[olug] Full Duplex - NIC

Obi-Wan obiwan at jedi.com
Wed Feb 3 21:20:46 UTC 2010


> In order to properly force a particular speed and/or duplex (say,
> 100-Full) on a particular link, you need to set it on both link partners
> - in this case, the the server and the switch it's connected to. If you
> set one side but not the other you will cause a duplex mismatch.

That's correct.  If you force an interface to particular settings
instead of setting it to autonegotiate, then it won't bother announcing
or negotiating its settings at all, and will instead just blindly
assume that the other end has also been set to those same settings.
If the other end has not been forced to those same settings (as when
you've left it autonegotiate), then you'll have all sorts of network
problems.

Always leave your NICs set to autonegotiate unless you really know
what you're doing and have a compelling reason to do otherwise.

BTDT.

-- 
Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth                             obiwan at jedi.com
   The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the
     Giver of all good things, so if I stand, let me stand on the
       promise that You will pull me through.  -- Rich Mullins



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