router's WAN port is connected to the DSL modem. Of course, our ISP has given us limited dl/ul bandwidth. Both computers also have internet access using CAT5 cables and share the LAN bandwidth and ISP bandwidth. BY modifying the current setup by adding a 10/100 switch to the network, I will allow both computers to fully utilize the LAN bandwidth @ 10 or 100 mbps depending on the network cards/cables, therfore increaseing local traffic. However, I'm not quite sure the same concept applies to the WAN traffic, such as internet browsing, downloading and/or uploading. So my question is, will adding a switch improve WAN traffic for both workstations? Why or why not?

09-15-2005, 03:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,654 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Not a bit. You have a specific bandwidth from your ISP, nothing you put behind it will affect that bandwidth. I have a gigabit network behind my broadband account, but my Internet browsing isn't any faster than it used to be. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

09-17-2005, 10:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,654 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	It's near the top, "Problem Resolved". I marked it this time. FWIW, we have issues at times with that option, sometimes it doesn't work for me either. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

09-17-2005, 02:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
Stealth3si Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Takoma, South Carolina Posts: 220 OS: Windows XP PRO SP3 My System	How do I mark this thread as closed? The thread tools menu doesn't give me the option to close it or solve it.