Does multiple switches divide the speed of internet connection...?

R

rokindotnish

Contributor
Hello...!

I have a doubt/

say a switch(1) has 4 ports, and 3 ports are used by 3 systems, and the 4th port is connected to another switch(2) , which is connected to another set of systems... does the second switch system user get half the speed than the first switch user....?
 
Since, these are "switches", all the "systems" can send and receive data among each other upto the full capacity of the link (100 mbps, 1 Gbps, etc.)

However, if there is just one internet connection, and all the above mentioned systems are sharing it, then the bandwidth of the internet connection would be divided among the systems.
 
@ boogeyman : the connection would be divided among the systems, right....? so the second switch (which takes connection from the first switch) doesn't get a slower connection than first switch, but the connection gets shared among the total number of systems.... ( ie, switch 1 + switch 2)
 
@rokindotnish
I'll try to re-phrase the question as I understood it.
correct me if I am wrong.

connections are as follows.
Switch 1 (4 Ports)
Port 1: PC-1
Port 2: PC-2
Port 3: PC-3
Port 4: Switch 2 (4 Ports)

Switch 2
Port 1: PC-4
Port 2: PC-5
Port 3: PC-6
Port 4: PC-7​
suppose all switches have a capacity 100mbps and and all PCs are capable of handling 100mbps each. If the total bandwidth available is 10mbps and all PCs are trying to access it to their maximum capacity, which of the following cases is true?

case 1:
Switch 1 (10 mbps)
Port 1: PC-1(10/4 mbps)
Port 2: PC-2(10/4 mbps)
Port 3: PC-3(10/4 mbps)
Port 4: Switch 2(10/4 mbps)

Switch 2
Port 1: PC-4(10/16 mbps)
Port 2: PC-5(10/16 mbps)
Port 3: PC-6(10/16 mbps)
Port 4: PC-7(10/16 mbps)​
Click to expand...

case 2:
Switch 1 (10 mbps)
Port 1: PC-1(10/7 mbps)
Port 2: PC-2(10/7 mbps)
Port 3: PC-3(10/7 mbps)
Port 4: Switch 2(????)

Switch 2
Port 1: PC-4(10/7 mbps)
Port 2: PC-5(10/7 mbps)
Port 3: PC-6(10/7 mbps)
Port 4: PC-7(10/7 mbps)​
Click to expand...

are the switches programmable such that they shape the bandwidth of individual ports depending on whether another switch is connected or a PC?
 
Can you post a basic diagram? Also, what exactly are you trying to accomplish? Maybe we can suggest a different/optimal solution.
 
@boogeyman,

I am just expanding the OPs question. Not looking for any practical solution.

suppose I have to connect 7 PCs as in my example above with 2 4-port switches, what would be the way forward? I know that an 8-port switch will be a much better option but need an answer for networking if I am using multiple switches.

@OP sorry for hijacking your thread. I hope this is not OT.
 
pr0ing said:
@boogeyman,

I am just expanding the OPs question. Not looking for any practical solution.

suppose I have to connect 7 PCs as in my example above with 2 4-port switches, what would be the way forward? I know that an 8-port switch will be a much better option but need an answer for networking if I am using multiple switches.

@OP sorry for hijacking your thread. I hope this is not OT.
Click to expand...
Ok sorry I didn't read your post (it looked too complicated :D) and was just replying to the OP.

Consider that the 10 mbps internet connection is not present. Since this is a "switch", all ports should get 100 mbps, at full transfer. It all depends on the switch backplane (the logic board inside). Like suppose you have switch-1 with PC's 1 through 4. Each one of those ports will be able to transfer at 100 mbps, provided, that the backplane can support 400 mbps. High quality vendors like Cisco, provide such high speed backplanes.

Now, coming to your question. You haven't accounted for the additional port needed on Switch-2. A total of only 6 ports will be available for 2x4-port switches.

The 10 mbps link will be shared equally among all the 6 hosts, since the maximum needed on port-4 of switch1 (10/6 x 3 = 5 mbps) doesn't exceed per-port speed (100 mbps). This is also assuming that the network connection of each PC to the switches is exactly same, and they can "pull" the same amount of data per second. So, case 2 is the answer albeit with 10/6 mbps. Hope that helps :)
 
well, thank you all....!

@pr0ing : yes case 2 is my question....

thanksssss

:)

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

@boogeyman : we stay in a hostel of say around 300 inmates.... we have a connection coming from college, and everyone is using it... ;) we don't know where the connection starts... its like a lan network here, ( we can access any computer in the hostel which is connected ) so, we wanted to know : if we take a connection from the nearest available switch, does it affect the speed... :)
 
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