Prepurchase Q: Server PC's network connection

[RuefulR]

I have a home wireless network already set up, but the only computer connected via ethernet cable to the router is my work computer, which is usually on a VPN and then doesn't recognize devices on the home network.

So, is it a really bad idea to use a wireless-connected computer as the server? I'm worried about wireless bandwidth.

If it is a bad idea but might work, would music storage on a NAS plugged into the router make things better or worse?

Thanks,
RR

[Robin Bowes]

RuefulR wrote:
> I have a home wireless network already set up, but the only computer
> connected via ethernet cable to the router is my work computer, which
> is usually on a VPN and then doesn't recognize devices on the home
> network.
>
> So, is it a really bad idea to use a wireless-connected computer as the
> server? I'm worried about wireless bandwidth.

Well, a wireless server would involve transferring the audio twice over
the wireless lan:

Server ----- WAP ----- SB

This may or may not be a problem depending on your wireless network
performance.

Is this an SB1 or SB2? The SB2 does 11g which has higher bandwidth
(54Mb/s vs. 11Mb/s for 11b - these are theoretical maximums!). Often, an
11b device (e.g. the SB1) connected to an 11g network will reduce the
performance of *all* devices to 11b levels.

> If it is a bad idea but might work, would music storage on a NAS
> plugged into the router make things better or worse?

A directly connected server (normal PC or NAS device) would reduce
wireless bandwidth requirements.

R.
--
http://robinbowes.com

If a man speaks in a forest,
and his wife's not there,
is he still wrong?

[JulianL]

What is your wireless? 802.11g (= theoretical 54Mbps total bandwidth)? How far will your SB2 be from your wireless router (i.e what is the actual signal strength/bandwidth you are likely to get to the SB2)? One way to find this is if you have a wireless laptop then sit it as the location where you plan to site your SB2 and look at what signal strength and bandwidth it reports. Failing this then how far will the SB2 be from the wireless router and how many walls/floors will be in the way?

Finally, how are you planning to encode your music collection (FLAC? MP3? If MP3 then what bitrate?).

In general I would say it would be very unlikely that you will have any problems but we really need answers to the questions above to give you better reassurance than general platitudes.

- Julian.

[max.spicer]

My server is wireless, so is my SB2. I have an 11G network and everything works just fine. I've _never_ experienced a drop out on my SB2.

I'm using a Linksys WAG354G with a Belkin wireless card in the server (don't know which one anymore). Everything is standard G - no 3rd party enhancements. My signal strength at the server is generally around 80%. My SB2 is actually next to the router, but I used wireless anyway as it meant one less cable to worry about. All my music is in FLAC format. If you've got a setup a bit like this one, you shouldn't need to worry.

Max

I have a home wireless network already set up, but the only computer connected via ethernet cable to the router is my work computer, which is usually on a VPN and then doesn't recognize devices on the home network.

So, is it a really bad idea to use a wireless-connected computer as the server? I'm worried about wireless bandwidth.

If it is a bad idea but might work, would music storage on a NAS plugged into the router make things better or worse?

Thanks,
RR

[RuefulR]

Thanks for replies everyone.

What is your wireless? 802.11g (= theoretical 54Mbps total bandwidth)? How far will your SB2 be from your wireless router (i.e what is the actual signal strength/bandwidth you are likely to get to the SB2)?
Finally, how are you planning to encode your music collection (FLAC? MP3? If MP3 then what bitrate?)....

- Julian.

The wireless network is 802.11g (D-Link). The PC that would be server is located upstairs while the router is downstairs, but the SB2 would be in the next room from the router. May be 7-8m away.

I just checked on the would-be server PC, and it's showing a "speed" (=bandwidth?) of 48.0 Mbps.

I'm using FLAC to encode my music.

RR

[max.spicer]

I'd say it will work perfectly. However, before you buy an SB2, make sure that there are no outstanding issues with your wireless network - it will make it much easier to work out what's what if you do have problems with the SB2.

Max

Thanks for replies everyone.



The wireless network is 802.11g (D-Link). The PC that would be server is located upstairs while the router is downstairs, but the SB2 would be in the next room from the router. May be 7-8m away.

I just checked on the would-be server PC, and it's showing a "speed" (=bandwidth?) of 48.0 Mbps.

I'm using FLAC to encode my music.

RR

[RuefulR]

I'll test out the network with the full rigour of which I am capable. That won't take long!

RR

I'd say it will work perfectly. However, before you buy an SB2, make sure that there are no outstanding issues with your wireless network - it will make it much easier to work out what's what if you do have problems with the SB2.

Max

[RuefulR]

RuefulR wrote:
> I have a home wireless network already set up, but the only computer
> connected via ethernet cable to the router is my work computer, which
> is usually on a VPN and then doesn't recognize devices on the home
> network.
>
> So, is it a really bad idea to use a wireless-connected computer as the
> server? I'm worried about wireless bandwidth.

Well, a wireless server would involve transferring the audio twice over
the wireless lan:

Server ----- WAP ----- SB

This may or may not be a problem depending on your wireless network
performance.

Is this an SB1 or SB2? The SB2 does 11g which has higher bandwidth
(54Mb/s vs. 11Mb/s for 11b - these are theoretical maximums!). Often, an
11b device (e.g. the SB1) connected to an 11g network will reduce the
performance of *all* devices to 11b levels.

> If it is a bad idea but might work, would music storage on a NAS
> plugged into the router make things better or worse?

A directly connected server (normal PC or NAS device) would reduce
wireless bandwidth requirements.

R.
--

Is that assuming that slimserver is actually running on the NAS? If I just use the NAS as purely a storage device, with slimserver running on the PC, then do I end up with something nasty like:

NAS-WAP-----PC-----WAP----SB2 ?

RR

[Robin Bowes]

RuefulR wrote:
> Is that assuming that slimserver is actually running on the NAS? If I
> just use the NAS as purely a storage device, with slimserver running on
> the PC, then do I end up with something nasty like:
>
> NAS-WAP-----PC-----WAP----SB2 ?

Ah yes, it would.

Assuming your network is like this:

NAS --- Wireless

Slimserver --- Wireless

Squeezebox --- Wireless

Then any audio streamed to the SB has to be transferred wirelessly three
times as three devices are talking to the WAP.

This may well work OK, but it increases your chances of having problems.

R.
--
http://robinbowes.com

If a man speaks in a forest,
and his wife's not there,
is he still wrong?

[ceejay]

Then any audio streamed to the SB has to be transferred wirelessly three
times as three devices are talking to the WAP.

This may well work OK, but it increases your chances of having problems.

Or is that four times?

(1) Data from NAS to WAP
(2) From WAP to Slimserver
(3) Slimserver to WAP
(4) WAP to SB2

Ceejay.