bit torrent affects file streaming performance?

[droz]

Just curious to see if anyone else is having streaming issues while the bit torrent client is running?

I usually watch videos on my laptop over 802.11g and I've noticed that there's jittters or 1 second stop/start during playback of any video file. At first I thought this might be an issue with my wireless as there's a few more 2.4Ghz networks around my apartment now.

I was working on my desktop yesterday (dual boot win2k3 & vista) and I noticed the same stopping and starting like on my laptop while watching a video file while on win2k3. I rebooted into vista and got the same thing watching the same file. I tried other files...avi, xvid, mpg2, mpg4, etc. Got the same problem. So with that I realized it's probably not my wireless on the blink but something going on with my nas.

I restarted it...several times. Same thing. I stopped allbit torrent downloads (service still running)...problem goes away.

Any tips would be appreciated

Leo

[chirpa]

What RAIDiator firmware is on the ReadyNAS?

If pre-4.01c1-p2, please try updating to it: http://kbserver.netgear.com/release_notes/d103170.asp

10. Normalize BitTorrent CPU priority to prevent overriding other tasks.

[droz]

I'm running 4.01c1-p1 I'll try an update and see what happens


Thanks

[droz]

OK so I upgraded to 4.01c1-p2 this morning before work and did a quick test on Vista and didn't have the jitter problem anymore.


I will test with XP from my laptop later today


Thanks
Leo

[mensch8maschine]

@droz:

how exactly do you install streaming of video files from NAS to a winXP PC? what settings are needed? i cant seem to find any posts or anybody who can explain this to me.

currently i'm using KMplayer and (as a fallback) VideoLAN, but i prefer the first prog.

[droz]

I don't install them on my PC from the nas.

I just play them using Windows media player. I use CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack http://www.cccp-project.net/ ) to play different file types.

I have the video files on the nas in one of the shares and I just double click on it and it streams from the nas.

My laptop as a 15.4" 1920x1200 screen so it can do full HD no problem. But trying to copy it over 802.11g or the 100Mbps ethernet takes for ever...so streaming is better for me

I also just purchased a Playstation 3 so now I can stream to my 46" LCD TV no problem. The PS3 has gigabit ethernet and it can copy movies and music from the nas via the UPnp server shares

[mensch8maschine]

interesting...

i cant stream hd movies, probably because i'm using a wireless connection. when you mentioned streaming i assumed you were using some kind of setup necessary when streaming radio for example. that type of streaming would be useful if the movie would be buffered first to prevent breaks in the movie from slow connection.

1) for the ps3 to stream do you use a direct connection or is there a router / switch inbetween? would it make a difference?

2) is it possible to stream and copy from the NAS to my PC harddrive at the same time? would be great since i like burning movies to DVD and copying takes forever!

3) and what about FTP? is that faster than just drag&drop via win explorer?

[droz]

I think you have problems and confusion with your setup.

streaming HD movies does not take up a lot of bandwidth, only 3 or 4 megabits at the most. Non-HD movies will stream about 2 megabits at most.

So if you can't stream a movie from your nas then it's not a bandwidth issue. When streaming to your computer you can run task manager and see how much bandwidth is being used. Just make sure you aren't doing anything else that connects to the internet or your local network that will affect the bandwidth meter.

When you mean stream and copy at the same time are you talking about watching a video and having it copy to your hard drive while you watch it? Yes you can do that but that's a function of the media player you use not of the nas or your computer. As far as I know there isn't a media player that will do this. I have no need or desire to copy and play at the same time. That's why I got the NAS, everything stays on it and I play them from there.

FTP is a more efficient protocol than Samba, but will be only marginally faster

Here is how I have my network setup

DSL Modem connected to D-Link DGL-4300 router which has four gigabit ports, I have my NAS plugged into it as well as my desktop and my laptop is wireless. I have a 5 port Netgear Gigabit switch in the livingroom behind my TV that connects my PS3 and ReplayTV to the router via a long cable.




I think what you need to do is have someone a bit more knowledgeable help you figure things out there at your house to help you understand how things work