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Networking question


G+_K Branch jr
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Networking question

Do u need cat6 if your only getting 100Mbps and when do u need Business class set up

I'm going to have at less

6 work-stations

4 game station

Low-budget studio

Quality Assurance hacker lab (k Linux

Maker space/mechanic workshop

Linux server / openNas

Three security cameras

IPphone/Skype

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No, you don't, but there isn't a big difference in price between Cat5e and Cat6 at this point. If you have some old cable lying around, that's fine, but I would stick with Cat6 if you're buying new cable.

 

Business class generally adds:

Somewhat better support options

No bandwidth caps or throttling

Option for a static IP address

Option to open ports that are normally blocked (usually requires a static IP address)

 

It's mainly about how you're actually using the service, not what's connected to it.

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Cat 5e vs. Cat 6 is about your internal network, not what speed you're getting from your ISP. That is, you have multiple computers networked, what transfer speed do you want between them? If you want the fastest transfer rate, go with Cat 6.

 

As for Business class Internet service, one advantage of that is that you can buy faster upload speeds. That is, with Consumer grade service, you may "only" (as you say) be getting 100 Mbps download, but what is your upload speed? 20 Mbps? 40 ? With Business class you should be able to buy 100 down/ 100 up (depending on what your ISP offers). The upload speed might be important to you depending on what you plan to do with your computers. You have gaming computers, are you doing online, multiplayer gaming? You will want fast download and upload speeds for that.

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Cat 5e can support up to 5Gb depending on the run length, qualify of cable, and of course the interfaces at each end point.

 

As for do you need more bandwidth, that something you need to determine. On your router, see how much I/O is going out to the internet. How much traffic is being routed through the router but is staying internal? Are you dropping packets even before you hit full capacity? Is it CPU/RAM bound? These are the questions you need to ask yourself if a router upgrade is really needed.

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