Terrible network speeds on SMB data transfer to Ubuntu server

[compguy786]

Hello everyone !

So i have a ubuntu server box that is a file server along with media (plex etc) as well. I have a 2TB Raid setup on it. The box is wired through the router (Asus RT-N66U)

So i am transferring data over wireless to the box to a specific folder on the SMB share....and i am getting upload speeds of 4-800kb/s.... not EVEN 1 MBPS...why ?

Any thoughts ? It is wired, all drivers are installed etc and it works good...but network performance is lacking big time..it has a on-board built in NIC...should i install a PCI one to see if that makes it any better ?

 

[yinan]

Because you are doing the transfer over wireless which sucks for file transfers

 

[compguy786]

Because you are doing the transfer over wireless which sucks for file transfers

I'm sure it sucks... But 400kbs ? That is like behind crappy !

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'm sure it sucks... But 400kbs ? That is like behind crappy !

There are a LOT of factors that can effect wireless performance. It's impossible to really figure out root cause without a lot of work.

Plug in a cable and see what the transfer rates are. You can at least easily eliminate the server as a possible source of the problem.

 

[XLer8or]

Here are some possible things...

Toy with QOS(QOS packet scheduler in Win), be sure to turn it back if nothing is fixed.

How many walls and distance is the router to the wireless device?

turn off ubuntu's firewall just for troubleshooting, turn back on and configure if needed.

is the wireless adapter USB or a cheapo?

how many wireless devices is connected?

Should get 35mbps in same room on that Asus.

 

[Ertaz]

There are a LOT of factors that can effect wireless performance. It's impossible to really figure out root cause without a lot of work.

Plug in a cable and see what the transfer rates are. You can at least easily eliminate the server as a possible source of the problem.

This. Test wired and the field of issues is instantly narrowed.

 

[compguy786]

Here are some possible things...

Toy with QOS(QOS packet scheduler in Win), be sure to turn it back if nothing is fixed.

How many walls and distance is the router to the wireless device?

turn off ubuntu's firewall just for troubleshooting, turn back on and configure if needed.

is the wireless adapter USB or a cheapo?

how many wireless devices is connected?

Should get 35mbps in same room on that Asus.

The server is maybe around 50-60 feet away if that....not more (including the wireless router, same location)

There are maybe 3-4 walls in between. The wireless adapter is internal, and the wired on the server is onboard nic. There are ALOT of wireless devices connected, but when i was doing this, there werent any at all.

BTW i am doing this from my phone/tablet which is Android based

 

[VirtualLarry]

So i am transferring data over wireless to the box to a specific folder on the SMB share....and i am getting upload speeds of 4-800kb/s.... not EVEN 1 MBPS...why ?

There are maybe 3-4 walls in between. The wireless adapter is internal

BTW i am doing this from my phone/tablet which is Android based

And you wonder why?

 

[XLer8or]

While that router may have excellent range, that tablet/phone dont. It uses very low power for good battery life.

The only suggestion is run a AP to the room where you use it.

 

[compguy786]

While that router may have excellent range, that tablet/phone dont. It uses very low power for good battery life.

The only suggestion is run a AP to the room where you use it.

Well this topic just went useless as the darn SSD in that box just fried !

HAHA

Sorry. I will re-try everything once the new SSD comes !

 

[azazel1024]

Yeah your issue is still range.

On my windows tablet through 3 walls, a floor and about 50ft I manage about 1.5MB/sec of performance from my server to my tablet, about 1MB/sec of performance from the tablet to the server.

With my laptop that increase to about 2.7MB/sec down and 2MB/sec up. This is why I have an access point sitting in that room, because of the poor wireless performance at distance from my router.

Going and sitting in the basement with my router 15ft away and I can get 61MB/sec down and 42MB/sec up on my laptop and 9.5MB/sec down and 8.4MB/sec up on my tablet. Basically the same performance in the room where the AP is sitting too. Heck, because of having the access point, there pretty much isn't a spot within my house where performance drops below about 40MB/sec to my laptop or 8MB/sec to my tablet.

Wired though to my laptop I can get 115MB/sec up/down (235MB/sec up/down from my desktop to my server, but dual NICs and SMB Multichannel).

Distance kills performance with wireless. You need better performance, either relocate your device, relocate your router or add an access point close to where you intend to use the wireless device.

Some people seem to think that wireless is magical for some reason.

 

[compguy786]

Yeah your issue is still range.

On my windows tablet through 3 walls, a floor and about 50ft I manage about 1.5MB/sec of performance from my server to my tablet, about 1MB/sec of performance from the tablet to the server.

With my laptop that increase to about 2.7MB/sec down and 2MB/sec up. This is why I have an access point sitting in that room, because of the poor wireless performance at distance from my router.

Going and sitting in the basement with my router 15ft away and I can get 61MB/sec down and 42MB/sec up on my laptop and 9.5MB/sec down and 8.4MB/sec up on my tablet. Basically the same performance in the room where the AP is sitting too. Heck, because of having the access point, there pretty much isn't a spot within my house where performance drops below about 40MB/sec to my laptop or 8MB/sec to my tablet.

Wired though to my laptop I can get 115MB/sec up/down (235MB/sec up/down from my desktop to my server, but dual NICs and SMB Multichannel).

Distance kills performance with wireless. You need better performance, either relocate your device, relocate your router or add an access point close to where you intend to use the wireless device.

Some people seem to think that wireless is magical for some reason.

I might look into the Dual NIC...that sounds pretty cool. How do you get SMB multichannel to work ?

 

[spencers]

I might look into the Dual NIC...that sounds pretty cool. How do you get SMB multichannel to work ?

It's enabled by default with SMB 3.0 on Win2012 Server

 

[azazel1024]

It's enabled by default with SMB 3.0 on Win2012 Server

And Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Nothing else currently offers it. Yes, a few other things have SMB3.0 or 3.01, but currently SMB Multichannel is exclusive to those MS operating systems.

 

[compguy786]

Hey guys !
Thanks for all your replies...i finally got my server back up but am having tons of issues just getting the SMB to work properly, and have plex see my drives. It has been a huge pain just with permissions alone, as ubuntu was able to read my RAID setup off the bat without any issues, but again, permission issues and SMB issues are a PITA !

 

[azazel1024]

Heresy here, but that is why I do not use Ubuntu and use windows for my server box. First, most of what I use is Windows, therefore I am most familiar with it. Second, on a new Windows install I can basically have a server up and running in about 45-60 minutes from the time I hit the power button to the time I have all of my back-up jobs setup, applications installed, folder permissions configured, etc.

The last time I did it with Ubuntu (without a pre-configured image) I think it took me about 4 hours to do and get it working properly.

And I still didn't have SMB3...

And missing other functions unless I was running X-windows as well.

 

[compguy786]

Heresy here, but that is why I do not use Ubuntu and use windows for my server box. First, most of what I use is Windows, therefore I am most familiar with it. Second, on a new Windows install I can basically have a server up and running in about 45-60 minutes from the time I hit the power button to the time I have all of my back-up jobs setup, applications installed, folder permissions configured, etc.

The last time I did it with Ubuntu (without a pre-configured image) I think it took me about 4 hours to do and get it working properly.

And I still didn't have SMB3...

And missing other functions unless I was running X-windows as well.

TBH...i agree with you 10000%. 4 hours sounds right...

However i use linux mainly because of terminal and the ease of use. I work with linux on a day to day basis so i like to use this as a practice base as well

 

[azazel1024]

My comment wasn't intended as a knock on Ubuntu. Just that I don't personally find it as usable, in large part because of different level of experience, between the OS as I do with Windows.

That and windows does have some features I need/want for a server that Ubuntu doesn't currently have.

It has the huge advantage of being free however and better depth of configurability, lower system requirements and probably a few others I am not thinking of. Compatibility, outright network performance and ease of use (mine at least) are not it's pros though.

 

[freeskier93]

I'm sorry but dual NICs and multichannel SMB for a home media server? Seriously? Unless you have a crap ton of people connecting to the box at once, there are better ways to spend your time/money to increase network speed.

 

[azazel1024]

Well, my media server ran me all of $350 including drives, has dual NICs and multichannel SMB. Provides a nice 235MB/sec to/from my server to my desktop. Do I need it? Heck no. Does it save my time? Heck yes.

I don't often transfer 100GB of files between machines, but when I do, I do it over a 2Gbps link.

Since I needed a file server to begin with, wanted it running windows for a variety of reasons, the only additional cost for dual NICs and SMB Multichannel was, um, I think $40 for two extra Gigabit CT NICs, one for the server and one for my desktop. That was my total cost.

 

[XavierMace]

there are better ways to spend your time/money to increase network speed.

Do tell.