Hi all, I have an Ubuntu 9.10 fileserver running samba upstairs, which connects to a Homeplug adaptor which funnels the network downstairs. My HTPC running Windows 7 is downstairs, also connected to a homeplug adaptor. When playing a 40-minute MKV file (served from the fileserver) on the HTPC, the network speed hovers around the 330-400kbps level, and the video occasionally stutters. However, when you copy that file over the network, it takes 12 minutes, and the speed goes up to 12-15Mbps. If the Hardware is capable of sustaining that transfer rate for copying, why not for streaming? I'm wondering if it is network dropouts causing it, but nothing suggests that on Win7's Network resource moinitor. I've tried turning the whole network off and then on again in the correct order, but it doesn't seem to have changed anything. Any Ideas? Update: I've determined that it is a Samba issue, as it happens on all PC's that stream video from the fileserver.
Are any of your home plug adaptors plugged into fly leads (the belkin has a figure of 8 fly lead that you can use) or a multi-way socket at all? Multi-ways are known to cause problems and I found huge issues when I used the fly-lead with my Belkin Homeplug AV units. May be worth plugging directly into the wall if they are not already. What playback software are you using? If possible have you tried increasing the buffer size in the player as it may help eliminate skips? Have you tried switching off other high-draw items that may be on the same ring in the house? Things such as microwaves, fridges, dishwashers and washing machines can cause issues if you are particularly unlucky. Do you have the potential to perhaps move the server into the same room as the machine doing the playing even temporarily and networking via a normal 10/100 switch or 1gbps switch? This would prove that it is or isn't the homeplug gear. Oddly enough I can play a 1080p MKV over the network here fine but file copy speeds at 6MB/s which is pretty slow, so I would assume yours should work. Sorry I cant help more really.
Thanks for taking the time, Biosniper! Right, to address the points: All homeplug adaptors are plugged directly into ring-main sockets, with nothing plugged into themas they're not pass-through type. The Management web interface on them report they're operating at 59-79Mbps (not bad as they're running accross rings) I'm using WMP (12, I think? Win7's default) but the problem also occurs in VLC and MPC-HC but none of the settings have changed between now, and last week, when this all worked perfectly. Nothing extra has been added/removed from the electricity supply since this worked. I get the issue upstairs on the PC connected directly to the server (through a 100Mbps switch) although not on the same files - the increase in available bandwidth means it only happens upstairs on uncompressed blu-ray MKV's (about 4MB/s as tested this morning) but copying speed is still up at 7-8MB/s
I've determined that it is a Samba issue, as it happens on all PC's that stream video from the fileserver. There was a Samba update from the 24th March which disallowed the use of both Wide symlinks and Unix extensions on the same share. I've seen several posts suggesting to set these to yes/no or no/yes or no/no - thing is, as far as I was aware, there should be no symlinks in any share - is there a way to search for symlinks? Also, do I need unix extensions set to on or off, and what would the ramifications of this be if they've been left at default since the share was set up?
