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[nossy]

I'm experiencing some annoying performance issues with my recently purchased DNS-321.  I bought the unit to serve as both a file-storage location and media server, but am unable to use it for it's second purpose.  I am currently running two Seagate 1.5TB drives in RAID1, firmware shouldn't be an issue on the drives (SD37).

I have tried playing music in iTunes via the NAS device which only results in the song pausing and "rebuffering" every minute and a half or so.  This happens regardless of whether I set the iTunes music folder location to a mapped drive on the NAS or if I setup the device as an iTunes server (that option has since disappeared from the configuration as well).

I have also tried playing movies from the DNS-321 with even worse performance.  DiVx movies @ ~700MB only play for a few seconds before stalling, I have tried using both Windows Media Player as well as Media Player Classic with similar results.

Finally, I have run into trouble with the DNS-321's web-based administration utility.  Frequently when changing pages or saving settings the page will freeze and stop responding.  At that point I am unable to even access the device via a browser until I reset the unit or wait for an unknown period of time (I've never sat down and refreshed the page for more than 5 minutes, so I'm not sure how long it actually takes to start responding again).

I am running the latest firmware on the DNS-321 (I had to from the beginning to get it to see my 1.5TB drives) and I experience slow performance from multiple computers on the network regardless of whether they are on 100MB or 1GB LAN connections.  I'm not sure if perhaps I just got a dud, or are others experiencing these same types of problems?

[fordem]

There is no information here as to the network configuration - which is crucial to a device such as this.

Generally speaking, the DNS-321 should provide acceptable performance without the hanging of the web interface, etc. - if you are not connected via a wired LAN, I would suggest you do that (preferably 100 mbps for now) and see what happens.

[nossy]

I am running the latest firmware on the DNS-321 (I had to from the beginning to get it to see my 1.5TB drives) and I experience slow performance from multiple computers on the network regardless of whether they are on 100MB or 1GB LAN connections.  I'm not sure if perhaps I just got a dud, or are others experiencing these same types of problems?

There is no information here as to the network configuration - which is crucial to a device such as this.

Generally speaking, the DNS-321 should provide acceptable performance without the hanging of the web interface, etc. - if you are not connected via a wired LAN, I would suggest you do that (preferably 100 mbps for now) and see what happens.

To be more clear, all of these computers are connected via wired LAN (I don't even consider wireless a valid network interconnect).  I have tried connecting through both Gigabit and 100Mbit switches with similar performance.  Or did you need a complete list of all NICs, hardware revisions, driver dates etc. as well as cable lengths?  I'd be happy to whip up a spreadsheet.

[fordem]

Nope - that's good enough - and I like your approach to wireless

Try the DNS-321 on a direct connection with static addresses - if you're still getting hanging just accessing the admin interface at that point I'd day you have a defective unit.

[quantum]

There are several things to test before deciding the unit is defective:

1) Try a different cable going to the DNS-321.
2) Enable/disable the jumbo frames setting.
3) Try different drive(s) in the DNS-321, and/or just one drive.
4) Try the 3 different link speeds in LAN settings: auto, 100, 1000
5) Ensure all the various DNS-321 apps are disabled iTunes, FTP, etc.

If it still fails with these tested, then you can consider hardware problems.

[nossy]

There are several things to test before deciding the unit is defective:

1) Try a different cable going to the DNS-321.
2) Enable/disable the jumbo frames setting.
3) Try different drive(s) in the DNS-321, and/or just one drive.
4) Try the 3 different link speeds in LAN settings: auto, 100, 1000
5) Ensure all the various DNS-321 apps are disabled iTunes, FTP, etc.

If it still fails with these tested, then you can consider hardware problems.

1. I replaced the Cable, as well as bought yet another brand new Gigabit switch.
2. Cannot enable Jumbo frames as not all devices on the network are compatible.
3. I do not have any spare drives to test and currently have data on the RAID and would rather not break it (I would have to copy all the data off...slowly...then copy it back...slowly)
4. Tried all settings for link speed.
5. All apps are and have been disabled.

After replacing the cable and switch, the speed seems a LITTLE better, but I am still getting skipping when playing MP3's in iTunes (iTunes library is set to a mapped drive on the 321).  When the songs skip I notice only one of the hard drive lights on the DNS-321 flashing.  It will stop flashing and then the song resumes.

Another thing I noticed is that the web interface only freezes when I click on the iTunes server button, as if I were going to configure it.

[fordem]

Just one comment.

You CAN run jumbo frame on a network where only some devices support jumbo frame - what is required is that the network path between the devices running jumbo frame supports it.

As an example, you can have your DNS-321 configured for jumbo frame, one desktop configured for jumbo frame, both connected to a switch that supports jumbo frame, and then you can connect a second desktop that runs a gigabit NIC that does not support jumbo frame connected to the same switch - you will be able to transfer from the DNS-321 to the jumbo frame configured PC at gigabit+jumbo speeds and from the DNS-321 to the non-jumbo frame capable PC at gigabit speeds.

This is possible because the systems automatically negotiate the MSS (maximum segment size)

[nossy]

Just one comment.

You CAN run jumbo frame on a network where only some devices support jumbo frame - what is required is that the network path between the devices running jumbo frame supports it.

As an example, you can have your DNS-321 configured for jumbo frame, one desktop configured for jumbo frame, both connected to a switch that supports jumbo frame, and then you can connect a second desktop that runs a gigabit NIC that does not support jumbo frame connected to the same switch - you will be able to transfer from the DNS-321 to the jumbo frame configured PC at gigabit+jumbo speeds and from the DNS-321 to the non-jumbo frame capable PC at gigabit speeds.

This is possible because the systems automatically negotiate the MSS (maximum segment size)

If this is true then I will try this, I wasn't familiar with the ins and outs of jumbo frames and my reading on the issue said the opposite.

[nossy]

If this is true then I will try this, I wasn't familiar with the ins and outs of jumbo frames and my reading on the issue said the opposite.

Well it doesn't matter since my switch does not support this.

But this is just dancing around the issue regardless, there is no reason I shouldn't be able to stream a 192kbps MP3 without it skipping even on a 10Mbit network connection.  It is definitely something with the unit and it's communication with iTunes, whether it's ultimately a PROBLEM with the DNS-321 or not.  As I mentioned, I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fact that every time it skips the right-side HD light on the DNS-321 starts flashing at a constant rate.  Once it stops flashing, the music starts back up within a couple seconds.

It's not just iTunes either, if I try to stream the music with Windows Media Player I have the same issue.

[nossy]

I've now completed the last step and tried a single hard drive with the same result.

Should I even expect an official reply here or should I open a support ticket somewhere?

[fordem]

This is basically a user-user forum hosted by D-Link, there are a couple of moderators who may be employed by D-Link, but, there's no guarantee that they will respond to you, so if you want an official answer, call or email tech support.

[nossy]

So does tech support even exist?  Sent an email query Friday and still have not received a reply...

[ECF]

I am sorry but I have not experienced this issue have you tried other drives in the unit?

Actually check out this post from another customer in the DNS-343 Forum

http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=3849.0