Anyone know how to verify your NIC speed in Linux? I'm using SUSE 12.3, if that makes any difference - all I want to know is that it's working at gigabit. I've had a quick google around and the ethtool's been suggested, but after trying to run I get the message that it can't be found.

HALP.

I would probably look at the led color on the switch. They are usually different colors when they are 100 or 1000.

Not all unfortunately. I have 4 gigabit routers. 2 have an extra LED for 1000mbit, the other 2 just have a single LED.

And it doesn't do green or yellow depending on the speed? That's strange!

You don't need two. You can have multiple LED chips in a single LED "bulb", and have it change colours depending on which combination is powered.

I know, I was only pointing out that 2 of my routers don't have anything to show that it's gigabit or not, and it doesn't change colour. Whereas the other two have an extra LED for gigabit connections.

Ken: it was a little bit of a let down when I bought them that I couldn't tell the difference between connections, but I know they're working at 1000 mbit so I guess it doesn't matter.

Ah, just thought the thing was built in.  :-$

I'll try that out when I'm back on the laptop, thanks.

Ken - the router's 3 floors up, I'm not sure I have the energy at the moment to make that trip. Plus I need to put the laptop on again which is going to take more energy. At present I'm trying to build up enough energy to fall asleep. :C

I know that feeling! My main switch is in my attic, I despise going up there.

Why?

Because it's a pain in the ass getting the steps down and then it's either hot as a mother up there or freezing.  And it's not filthy, but it's a little dirty.  It's just not something I enjoy doing more than once or twice a year.

System monitor will show current network speeds. ISTR it might also show up in the boot log.

Thanks Smiffy - that got me the info I need.

Ours is in our office-type room (possibly sounds more grand that it really is, just a spare room that's being decorated at the moment). It's just a pain when you're already knackered walking up loads o' stairs, sounds lazy I know, but I was falling asleep very early last night.

Actually, still haven't checked the colour of the lights on the router, but Smiffy got me the info I needed.

Don't keep us hanging here. Was it running at 1000 mbit or not?

Turns out my crappy laptop doesn't even have gigabit ethernet (couldn't remember the specs myself, so I erred on the optomistic side). :C

Still haven't been able to verify my ethernet cabling's capable of running at gig speeds though. Gonna have to wait until I've built my HTPC.

Aren't the cables fairly new? I seem to remember you posting about wiring the house up.

I'm running a gigabit network where some bits are old Cat 5 (not 5e). Speeds could probably be a little quicker but they're much faster than 100 mbit.

That's right - it /should/ be gigabit but i had to run the cable quite near some mains cable in places, so I'm hoping there's no interference. I could end up with a bathroom light scenario... I've tested the cables with a bog standard tester, so i know there's no breaks, just not what speed it'll handle.

After the bathroom light issue I'll definitely be more careful when I have my own place and run the network cable.

Aye. In a perfect world I'd have gone CAT6 STP, but I'm way too tight. As long as it's quick enough to stream media I'll be happy.

You do find out a lot about how your house is built when you take up floorboards and get inside cavities (NJ). In my case, it's all held together with sealant and caulk. Also a big job turned into a bigger one when I found the floorboards in our attic are pretty much past it, so had to replace a load of those as I went on. Made the cabling easier though.