Improve your network switch speed by upgrading its hardware or optimizing settings.
Improve your network switch speed by upgrading its hardware or optimizing settings.
You’re using a Virgin Media Superb 3.0 connection with gigabit speeds at home. The devices connected are a Synology NAS, a TIVO box, and an Amazon Fire TV. I’m pleased with how well the performance is working. My main concern is load balancing—by adding a Network Switch (NETGEAR GS105 ProSafe) and moving the NAS and Fire TV there, could this help distribute the traffic more evenly? Since the NAS handles a lot of HD streaming to the Fire TV via PLEX and KODI, I’m wondering if the switch would manage that load better or if adjustments on the superhub are necessary. I’m not an expert, so I’m asking for advice: should I connect everything directly to the switch? Do I need to tweak any settings on the ISP’s side to ensure the switch handles this traffic? Also, are there any changes required on the NAS itself?
Not really an expert, but based on what I know from experience. Most traffic will pass through the switch if both devices are connected, but routing from the router/modem is still necessary. However, I’m not sure about that. Even for 4K streaming, it shouldn’t cause any issues because Gigabit speeds are fast enough. Just connect everything and it should work just like before, no extra setup needed.
When the Virgin Media device operates at gigabit speed across all ports, adding a switch won't improve performance. No adjustments required as long as everything shares the same subnet. The switch handles packet switching once it knows which ports connect to which devices, eliminating the need for traffic to reach the router. No changes to network settings are necessary. If you use a different subnet, traffic must go through the router; support for multiple subnets is required for reaching other networks. @HanZie82 Your assessment is accurate—local traffic stays on the switch.
For performance, it's about noticing delays and finding ways to reduce them. For instance, when streaming HD content through Firetv on the NAS, I'd like to see fewer lags by using a separate switch instead of relying solely on the superhub. Still, since both are gigabit, it feels like a waste unless I add more Ethernet connections.
You could end up with minimal gains if the SuperHub switch isn't working well, but if you're handling high-speed connections between nearby devices, keep it as it is unless you plan to add more devices and include the switch.
It's important to note that the "SuperHub" functions as a single router and switch in one unit. Even basic ISP routers offer reasonable packet switching speeds, so you shouldn't see a noticeable gap when comparing it to a Netgear switch for a limited number of ports. Packet rate becomes more noticeable when dealing with more than 16 ports, which is why these devices typically feature faster processors capable of handling thousands or even millions of packets per second. With just three devices, any performance differences are minimal. If you're experiencing slow scrubbing, it's likely due to the limited processing power of the device. I observe a clear distinction between my HTPC i3 7100 and my Android TV (which also uses a quad-core Snapdragon processor like the FireTV) mainly because of their differing power levels.