How can I check network throughput on my Gb switch?

Baddass · 2 May 2008 at 16:28

I have connected my network in the following wayL:

Media Centre --------------1Gb Switch-------------------Network storage device

the 1Gb switch also connects to my 100Mb router for internet and to lead onto my WLAN. What i'm trying to check is that the traffic communicating between the Media Centre PC and the Network storage is running at 1Gb as it should?

Both haev 1Gb LAN interfaces obviously

how can i check this?

tolien · 2 May 2008 at 16:31

iperf?

Baddass · 2 May 2008 at 16:33

i'll give it a try....when i try and copy a 700Mb file from network storage to the media centre is estimates about 13 mins....shoudl surely be faster than that over Gb LAN.

what kind of throughput speeds can i expect? do i need to check ive done anything in regards to cabling /the switch etc?

tolien · 2 May 2008 at 17:16

In real terms, it'll depend on disk throughput, but iperf is just squeezing data down the connection - you should get close to 1Gbps with it.

helmutcheese · 2 May 2008 at 17:35

http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/nsl.htm

Install that if non Vista (I loved it in XP), swap IP in drop down to Local and see what Min/Avg/Max speed your Giglan is doing.

I used to get bang on 10MB/Sec from my old Mobo with Giglan to other PC with non Giglan.

You would ideally see 100MB/Sec if HDD's could do that speed and no overheads etc.

Baddass · 6 May 2008 at 10:52

thanks guys, will check those out and see

Baddass · 6 May 2008 at 20:01

i'm only getting about 7Mb it seems, when trying to copy a 3Gb file over from my Western Digital Network Storage device (1TB) to my media centre PC.

must be doing something wrong, it's not running at Gigabit it seems...any ideas on things to check?

actually, checked the 1Gb switch and that shows both are connected at 1Gb. It could be that the traffic is being routed via me 10/100 router though....here's a crude diagram of my LAN and IP scheme. is there a way to make sure traffic between network storage and HTPC is at 1Gb direct through the switch, and bypassing the router?

bledd · 7 May 2008 at 07:33

what kind of network storage is it?

the cheaper ones tend to have bad transfer rates, i just use a pc instead tbh...

Baddass · 7 May 2008 at 08:13

it's a Western Digital MyBook 1TB version (2x 500Gb)....should give me more than 4Mb though surely

i was thinking it could be linked to the traffic passing via my router? the HTPC and network storage both use 192.168.1.1 as the default gateway, which is the IP of the router....

sid · 7 May 2008 at 09:17

what OS is installed on the media pc?

Is it vista andhave you got media center running cos that would explain it!

Please install Sp1 to fix the issue.

sid

Baddass · 7 May 2008 at 09:29

it's XP Media Center Edition

and SP3 is just installing in fact

daz · 7 May 2008 at 09:43

Use FTP to transfer files rather than Windows Explorer... you'll get a much fast and more consistent transfer rate.

Baddass · 7 May 2008 at 10:09

i was using MS SyncToy to backup stuff onto there, i'll have a play with FTP to at least check what speeds i get

thanks Daz

S_D · 7 May 2008 at 13:39

It won't be using the router - they're both in the same subnet.

Simon

Baddass · 7 May 2008 at 14:07

ok, thats a start then i guess....might connect them direct with a crossover cable and see what kind of throughout i get then...