The Windows folder share is causing a slowdown in my internet connection.
The Windows folder share is causing a slowdown in my internet connection.
Recently I set up my RAID drive as a shared network among the computers in my home. While downloading files, I noticed my internet speed dropped to just a quarter of what it should be. This slowdown affected not only the RAID PC but also slowed down the entire internet connection, capping it at one-fourth of normal speed. No one was using the shared drive, yet multiple PCs were connected. Is this a problem with my router or switch? Could it be limited by a single 1Gb/s port? The restriction happens even when no activity is present on the shared drive. Even though the drive is idle, disabling the share and restarting all connected PCs restored normal speeds.
To address my query, I started by buying a new router. After getting Asus's RT-AX3000, my internet performance improved since the share folder issue was resolved. This happened when no one was using the folder, just basic connectivity. In short, the old router likely had problems, and switching to a new one fixed it. A switch might have helped too, but I chose the router option.