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i set-up the D-LINK DNS 323 NAS unit with RAID 1 (dual 2-terabyte 5400 rpm drives)

it works, but it is slow in copying files between my computer and it (8 minutes to copy 4.5 gig file between NAS and my PC).

i am using Cisco WRT160N router. replaced the network wires to the latest spec, and my computer has realtek PCIe GBE network adapter.

what are possible causes? i am not seeing anything particular in my router admin console or the NAS admin console..

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1 Answer

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It sounded to me like you were connecting at 100BT speeds, so I checked that the time was right by going here:

http://adamsworld.name/copy_calc.php?do (enter 4.5, Gigabytes, Mbits/sec, 100 and calculate to see that it is about 7:05 with a 10% overhead).

Then I checked the stats on your Router, and it only has 10/100BT ports. That is your bottleneck.

http://www.linksysbycisco.com/APAC/en/products/WRT160N

http://downloads.linksysbycisco.com/downloads/datasheet/WRT160N_V10_DS_A.pdf

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crap.. did't think a modern router would not be gigabit! that's crazy.. can you recommend some good routers? – Sonic Soul Jul 7 '11 at 2:26
check it where? PC? router? nas? what should the size be ? – Sonic Soul Jul 7 '11 at 2:31
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@Sonic Soul I know what you mean. I can't say that I have any specific ones in mind. I am usually a Netgear guy for home routers (for friends, etc.). I would just double-check when you replace it, or you could add a cheap gigabit switch that links to it, and then plug the NAS and PC's into that. I agree with your "that's crazy". It should be illegal to sell 100BT now. :) – KCotreau Jul 7 '11 at 2:32
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@bmike Windows defaults to an MTU of 1500. That value also does not change on its own. If people start playing with their MTU, without understanding the effects, they are likely to have more problems. His problem has ZERO to do with MTU, it has to do with the speed of the integrated switch. – KCotreau Jul 7 '11 at 2:48
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@bmike Yes, on a SAN where the individual ports can be set, or they be VLAN'ed, or where the whole switch can be set...and when it is only traffic between one NIC and the switch. Being a home system, chances are, he does not have a second network card to go directly to the NAS, because he needs one that has an MTU of 1500 if he wants to go to the Internet, and home routers do not normally support such a high MTU. And in the end, it does not matter, 100BT is all you need to see to know that he will never achieve fast speeds. You sometimes have to temper the advice you give to non-pros. – KCotreau Jul 7 '11 at 3:24
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