Modem/Router into Switch - Possible ??

9designs2

9designs2

9designs2

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I have need to re jig my network set-up to be compliant with a music streaming devise/set up. (Linn Akurate DS)
Currently using a Billion 4 port/ wireless Modem router, 5200G.

Can I use it just as a Modem/Internet Firewall, and hook it up to a Netgear switch FS108 ?

As I need to run a NAS + Switch + Wireless Access Point, independently from the built in function in the 5200G.
Reason claimed is consumer grade one box solutions are not man enough.:(

Finally my Motherboard Asus Pk5e-wifi can be configured as "WAP" So I hope this saves on buying a stand alone device.

Any thoughts ?
 
I'm not sure I understand what you want to do. Why do you want to disable the access point built in to use one of your own?

Same with the switch, the FS108 is nothing special. If you need more ports just plug it into one of the ports on your router. Don't expect a performance boost over the switch built into your router though.
 
The claimed reason, is the combined unit like a 5200 would have performance issues as it did all the jobs required. As it acts as a Modem, Router, WAP and DHCP server.
The need is to have uninterrupted or varying streaming through put to the audio device.
I am a little sceptical myself, just following the manufacturer's guide lines....
Sure if I was streaming, doing a MS service pack, and surfing all at once it my be a bit heavy for it..... but that would be a rare occurrence.
 
The DHCP server puts so little load on the thing it's unreal, same deal with the modem. The router part wouldn't even be being used when putting traffic across the LAN so I'd be inclined to think that Linn are just talking hot air.

If an all-in-one router/WAP can't handle it then buying separate consumer-grade parts won't make a difference. These devices aren't (at least the majority aren't) a single chip doing everything, there'll be a chip handling the modem part, another doing the routing functions, and then another acting as the network switch, and another as the wireless radio.

Streaming audio through it won't be an issue, you're more likely to see issues with the performance of 802.11g before you run into problems with the speed of the hardware.
 
I am tempted just to try it, the BB here is now on ADSL2+, and my line is giving me speednet result of 8.8meg !!! Last night pulled a service pack out of MS at constant 1.04mb sec over the hardwired LAN. So kind of think it works quite well at present! :D
Wireless when I used it before was about 50% slower, pre ADSL2, I was getting 2meg wireless and 4.4 wired. Hence I laid some Cat5 in.

So might just add a NAS, Infrant Ready, item with Media Twonky pre installed.
It can do the DHCP if required.

So the reason given by Linn is :-

Minimum requirements:
• Must be a dedicated, stand alone switch. Linn recommends against using
the switches built into consumer grade ADSL routers, cable modems, or
wireless access points. The processing power of such devices is often
shared between its various functions and is therefore not always capable
of full performance.
• Must be either a 100 Mbps or 1000 Mbps full duplex switch.
• Must be capable of fully utilising all ports simultaneously. On vendor’s
specification pages, this is sometimes listed under a category called the
“switch backplane” or the “switch bandwidth”. For an 8 port 100 Mbps
switch, this “switch bandwidth” should be 1.6 Gbps. This number comes
from 100 Mbps in, plus 100 Mbps out, times the 8 ports. For a 16 port
gigabit switch, the “switch bandwidth” would be 32 Gbps. (2*16*1000
Mbps).
 
What a load of rubbish, the switch built in is as good as anything in the consumer market (ie. they're all cheap and not capable of full performance). The only way you get substancially better performance is buying a real switch targeted at the business market.

There will be so little (or more likely no) performance gain from a seperate switch.
 
I think that Linn give those specs purely so they can say "not our problem" when the majority of users phone them up. The thing about having enough switch bandwidth would make sense if the device used more than one port, but it doesn't.

What's the bitrate of the audio going through to it? I doubt the switch on the cheapest of the cheap consumer routers would have a problem sustaining a 6MBps throughput.
 
Thanks for comments and advise, think I will just add an "affordable" NAS (QNAP TS-209 Pro) into my current set-up, and see how it does.
 
An update, as all is working.
Went for QNAP109 in the end, with a 400GB WD disk. Hooked into my Billion Modem etc. Works great, Was able to download close on 1meg a second FLAC files from Linn site, while the music was not interrupted.
Then copied the same files to the NAS, while it was still stream music to the "DAC", again no interruption in play back.

The 109 is great, fan less/quiet, runs all the software needed, and came to about 235 quid...bargain.... why didn't I buy one years ago !!! LOL
I now see Linn selling them, pre instaled with there music files, so I guess it's even "approved" :D
 
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