Ethernet Network Splitter?

[DekHog]

OK, so a customer wanted another network point in the office, and there is absolutely no way of running another cable. I bought one of these to split an existing wall connection, but it turns out that one of the PC's it's to connect to has a Gigabit network card in it. (the network splitter splits the standard 8 wire connection into two sets of four at each end).

No problem to fit a 10/100 NIC in the PC which would sort out the office end, but will the Gigabit switch still handle the connection at the other end OK with a a 4 wire (10/100) connection to it rather than a full 8 wire (Gigabit) connection?

 

[neil_g]

The gigabit should auto negotiate down to 100 if required, or set it manually.

Can't see why that's a problem though?

 

[neil_g]

Or you could just put a small switch on the end of the cable to allow 2 to connect to the wall plate.

 

[DekHog]

Can't see why that's a problem though?

I wasn't sure if it would work with a 4 wire connection.... but if it dumbs down to 10/100 that's fine...

Or you could just put a small switch on the end of the cable to allow 2 to connect to the wall plate.

..but that means they can't use both connections at the same time, hence needing to split it at the switch end as well..... you can't get two IP addresses from one switch connection, can you?

How did I guess you'd be the first to answer this, Neil? lol

 

[neil_g]

I'm still a little confused though, 2 pair cable is 10mbps.

Either way I'd go down the small switch route rather than the splitter to be honest.

 

[DekHog]

Ah, you mean a 4 port switch at the wall socket? Got ya now.... that would probably be easier if it works OK.... means they could have more than one extra connection then....

 

[Graham_P_Clarke]

Thats the way I would do it too, splitters can be very unreliable.

 

[Ploddles]

The prices of 4 port switches nowadays make it a 'no brainer' really.

 

[neil_g]

yeah use a switch, the way im looking at it (with less beer in me lol) is that the splitter will drop it to a 10baseT link (i.e. 10mbps) which will be aweful.

 

[mid_gen]

You'll probably have problems trying to run two sets of 100m ethernet over the same cable, and gigabit would be a definite no no. Cheap switch/hub will do the job.