Far away switches. Internet connection problem.

[JC00]

We have been having problems with the Internet connection in our Internet cafe setup. This is the setup:

Internet(modem) > Router(Pfsense) > Switch (24 port des-1024) > many meters of cable away > Switch (24 port des-1024) > Switch (24 port des-1024).

So that's 1 switch that's close to the router and 2 switches that are a long distance away.

The Internet connection in all the computers from the 2 switches that are located many meters (estimate in actual cabling is unknown but it's around 10 to 15 meters away) is extremely slow. LAN connection is fine though.

Could the distance of the 2nd and 3rd switch be the problem? Could it be corrosion? I have tried every configuration in both the router and the computers that I could think of but none seems to work. I'm left with those 2 possibilities.

 

[thiggins]

If your LAN connection is fine, but Internet is not, it's not the switch. Maximum spec for Ethernet cable length is 100M, which you are nowhere near.

 

[JC00]

Any hints on what the problem could be?

UPDATE:

Something odd came up. I looked at the extremely dusty cabinet (literally) where the switches are and unplugged and re-plugged 2 of the cables. Oddly enough, the line was fixed.

Dust problem perhaps?

 

[GregN]

Any hints on what the problem could be?

Seeing anything in the router logs?

 

[JC00]

There's none in the logs. It was just fixed around 30 minutes ago and the last log was an hour ago.

wait. It was an hour since my last post.

Jun 27 14:00:09 php: /ifstats.php: [DEBUG] Lock recursion detected.
Jun 27 14:00:11 php: /ifstats.php: [DEBUG] Lock recursion detected.
Jun 27 14:00:19 check_reload_status: reloading filter
Jun 27 14:00:53 check_reload_status: reloading filter
Jun 27 14:04:28 check_reload_status: reloading filter

 

[GregN]

From the router what are you seeing as ping times, router to nodes, furthest vs closest?

Have you tried running iperf on the pfsense router, and iperf / jperf from the same far and near nodes? Big delta?

Using DHCP for all nodes?

 

[kanewolf]

Sounds to me like there was a speed or (more likely) duplex mis-match in one of your switch to switch links. You might investigate upgrading your switches to simple managed switches so that you get insight into issues like this. USED 10/100 managed switches (like an HP procurve 2626) with gig uplinks are available on E-Bay for under $100 each.