What's the bottleneck - HD? Cables? Router? How do I know?

[bovinda]

So I want to maximize the efficiency of my home network, since I want to transfer very large files back and forth between three or four computers (pictures, blu-ray files).

Typical transfer rates from computer to computer seem to be about 5-10 mb/s. Not sure how that it is, or what the next step is to maximize efficiency.

Part of the reason for my concern is that blu-ray playback (when playing over the network) seems to stutter a bit. Is this bandwidth enough to do this? Maybe the bottleneck there is my graphics card or CPU on the playing computer.

Any thoughts or guidance is appreciated. Not really sure where to start with analyzing this.

Network is using a Netgear router, everything is hardwired.

 

[VirtualLarry]

5-10 MB/sec sounds like 100Megabit networking. You want Gigabit. You will need a gigabit switch, and gigabit NICs in the computers. Unless your router is gigabit and handles Jumbo frames, then you will have to disable Jumbo frames on all of the NICs on the network.

 

[bovinda]

Thanks for the suggestion - I've had this router like 8 years now, it probably needs to go for a gigabit router then. All my computers are fairly new and I'm pretty sure have gigabit capabilities (I'll check the mobo specificaitons to be sure, they all have built in NICs).

The jumbo frames idea is new to me. How do I find out if my mobos and the router are capable of jumbo frames? Does it usually explicitly state it somewhere?

And can anyone recommend a solid gigabit router?

 

[JackMDS]

The jumbo frames idea is new to me. How do I find out if my mobos and the router are capable of jumbo frames? Does it usually explicitly state it somewhere?

Do Not worry about the Jumbo Frames, it nice to have it but they contribute very little when used on a peer-to-peer network.

As for a Router.

You do not need a Giga Router. The switch part of the so called Giga Routers are Not so great.

Independent Good Giga switch is a better solution.

Example, TrendNet Giga Switch.

8 Ports - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156251

5 Ports - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156250

In expensive and better than any Switch in the Giga Routers.

 

[jdjbuffalo]

I agree with what the others have said about upgrading to a Gigabit network. Your Bluray files will transfer in minutes rather than hours and is well worth it.

However, you said you are having trouble playing Blurays over your current network. While your network isn't fast, it should easily be able to handle streaming Bluray movies (uncompressed but stored on a hard drive). I've streamed Blurays without a problem on 100mbps connection, which means something else is going on.

I would lean towards the hard drive being the issue. But before you start troubleshooting, I would replace your existing networking gear with Gigabit switch(es).

 

[bovinda]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses.

I'm gonna ask some quick clarifying questions for my own knowledge. How is a router different from a switch? Is a router like a switch, but with some other component (like wireless) built in?

If I wanted to keep the wireless on my network now (since I have buddies who frequently come over and use wireless), could I keep my router, just plug the switch into it, then connect my three computers to the switch? Like this:

. . . . . . . . . . . computer 1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . \/
computer 2 <-> switch <-> router <-> modem <-> [internet]
. . . . . . . . . . . . . /\
. . . . . . . . . . . computer 3

Would that be the best set-up? If so, I'll nab one of those switchs Jack recommended right away.

I'll try this before I start trouble-shooting other things as far as the blu ray stuttering.

 

[0roo0roo]

smallnetbuilder site has benchies

 

[0roo0roo]

router has a switch built in, eh... just google it or read that site. switch has nothign to do with internet

 

[mfenn]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses.

I'm gonna ask some quick clarifying questions for my own knowledge. How is a router different from a switch? Is a router like a switch, but with some other component (like wireless) built in?

If I wanted to keep the wireless on my network now (since I have buddies who frequently come over and use wireless), could I keep my router, just plug the switch into it, then connect my three computers to the switch? Like this:

. . . . . . . . . . . computer 1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . \/
computer 2 <-> switch <-> router <-> modem <-> [internet]
. . . . . . . . . . . . . /\
. . . . . . . . . . . computer 3

Would that be the best set-up? If so, I'll nab one of those switchs Jack recommended right away.

I'll try this before I start trouble-shooting other things as far as the blu ray stuttering.

Yes, I believe that topology is what Jack was suggesting. It's the same setup as I have in fact (except the router is actually a Linux box).

 

[JackMDS]

A Cable/DSL Router is actually a Combo units that combines in it plastic box.

1. Routing circuits that provide the capacity to share Internet connection between few computers.

2. A Switch that enables connecting few computers to form a Local Network (LAN).

3. An Access Point, which is a Wireless device that connects wireless computers to the Routing circuits, and to the switch.

There are also stand alone Switches, and Access Points that can be connected if needed to any Router.

 

[VirtualLarry]

. . . . . . . . . . . computer 1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . \/
computer 2 <-> switch <-> router <-> modem <-> [internet]
. . . . . . . . . . . . . /\
. . . . . . . . . . . computer 3

Would that be the best set-up? If so, I'll nab one of those switchs Jack recommended right away.

yes. That's how I have my network set up. Trendnet 8-port GigE switch, with two wired desktops, a printer, a NAS device, and then uplinked to my router's LAN port.

 

[bovinda]

Got it...thanks guys. This has been very helpful.

So just to be clear...the switch component of giga routers are not up to par with stand-alone giga switches, right? Are there any good giga routers? I was interested in getting a new router anyway (with a faster wireless standard), but if it wouldn't be as good as a stand-alone switch, I'll go that route.

I'll try to read smallnetbuilder.com (I do like me some benchies!), but my time is short these days, so I appreciate any and all recs as well to direct me.