Ridiculous problem (Network?)

leezer3

leezer3

leezer3

Soldato
Joined
18 Jan 2006
Posts
3,178
Location
Norwich
I've had absolutely no luck figuring this one out, and it's finally annoyed me enough to post it :p
In short:
For some reason, my HTPC has issues accessing files on my server (Lengthy loading times for things that should be instant, hangs in the middle of stuff)
These issues are far worse on a cold boot, but a warm boot doesn't always fix things.

I have 4 main computers (Plus others, but this is irrelevant). These basic specs for these are:
* Server- A8N-SLI Premium, 3200+, running Ubuntu plus custom junk.
* Desktop- P5N-E SLI, e6320 @ 2.5ghz, 4gb RAM, Win7 Ultimate x64
* HTPC- 6150M2MA, AM2 5000, 2gb RAM, Win7 Ultimate x64
* Laptop- IBM Thinkpad Z61m, Win Vista Pro x64

The only combination which displays issues is the HTPC accessing the server.
I've changed everything under the sun, up to and including a complete hardware & OS change (The HTPC's components migrated into the server & a completely new board was bought).
This is what I've tested:
* Hardware faults- Everything will do a full 24hr run on memtest/ orthos.
* Underlying hardware- This has changed and the issues still persist.
* Operating system- HTPC has migrated from XP to Win7 x64
* Software- Multiple players and filetypes display issues.
* Network- The HTPC works quite happily with the desktop/ laptop, and I can shift which switch the laptop connects to. I've never had any issues with the internet on any computer either.

This is my network topography FWIW:


Thoughts? I'm stumped, and this annoyed me enough last night to try and completely sort it!

-Leezer-
 
Have you tried using the HTPC from Switch 3? Just to see if it is the jump from one switch to another causing the trouble?
 
phil0316 said:
What are the latency times if you ping your server from the HTPC ?

All links Duplex ?

Does Desktop > server work ?
Click to expand...

Latency is <1ms, all links duplex. Desktop ==> server works just fine.

Ph4lanx said:
Have you tried using the HTPC from Switch 3? Just to see if it is the jump from one switch to another causing the trouble?
Click to expand...

Can't unfortunately.
All I can really say on that front is that the laptop works fine plugged into Switch 3 :(



Will also have a fish with wireshark, although haven't tried that before.

-Leezer-
 
Have you checked your cables? I'm assuming you would have swapped them out?

Other things to do is get a cable tester and check that the port is not the problem.

One finally thing is to give us some details on the network speed and network card vendors, these still can cause problems.

Also, if you can, what happens if a cable is plugged in directly from the HTPC to the server?
 
mdixson said:
Have you checked your cables? I'm assuming you would have swapped them out?

Other things to do is get a cable tester and check that the port is not the problem.
Click to expand...

Been there, done that :(
I'm assuming that as the general internet works properly, the port *shouldn't* be faulty, similarly as all of the traffic for both the desktop and the server is running through Switch 3, it shouldn't be at fault.

mdixson said:
One finally thing is to give us some details on the network speed and network card vendors, these still can cause problems.

Also, if you can, what happens if a cable is plugged in directly from the HTPC to the server?
Click to expand...

All network cards except that in the laptop (Intel Pro 10/100/1000) are Nvidia Nforce of one variant or another, current drivers.
100mbs network, although I do have a couple of 10mb switches for testing if things get really desparate.

Will try running direct from server to HTPC, although this may take a little dismantling :p


Only thing I've found so far (Wireshark), is a few requests to disconnected network drives in the desktop when it's turned off. I can't see how this should kill any other network drive though :o
I really don't see why a warm boot would affect this either- If anything, these drives are far more likely to be down on a warm boot. (As I've turned the desktop off to watch media on the TV)

-Leezer-
 
That all sounds good, though never assume because the internet works all is fine.

When you ping from the HTPC to the server what kind of packet loss are you getting, if any?
 
mdixson said:
That all sounds good, though never assume because the internet works all is fine.

When you ping from the HTPC to the server what kind of packet loss are you getting, if any?
Click to expand...

Nothing on a 250 packet run (Default size, can alter it if necessary)

-Leezer-
 
Hmm I need to sleep on this - you have me really interested in this one! - def. try a direct cable to see if that helps
 
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