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The Graveyard - Products No Longer Supported => D-Link Storage => DNS-323 => Topic started by: Hannes123 on November 06, 2009, 10:10:31 AM

Title: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: Hannes123 on November 06, 2009, 10:10:31 AM
Hi all!
After upgrading my network switch from 100Mbit to 1Gbit the DNS-323 transfers files pretty slow via SMB to my windows machine. With my old switch I got transfer rates round about 8Mb/sec from the NAS to the windows machine. Switching the NAS to GBit-Mode transfer rates go down to 3MB/s from the NAS to the PC via Samba.
The PC still works with an old 100Mbit network adapter. I expected the transfer rates to stay the same as with the old 100Mbit switch. Why does it decrease as soon as I use a new Gbit-Switch?
Using FTP transfer rates go back to normal values (8-9MB/s).

Any Ideas where to look for the problem?

Thanks for your help!

Hannes
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: gunrunnerjohn on November 06, 2009, 10:38:08 AM
Well, the switch seems the obvious issue.  Since the DNS-323 and the computer didn't change, that's the new component.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: ECF on November 06, 2009, 11:04:01 AM
Do you get a GB link LED on all devices when you look at the switch?
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: gunrunnerjohn on November 06, 2009, 11:10:19 AM
Do you get a GB link LED on all devices when you look at the switch?
Since he stated that he still had a 100mbit NIC in the PC, I'd have to say no. :)
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: fordem on November 06, 2009, 11:39:18 AM
Well, the switch seems the obvious issue.  Since the DNS-323 and the computer didn't change, that's the new component.


Not necessarily - there is a cable between the DNS-323 & the gigabit switch that was running at 100mbps and is now running at 1gbps - I would replace this before replacing the switch.

Almost every instance I've seen where introducing a gigabit switch changed the throughput in a negative fashion, the problem has been a cable that is not up to scratch - 10/100 uses two pairs in a four pair cable, gigabit uses all four - 10/100 will run reasonably well with split pairs (provided the split is with the unused pairs), gigabit will not.

So - Hannes123 - please check your cables, make sure they are CAT5e or better and if they are hand assembled, make sure they are properly crimped.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: gunrunnerjohn on November 06, 2009, 11:45:04 AM
Good point on the other cable. :)
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: Hannes123 on November 08, 2009, 12:26:15 AM
Hi!
As soon as the NAS is connected the switch indicates an Gbit-Connection. Of course (as mentioned by gunrunnerjohn) this is not the case for the Notebook.
As suggested I checked my cables. I tried to connect the NAS to the switch with nearly every cable I found. No change at all! The cabels used are all cat5E.  :(


 
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: fordem on November 08, 2009, 06:38:22 AM
As suggested I checked my cables. I tried to connect the NAS to the switch with nearly every cable I found. No change at all! The cabels used are all cat5E.  :(

Are the cables purchased or home made?
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: Hannes123 on November 08, 2009, 07:34:58 AM
All the cables are purchased! The cable used to connect the NAS to the switch ist the one that came with the NAS. The cable from the switch to the notebook seems to be from "belkin".
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: Tank_Killer on November 08, 2009, 10:16:23 AM
It might be possible you have a lossy switch,  however I have a few questions.  Where is your router in this equation? are any devices on said router? or is it just WAN and uplink to switch?  Reason I ask is perhaps you might have a loop in your network (I.E. the switch is plugged into itself, or you have 2 uplink cables running from your router to new switch) This can be a caused for poor performace.

try to disco everything on your switch except the NAS and your PC to eliminate any other cabling issues, as fordem suggested I would make those cables for this test brand new. for giggles.

gl

TK
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: gunrunnerjohn on November 08, 2009, 10:45:53 AM
I really don't think that the changes of multiple factory manufactured cables failing are great enough to go to the trouble of actually making cables.  There is clearly something else going on here.

It could be a defective switch, I've sent back two SOHO gigabit switches within the last 6 months for defects, (A netgear and a Trendnet).

Try different ports on the switches, many times a specific port will fail.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: fordem on November 08, 2009, 11:13:05 AM
I really don't think that the changes of multiple factory manufactured cables failing are great enough to go to the trouble of actually making cables.  There is clearly something else going on here.

Agreed - whilst cables do cause a number of the failures in gigabit installations - in this case multiple factory manufactured cables have been tried - the only thing left is the switch.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: Hannes123 on November 08, 2009, 12:53:21 PM
Quote
Where is your router in this equation?

The router is just used for WAN uplink to the new switch and as DHCP-server.

Quote
Reason I ask is perhaps you might have a loop in your network

I checked this twice. No loops! :)

Quote
There is clearly something else going on here.

I used WireShark to record 100.000 Frames during several copy processes from the NAS to the Notebook.
When the NAS is set to 100Mbit there seem to be now errors in the communication between the devices.
As soon as I switch the NAS to 1Gbit many retransmissions of packages occure due to inconsistencies in the sequenznumbers. I guess this causes the low transfer rate.

May this be caused by what you call a "lossy switch"?
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: gunrunnerjohn on November 08, 2009, 01:00:40 PM
I'm betting on the switch, of course there could be some flaw in the DNS-323 network adapter as well.  I have run my DNS-323 and DNS-321 at gigabit with jumbo frames for some time, and I haven't seen any networking issues.

I DID have the speeds suddenly fall way down, and it turned out the switch had suddenly forgotten how to handle jumbo frames when it got warm!  I also had a total failure with another switch, a couple of the ports on the switch died.

I'd have to try swapping ports on the switch first, then the whole switch next.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: fordem on November 08, 2009, 04:39:15 PM
When the NAS is set to 100Mbit there seem to be now errors in the communication between the devices.
As soon as I switch the NAS to 1Gbit many retransmissions of packages occure due to inconsistencies in the sequenznumbers. I guess this causes the low transfer rate.
Retransmissions will certainly cause low throughput - but retransmissions due to "inconsistencies in the sequence numbers" - that I've never heard of before.

In large - let's  call them "multi-path" - networks, networks (such as the internet) where there are multiple possible paths that packets can take along their trip from point A to point B, it is entirely possible for packets to arrive "out of sequence", and it is the function of the network stack to reassemble them in the correct sequence - this in fact is the reason that the sequence numbers exist - but on a local LAN where there is only one path between source & destination, out of sequence packets should not occur (assuming of course, that that is what is meant be "inconsistencies in the sequence numbers"), and the stack should reassemble the packets rather than reject them or request retransmits.

Sounds to me like some sort of corruption is occuring somewhere - do you have a second windows system to test from?  Is there reduced throughput there also?
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: gunrunnerjohn on November 08, 2009, 05:06:50 PM
I still have to believe this is the switch, nothing else makes much sense here!
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: Hannes123 on November 09, 2009, 09:19:16 AM
Quote
on a local LAN where there is only one path between source & destination, out of sequence packets should not occur (assuming of course, that that is what is meant be "inconsistencies in the sequence numbers")

In the frames I captured the sequenz numbers somethimes did not make sense.
Everytime the sequenz numbers were not correct, this started with a frame going from the NAS to the Notebook, which was not numbered as expected. The notebook replied to such packages with the acknowledgement to the last package it received, that was correctly numbered. It did't this as often as necessary to force the retransmission of the package with the sequenznumber it expected .

I get equal results with Linux. The transfere rates to the streaming client I use are very low also.

I will contact my dealer and try to get the switch replaced. If the problems are caused by the switch, this will be the cheapest way to find out.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: fordem on November 09, 2009, 11:25:04 AM
I have a question here which is not 100% related.

Are you running Wireshark on the notebook - in other words - the same system that you are transferring data from?
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: DrDigital on November 09, 2009, 11:59:27 AM
The first thing I would do is connect the DNS-323 directly to the computer in question and remove any sort of network/switch issue and see if your throughput is where you think it should be.  This can be done by using static IP on the DNS and your computer and connecting the two with a cable (you may have to use a null ethernet cable if either side doesn't automatically do xover).
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: Hannes123 on November 12, 2009, 01:44:47 PM
Quote
he first thing I would do is connect the DNS-323 directly to the computer in question and remove any sort of network/switch issue

Instead of a direct connection between computer and NAS I used a second Gbit-switch to test the connection. It worked without any problems. :)

Quote
Are you running Wireshark on the notebook - in other words - the same system that you are transferring data from?

Yes!
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: dvdsham on August 27, 2010, 03:06:30 AM
Hi. I read a comment here on the forum about the difference between a cat 5e and a 6 -- the truth of it is, there is no difference. A standard straight through Ethernet cable and cross overs only use 4 wires (two wires for transmitting and two wires for receiving. Power Over Ethernet uses 6 wires and or all 8 wires for only when an electrical hardware on off switch is used to a POE device. All wires are in a twisted pair so that a constant 10 Mhz is being generated between devices.

If you have a Gigabit switch or router but your computer Network Adapter is only 10/100 then a Gigabit switch is not benefiting your speed. You need a 10/100/1000 NIC in your computer in order for a Gigabit switch or router to be beneficial.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: jamieburchell on August 27, 2010, 02:54:08 PM
there is no difference

Cat 6 cables are physically different - better shielding etc, possibly more twists per inch. They are less susceptible to interference, allowing for greater throughput.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: gunrunnerjohn on August 27, 2010, 07:18:04 PM
CAD5e is fully rated for gigabit, you won't see any difference in any normal environment.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: fordem on August 28, 2010, 05:37:26 AM
CAD5e is fully rated for gigabit, you won't see any difference in any normal environment.

I'll assume that was a typo, and yes CAT5e is fully rated for gigabit, and you CAN in many cases run gigabit over CAT5, there IS a difference between CAT5e & CAT6 cables - as jamieburchell pointed out, the number of twists per inch IS different, causing better noise rejection.

I might have a graph somewhere from a Fluke DSP showing the difference between CAT5 & CAT6 cable - I'll see if I can find it, and post it.
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: gunrunnerjohn on August 28, 2010, 10:48:30 AM
It should be obvious that there are differences in the cable, or there wouldn't be a different type.  ::)

However, if we get back to the topic of this thread, a good CAT5e would NOT be the cause of the issues described, perhaps instead of wandering through the weeds, we could actually address the topic at hand?
Title: Re: DNS-323 slow on GBit switch
Post by: MrBOFH on August 28, 2010, 02:53:33 PM
I just ran a test based on everything above. My setup for that is as follows

Win 7 64bit Home Premium machine with onboard Realtek PCIe GBE GB ethernet LAN
Trendnet 8 port GB green switch TEG-S80G
DNS-323 with 2 Samsung Spinpoint F3 1GB drives in RAID1 (firmware 1.09)
Cables used are manufactured Cat 5e.

Both the Win 7 box and DNS-323 have  9KB MTU Jumbo frames enabled

512MB exe file copied from Windows to DNS323 - 19MB/s
512MB exe file copied from DNS323 to WIndows - 30MB/s

Before I actually ensured I had 9KB jumbo frames set on both the Windows box and the DNS, my throughput was more around 10-13MB/s. Both units are set to auto for link speed.

Same test but with an HP laptop (win 7 64bit Home Premium)  that only has a 100MB network controller.
Connected to a Trendnet 5 port GB green switch TEG-S50G which is directtly connected to the TEG-S80G that connects to the DNS-323.

Same 512MB file.
Laptop to DNS - 9.5MB/s
DNS to Laptop - 11.5MB

My above win 7 box to the laptop copy of the file was about 13MB/s so the lan controller on the laptop only being 100M is definately the bottleneck here.