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    Ethernet Lights.

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Toledano, Jul 28, 2011.

  1. Toledano

    Toledano Notebook Evangelist

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    On the ethernet port, I've noticed that the left light sometimes turns orange, and other times it's green. Why is that? There's no loss of conection or anything.
     
  2. NateN34@gmail.com

    [email protected] Notebook Consultant

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    I think green means it is receiving data and orange means it is sending data.

    Something similar to that, but that does not mean it is going...
     
  3. Toledano

    Toledano Notebook Evangelist

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    Um, right now it's green and it just stays green. It doesn't change colors while it's connected, it just changes sometimes when I disconnect. Somedays its green, and somedays it's orange. Thanks for answering :)
     
  4. Revoka

    Revoka Notebook Guru

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    Its normal :p, nothing to worry about. I think its due to what speed its receiving green being 100mbs and orange being 10.

    Dont take my word for it though.
     
  5. Toledano

    Toledano Notebook Evangelist

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    Phew.... thanks a lot, and yes, i take your word. lol
     
  6. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

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    I would somewhat be concerned as your network card is constantly switching between 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps. This could be either be due the following:

    - Power management
    - Bad drivers
    - Bad cable
    - Bad ports on your network devices
     
  7. mjl2142

    mjl2142 Notebook Evangelist

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    Gigabit is orange, and green is 100 MB.
    Or at least thats the standard color code, I haven't payed attention to if it changes on my laptop since its always on a gigabit connection.
     
  8. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    Mines is orange and I am def not on a gigabit router @ the moment.
     
  9. Toledano

    Toledano Notebook Evangelist

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    So is there anything I should do?
     
  10. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

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    Simplest solution would be to swap cables and see if it makes a difference. I should have asked this from the start; Are you using a Gigabit switch and/or router?
     
  11. Toledano

    Toledano Notebook Evangelist

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    I swapped cables and it's green now, and im using a router.
     
  12. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

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    Right.... but does the router have Gigabit ports or 10/100?
     
  13. Toledano

    Toledano Notebook Evangelist

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    Um...do you mind telling me what that is? I'm sorry.
     
  14. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    What brand and model router are you using?
     
  15. Toledano

    Toledano Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm not home right now, (on mobile broadband) but I have dlink, not really sure the model though.
     
  16. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    If you can search the model number for your router then you can find out whether it has gigabit ports on the back. Basically routers used to have their etehernet ports @ 100MBPS and new ones have 1000 MBPS or gigbit.
     
  17. Toledano

    Toledano Notebook Evangelist

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    Ok, It has gigabit ports on the back.