Hello, I want to build a Arduino with Ethernet serving a Ftp server and a webserver. My question is Does the speed matter If it is just me accessing it only and no one else? I want to use an esp8266 for this project. I know people will say Esp32 and I can buy one with Ethernet on it. The problem Is I right now Don't have the money to buy one the cost is anywhere from $35 USD to $60USD. I do have a few esp8266 12F modules and Sd card module as well. I do have wiznet W5500 Ethernet modules as well. The only problem is We don't have wifi here only Ethernet. I bought the esp8266 modules Because of the Cpu speeds and they are 32bit. not AVR. Any advice would be great thank you.
Ethernet is the messaging protocol, not the physical media or connection. Originally all Ethernet was connected point-to-point by 72 Ohm coaxial cable. Now Ethernet is by twisted pair cables or by WIFI or any other medium that supports high speed.
Speed is rarely important for sending data of the sizes that small IOT devices can send and receive. Be happy if you get a link faster than the 19.2kbps that used to connect companies like cisco to the "Internet."
Your Wiznet modules should connect directly to your ethernet.
You might find it cheaper to add wireless support to your network than to buy ethernet "IoT" boards. (this is one of the reasons that things like esp8266 modules are so popular. They provide spectacularly cheap connection to The Internet. Not only cheaper than an ethernet board, but frequently cheaper than an Ethernet Cable.)
Your profile says "New Jersey" - in the US you can get a wireless "access point" for under $20. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H2864DV/ ) (assuming you can't get a "last year's model" for free from someone who has upgraded.) (Admittedly, there are other reasons NOT to have WiFi.)
Hey West Thank you for that information. It's hard because We don't use anything in this house that is wireless. Not our phones not our tablets. They all are GSM and unlimited 4g and 5e. Everything in our house is wired basically. Buy Yes I'm starting to see that we might need an access point just for this. I was looking at one esp iot ethernet board and the cost is crazy for $60 dollars.