Ethernet speed problem

[themadchemist]

I don't know this from personal experience, but I've heard DLink isn't very mac-friendly.

 

[alexf]

You don't need to use a crossover cable when connecting newer model macs. They are autosensing.

Really? I've recently went out of my way to find a crossover cable for this purpose when I have milllions of "normal" Ethernet laying around... Are you sure?

 

[mkrishnan]

Thanks for the very helpful explanation. What exactly do you mean by "They don't have to log into anything?" My dream would be to have all 3 (or maybe 4) Macs permanently connected, and never have to log in to one or the other to get access to the files. Yet from my understanding this is not possible with OS X, or...?

I meant they don't have to log into anything to access the external internet, because the router will already have done it. As far as being able to access each other, you should be able to do this, and maybe even with a modicum of security?

I wouldn't recommend leaving them accessible to each other without password, but you should be able to keychain the passwords so you get automatic login, but OS X sends the password for you.

Do you want to access the files from outside, on the public internet, or just one computer to the other?

 

[Les Kern]

Really? I've recently went out of my way to find a crossover cable for this purpose when I have milllions of "normal" Ethernet laying around... Are you sure?

Throw the crossover cables away. We're sure.

Speaking of cables and routers..
I use a D-Link tri-mode DI-774 as my main router, and it's been working perfectly. They even have Mac directions in the manual! But I HAVE heard of folks having issues. Sometimes we're just not sure that its the router as compared to say, the user. Tough one to call sometimes.
As for your issues, I wonder if you have Cat5 or Cat3 (8 wires versus just 4), and if the Mac is connecting at 100Bt full duplex? Check out your system profiler to see what your connection is. I guess is COULD do what you say if it's a 4-wire and connecting at half duplex. On a big network like mine it makes a HUGE difference, but on a two-CPU setup I doubt it, but it's worth a try. If it isn't that, this one has me stumped. Try another Mac on the system and see if it does the same thing. COULD be, um, a bad board too.

 

[alexf]

I tried connecting Mac to Mac and the speed was great...

I hope the router will make the network function efficiently...