How to get around slowing down my network?

[1fastfreak]

At home I currently have a Gbe network run off an Asus RT-n16 router wired to my main pc, htpc and small backup/media/file server, plus the wireless to phone/tablets etc... I'm looking to upgrade my home theater system's audio/visual receiver to one that has integrated network controls/features... however it's limited to 10/100 speeds.

As I understand it, a network only operates as fast as the slowest piece of hardware correct? So by adding this recieved I'd limit the speeds of everything else. Is there any way around this?

There is a wireless adapter I can get for it (though I've heard setting up receivers on wireless is a pain--I'd like to avoid if possible); while I realize the wireless is slower than wired, I'm not concerned about the speed of the connection for the a/v receiver it will only be streaming music off the server, any video streaming will be handled by the htpc. I'm just looking to protect the speed of the rest of the network.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ch33zw1z]

The AV receiver will operate at 100mbit, 1000mbit devices will operate at 1000. I would avoid wireless for anything you want to rely on.

 

[1fastfreak]

Great, thanks for the quick reply!

So I'm guessing this is wrong

"As I understand it, a network only operates as fast as the slowest piece of hardware correct? So by adding this recieved I'd limit the speeds of everything else." Go figure, huh... learn something new everyday -- networking is not my forte.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Yes, that's wrong. learning something everyday == doing it right 🙂

 

[Ketchup]

Get a wired switch hooked up to your router, and use that to connect your stereo. Shouldn't mess up your gigabit connections.

 

[Binky]

Slower devices will not impact other devices.

 

[zCypher]

Devices transferring to one another will operate at the slowest common denominator. If you have two 1000mbps devices they will transfer as close to that 1000 that either device will allow based on its hardware/firmware/software. If you are transferring something between 100mbps and 1000mbps capable devices, it will never exceed 100mbps.

If you're using the 100mbps device for one thing and the 1000mbps device for something totally unrelated to it, the 1000mbps device should make as much use of the 1000 as is possible.

Unless of course the processing power and or RAM capacity of your router is completely saturated, then you can have any manner of dataflow crappiness on any connected device.

Hope this makes sense...

 

[1fastfreak]

It all makes plenty of sense, thanks to all who chimed in! I actually do have a Gbe switch (I originally thought this would work as a router behind my cable modem a couple years ago -- I said networking wasn't my thing...). So I've got my new receiver on the way and have to go digging for that switch, Lord help me! lol

 

[ch33zw1z]

the Asus RT-N16 has a built in gigabit switch. SOHO devices are a router, and a switch in one device.

If you have the open port on the back of the N16 (one of hte 4 LAN ports obviously) then there's no need for the additional switch. If you run out of ports, then the extra switch will be handy.

 

[Ketchup]

the Asus RT-N16 has a built in gigabit switch. SOHO devices are a router, and a switch in one device.

If you have the open port on the back of the N16 (one of hte 4 LAN ports obviously) then there's no need for the additional switch. If you run out of ports, then the extra switch will be handy.

In most cases, this will be fine.The extra switch will come in handy if you run out of ports, or the receiver connection causes issues (I have heard of this happening, but would need to look up the reference.)

 

[ch33zw1z]

In most cases, this will be fine.The extra switch will come in handy if you run out of ports, or the receiver connection causes issues (I have heard of this happening, but would need to look up the reference.)

If a device is causing those types of problems, then it won't matter where it resides in the broadcast domain. Each switched port is it's own collision domain, but it's all inside the same broadcast domain.

If you're having problems, time to get a new receiver...or see if your receiver can take firmware upgrades.