Some background info: New house with cat6 wiring, about 12 ethernet ports throughout, very techy family so looking at a gigabit setup. We're probably going to end up with a basic cable high speed internet, but still want high speed lan transfers (1gb/s). I plan to get a basic router, then a 12 or 16 port gigabit switch, with the switch connected to the router. My question is: If I want gigabit LAN, does that switch AND router need to be the 10/100/1000 speed, or if the switch is 10/100/1000 and the router is just 10/100, will i still get the gigabit speed? Hope that makes sense, Brett

Should just need the 10/100/1000 switch. The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.

You didn't mention anything about the NIC's in the computers. They need to be 10/100/1000 to take advantage of the gigabit LAN "speed". Going to gigabit on the LAN won't effect/increase the Internet connection.

Hi, As you need gigabit LAN speed you can use a giga bit switch keeping 10/100 router there is no problem you will get gigabit LAN speed but your internet link is slow you cannot browse or download fastly.you can use a layer 3(cisco-3750) switch as your router and switch.If you allready have a router then go for gigabit switch(cisco-2960G). your NIC's should support gigabit speed.

I wouldn't spend the $$$ on a Cisco L3 switch. If I had the $$$ to spare I still wouldn't as you'd find a Nortel Baystack 5510 much easier to configure. (NOTE: that's just one of the many enterprise level switches available that are much easier to configure than Cisco's, there are many many other brands, that just happens to be my favorite. I've worked with numerous different brands including Cisco and even if I were as rich as Bill Gates, you wouldn't find a single Cisco piece of equipment in my house. Obviously the previous poster has taken some Cisco training and hasn't worked with anything else ...that or he/she works for Cisco.) Regardless, no L3 switch provides a firewall which a SOHO router will so one of those combined with a 1000 Mbps switch is your best solution. Providing all clients are plugged into the switch and have 1000 Mbps NIC's, your LAN will run at 1000 Mbps. It's also worth noting, in a small environment like yours, you have no need for a managed switch so don't bother spending the extra $$$ on a managed switch.

Why would you spend the money on a 10/100/1000 router any way, user wants fast lan speed. Even if he does have a 10/100/1000 router it is a guarantee that he/she is not going to notice the difference to the internet. As for cisco, I wouldn't purchase one for my house, but work with several at work and they are expensive but very reliable. The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.