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Ethernet switches and NAS connection?

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Posted on April 13, 2021 at 05:39:13
tketcham
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Location: East of the 100th meridian USofA
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  Since: October 1, 2005
 I'm wondering how to best set up an Ethernet switch (or two) for use with a NAS drive and two music bridges (Node 2i) and video streamer.

My current setup involves the following Ethernet connections:

Router > Bluesound Node 2i in living room
Router > NAS drive in living room
Router > Laptop in living room
Router > Bluesound Node 2i in basement (main stereo system)

In the basement room I'll be adding a movie streamer and a digital recorder with an Ethernet connection so I bought an unmanaged network switch for the basement devices.

My question is how to best set up the NAS drive for use with the living room Node 2i and the basement network.

Should I install another network switch in the living room with the NAS drive, Node 2i (living), and Ethernet cable run to the basement? Or leave the NAS, Node 2i, and basement Ethernet cable connected directly to the router?

Thanks for any suggestions and advice.

Tom

 

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RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 13, 2021 at 19:10:49
AbeCollins
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  Since: February 2, 2002
 Not knowing the layout of your house or cabling challenges, I would suggest going the easiest route.

From a networking perspective it doesn't matter which devices you leave connected directly to the router or which devices get connected to the switch.

If your goal is to expand the number of devices in the basement, put the switch in the basement, disconnect the Ethernet cable from your Bluesound Node 2i and connect that cable to the switch.... along with the other devices you want to add. Done.... unless I missed something you're not telling us.



 

RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 00:55:02
Daveslater
Audiophile

Posts: 1044
Location: UK
Joined: June 11, 2003

I posted on a UK forum about solving a problem on streamed audio by adding a second 1Gb switch dedicated to the audio side. This could be relevant to your issues on how to set up a network with NAS. Hopefully network diagram is shown above.
My contribution is on page 4 of the linked highly relevant thread.

 

RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 09:12:32
tketcham
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Posts: 6701
Location: East of the 100th meridian USofA
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Contributor
  Since: October 1, 2005
 Thanks, Abe. Regardless, I'll have an Ethernet run into the basement with a switch for everything there. I think you answered my question about plugging the living room Node 2i and NAS directly into the router or using a switch in the living room. Basically, it doesn't matter.

Tom

 

RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 09:19:49
tketcham
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Posts: 6701
Location: East of the 100th meridian USofA
Joined: March 21, 2005
Contributor
  Since: October 1, 2005
 Thanks, Dave.

So is the Vortex server the equivalent of a NAS drive? If so, would it be OK to plug the NAS into the first switch? Or should the NAS reside where the audio switch is located? I was hoping to avoid having the NAS drive in the basement. I'm going to read the forum discussion tonight to learn more.

Tom

 

RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 10:43:01
Daveslater
Audiophile

Posts: 1044
Location: UK
Joined: June 11, 2003
 Vortexbox is the NAS. I added a second switch specifically to keep audio traffice separate from other traffic. The extra switch is connected back to the first 1G Netgear router to gain access to network for DHCP (handing out IP addresses) and access to the router which is also the DHCP server. That gives everybody access to internet and all kit with IPs in the same subnet.
Works a treat.
If you have no problem with corrupted audio traffic you can certainly connect the NAS to the switch and not bother to move the NAS. Suck it and see.

 

RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 19:12:20
tketcham
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Posts: 6701
Location: East of the 100th meridian USofA
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  Since: October 1, 2005
 Traffic shouldn't be a problem so will suck it and see. :-)

Thanks again.

 

RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 19:31:15
Rod M
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 Running from the router, connect a switch to all the gear in the living room. If you need more in the basement, add another switch. You'd want to use router connections to various locations and let local switches do the local work.

-Rod

 

RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 20:15:28
tketcham
Audiophile

Posts: 6701
Location: East of the 100th meridian USofA
Joined: March 21, 2005
Contributor
  Since: October 1, 2005
 Hi, Rod,

That makes sense other than the NAS drive in the living room feeding music to the Node 2i in the basement, which is where my main stereo system resides. I was wondering if it was best to move the NAS drive to the switch in the basement, or whether the NAS could stay in the living room and connect to a switch there.

Tom

 

RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 20:35:19
Rod M
Web Geek

Posts: 16245
Location: So. California
Joined: March 1, 1999
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 1999
 It really doesn't matter considering Gigibit switches, but being on the same switch as the main system allows for shorter wires and avoid audio nervousa. If it's also a better location long term and not noisy, why not?

-Rod

 

RE: Ethernet switches and NAS connection?, posted on April 15, 2021 at 04:26:28
tketcham
Audiophile

Posts: 6701
Location: East of the 100th meridian USofA
Joined: March 21, 2005
Contributor
  Since: October 1, 2005
 OK, then. The NAS drive isn't noisy unless I get close enough to hear it. That is, when there's no music playing. :-)

Tom

 

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