Mixing Cables

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cdanik

New Member
Is it ok to mix cat5 and cat 6 cables on the same network?? I ask because I am setting up a file server and would like to run a cat 6 cable for better performance, and I wont have to upgrade the cable later. But I have a lot of cat 5 cables running through the walls and would take a lot of replacing. By the way this is a home network.
 
I think its fine but your speeds would be bottlenecked when using the slower cables mixed with faster.
 
cdanik said:
Is it ok to mix cat5 and cat 6 cables on the same network?? I ask because I am setting up a file server and would like to run a cat 6 cable for better performance, and I wont have to upgrade the cable later. But I have a lot of cat 5 cables running through the walls and would take a lot of replacing. By the way this is a home network.
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I dont see why not, i have cat5 and 6 running to my router and nothing seems to happen. Especially when i have LANs, cat 5 and 6 everywhere plugged in. But it shouldnt affect anything. Hope that helped at least a LITTLE lol
 
Yes it's fine, were setting up a computer lab at a local middle school and where using Cat 6 from the wall ports to the switch, and Cat 5e from the Mac's to the wall ports.

Both can run 10/100/1000, so there shouldn't be any bottlenecking unless you plan to use 10GBASE-T when it becomes standardized.
 
Your bottle neck will be your Switch. If you can go for 1000 form server to switch and then 100 to clients that will give you a bit better connection form the clients to server as there is more bandwith but depends if the switch can keep up what make is it ?
 
sorry it took me so long to get back. My router and switch are 10/100 is it still ok to use cat 6? or will it have no effect?
 
cdanik said:
My router and switch are 10/100 is it still ok to use cat 6? or will it have no effect?
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Yes, like Omega said, you will be fine.

IMO, I don't think that you will see any real gains using cat 6 cable right now.

But Like you mentioned, it will be there for future use as things (switches, routers, etc) catch up to the cat 6 speeds.
 
Cat 6 is only for using gigabit LAN at a distance of 10M (?) or more at 250MHz. Since you have 10/100, you'll be looking for Cat 5e (which can also do gigabit).
 
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