Quick note about trying to obtain gigabit ethernet speeds.
First, make sure your switch and your nic’s are gigabit. Then make sure your cabling, ends, everything, are at least Category 5e, Category 6 is better.
Finally, if you have a network surge protector, or an APC Net8N surge protector or something similar, be advised that you may not get gigabit speed through it unless it is specifically rated for it. The APC PNET1GB is rated for it, but no other network surge protector that I am aware of.
And instead of getting just 100mbps, you may get a very slow (many retries) gigabit or an intermittent failed connection.
I use the APC PNet1GB, but with the addition of a ground wire extension and a plug in to make sure I get a good ground.
