best way to connect to file server? solved

[akshunj]

So, first let me describe my pimp setup:

Server - Old P3 desktop in the basement running Cassandra XFCE. It is a broadcatching system, as well as streaming file server. I use T.E.D. to catch TV torrents via RSS as they come available, and those torrents get bounced to Deluge for downloading. The system also runs a SAMBA server.

Client - HTPC in the living room running Daryna. I use SAMBA to mount the basement file server's directory, and stream the content on-demand with Xine.

My problem is network throughput. I can't get anything faster than 900KB/sec (7.2Mb/sec). I'm using wireless-G for the router and both clients, which should give me a theoretical speed of 6.7MB/sec (54Mb/sec). That's like turning on the shower and getting a little trickle. Sure, streaming video doesn't need a ton of bandwidth, but occasionally the content is in HighDef and Xine starts to stutter.

Am I overcomplicating things by using SAMBA? Should I use another type of server? NFS gives me similar results, but maybe SSH? Any thoughts?

--Akshun J

[Husse]

Seems a bit too large difference. Have you ruled out a hardware glitch?

[akshunj]

Seems a bit too large difference. Have you ruled out a hardware glitch?

Yeah, it's not a hardware thing. I've swapped about everything out at least once...

--Akshun J

[Husse]

OK - can you check the rate for a "normal file transfer" just using shared folders
The speed of that can give a hint

[akshunj]

Shared folders? Not sure what you mean. I experimented with SSH and connected to my desktop system from a Virtual Machine running Daryna. I used bridged networking, so the Virtual Machine had it's own IP. I copied a file via SSH, and it maxed out my connection for the first time at about 6MB/sec (50 Mbits/sec).

So, thinking I fixed my problem, I dumped SAMBA and setup SSHfs. Outside of the virtual machine, my luck was not as good. But, network speed was improved 1.5MB/sec (12Mbits/sec). And my HD streaming is more reliable. No stuttering. I'd call it a partial success.

By the way, SSHfs absolutely rocks! The SSH server sets up right after install from Synaptic. And on the client side, a few tweaks here and there, and you're set! No samba config files, defining shares, creating new users, etc. You could spend an hour configuring SAMBA, but SSH took me 5 minutes!

--Akshun J

[Husse]

Jay - that's some difference
With "shared folders" I referenced to Control Center > System > Shared folders
It uses rather basic networking (I presume)