How do I move files quickly and faster? Where is my problem?
How do I move files quickly and faster? Where is my problem?
I am having trouble here. I probably messed up trying to fix everything but here is what I got stuck with and my workarounds. I teach a computer lab class. I am running a TRUNAS setup inside the classroom. I set up my own router because, the hardline used to supply my TRUNAS with internet is different from the WIFI the computers already use to connect to the internet. There isn't enough ethernet port around the class to connect all the computers directly to the TRUNAS, so I brought my own router, a Linksys WRT3200 model. But I figured that with a basic router, the wifi would be super bad when 32 computer at once try to connect to it. So I attached another router, a Linksys EA9500 because I assumed it could handle more devices on the network. BUT, the problem is I can only receive Internet when my WRT (the first router) is directly connected to the school's internet. If I connect the EA9500 it won't connect to the internet at all. Anyone have an idea why? My guess is that the schools modem assigned an address to the WRT and won't release any more ips for the EA9500. I am still not a pro at networking but I am always curious and willing to learn. Anyway, this is my setup and it has been working so far for 2-3 transfers at a time but I would like in an ideal work to transfer hundreds of GB at a time that won't take up an entire school day. I watched a bunch of videos about home networking and how a gigabit network card is ideal for faster speeds. Could anyone clarify for me, would the card help for sending information out or receiving information? Like wouldn't you need a network card for both your NAS and computer in order to utilize those speeds? If anyone could help with this, is there a simpler LAN network set up than the one I jerryrigged up together?
You probably have several problems right now. First, no matter what you try, your WiFi won't be fast when moving files, and adding more devices at once makes things worse because they slow each other down. It's only a certain point where it gets bad since all the routers share the same limited radio bandwidth. You might need to turn the linksys into an AP instead of a router. There could also be some IP conflicts on your network. If you look at just ethernet transfers, in theory every port on the router can send 1Gbit and receive 1Gbit right now so all at once. That means for LAN ports, data could actually move 4Gbit total. But the ports themselves aren't really the problem here. This doesn't match how people usually transfer files between computers though. Your real issue is if all that data comes from a NAS and that NAS only has a 1Gbit connection, then no matter how your PCs are connected, the maximum amount of data it can send to all of them combined is just 1Gbit.
First, you must work closely with the school IT team. There are two different wireless networks that fight each other for users. What computers do you need? Are they Chromebooks or normal desktops? You should definitely have a wired connection from your network drive to all of them. Can you put 30 USB sticks in front of you and copy your data there, then send those drives out so the kids can read their files right away at the same time on different computers?
I asked for some management or server storage at my site, but IT hasn't caught up yet. They said I could use a host PC with a network share, but I don't know if that's fast enough. I'm planning to connect each computer directly to the NAS to skip routers. It'll take time to run the right cables for every PC. Does using a thumb drive from my PC and moving files around count as sneaker net? If yes, it's mostly about how much effort and time I put in. That way I can watch files transfer while I manage the room and grade things too. Also, this lab is basically starting over with nothing set up yet. I have to rebuild everything from scratch. I'd rather just let students grab files they need and move their class footage around them during their period. Moving speeds of 5-10 Gbits per day.
Yes, when I said "sneaker-net," I meant connecting a USB drive to every client computer. That's why we talked about needing thirty USB drives in total. You don't have to wait; you just plug one in, click away, and move on. By the time all thirty are done, the first ones will be out of your hand, and you'll start unplugging them. If you want shared storage, then you need a wired network set up right now. Just get a single switch installed instead of that bunch of random hardware we have today. You need a 24-port or 48-port gigabit switch to do this properly.