Hi all,

My Unraid server seemed to be responding slowly so I added the "SpeedTest by OpenSpeedTest" app and tested the speed and it's locked around 90Mbps but I should have a 1000Mbps connection ?

 

In my main dashboard it shows it as a 1G connection:

 

My settings are as follows:

 

Am I supposed to have Bonding enabled or anything?

 

My switch is just a basic 1 gig unmanaged switch. And I'm sure that my system used to run at 1 gig speed?

 

The cable is a really good one but I will double check it with my laptop.

 

I just wondered what else it could be and whether there's any of my settings need changing?

 

Thanks for any help you can give me.

They reseating the cables and rebooting the switch/other network equipment.

 

Just now, Kilrah said:

They reseating the cables and rebooting the switch/other network equipment.

 

I did do that and it briefly went up to 1 gig and then back down again to 100 Mbps.

Suggests hardware, try another switch port/not using the switch at all if you can.

Just now, Kilrah said:

Suggests hardware, try another switch port/not using the switch at all if you can.

Yep I did swap to another port and it didn't make a difference.

 

I did wonder if it could be the switch? But then I thought it wouldn't show up in the Dashboard of Unraid as connected at 1G if it was the switch (is that true?)

Try a new cable.  All eight wires are used to provide 1Gb/s.  Only four wires are necessary for 100Mb/s.

 

Also check the sockets for bent pins. 

Just now, Frank1940 said:

Try a new cable.  All eight wires are used to provide 1Gb/s.  Only four wires are necessary for 100Mb/s.

 

Also check the sockets for bent pins. 

Okay - thanks, I will do. I'll report back (the server is in the attic and the switch is in the eaves of the house so will do it after work tomorrow as need my old clothes on to go crawling about in there). Cheers

1 hour ago, Johnny T said:

the server is in the attic and the switch is in the eaves of the house

Make sure that everything else connected to that switch has 1Gb service.  You want to make sure that you are replacing the right section of cable.  (Since it is in the attic, make sure that you look for evidence of varmints  that might be chewing on the cable...) 

13 hours ago, Frank1940 said:

Make sure that everything else connected to that switch has 1Gb service.  You want to make sure that you are replacing the right section of cable.  (Since it is in the attic, make sure that you look for evidence of varmints  that might be chewing on the cable...) 

Christ! Don't say that in front of the wife!!!!  

 

Yep, really good point. I'm planning on taking my laptop up there after I finish work today and then plugging the server cable into it and doing a SpeedTest. That will test the connection from the laptop to the internet. If that's 1G then that leaves bent pins in the server RJ45 socket or something faulty inside the server (hopefully not!!). 

 

I will report back with my findings... hopefully it is the cable although I doubt it as it's a really good quality cable that I bought. We will see..... thanks for all your help  

** EDIT ** spoke too soon with my post below - back to 100Mbps... need to start replacing cables I think. Still want help with the flash corruption though.

 

Right... reporting back after a bit of digging. Going to detail my fault finding method just in case it helps someone else (and me possibly in the future as I've not cured the problem properly).

 

I disconnected the ethernet cable from the server and plugged it into my laptop - the speed was still only 100Mbps

So I connected my laptop into the 1G unmanaged switch directly and tried that - the speed was still only 100Mbps

So I disconnected and reconnected the cable that connects the switch to the rest of the network and - hey presto - full speed!

 

So next job is to replace that cable.

 

On an unrelated note: this is the second time now that disconnected the ethernet cable from the server has corrupted my flash drive? I then have to power the server down, remove the drive, plug it into my laptop which detects that it needs 'repairing' - let it get repaired and then plug it back into my server and all is well again?

Any ideas? Is my flash on the way out? Or is disconnecting the ethernet somehow causing a spike of noise or something that is corrupting the flash? Or am I not supposed to disconnect the ethernet from Unraid whilst it's running?

 

Thanks for all your help.

Edited May 24, 20242 yr by Johnny T

I would not expect that the Ethernet cable should be able to affect the flash drive.   Perhaps you have some sort of earthing issue?

1 minute ago, itimpi said:

I would not expect that the Ethernet cable should be able to affect the flash drive.   Perhaps you have some sort of earthing issue?

Yep I wondered about that? The server has a steel box and is seating on top of a wooden table but I would assume it would be earthed through the power cable that goes to a USP ?

 

Strange one... either that or maybe the USB is on it's way out and is particularly sensitive as it slowly dies....?

 

13 minutes ago, Johnny T said:

So I disconnected and reconnected the cable that connects the switch to the rest of the network and - hey presto - full speed!

 

Have a look at the plug socket on the switch to see that none of the pins are bent on the plug.  When unplugging and replugging a connector 'fixes' the problem, it is a mechanical issue---  bent pin on plug or socket, broken wire in cable, locking tab on cable not engaging properly in switch socket, or corroded connectors cover most of the causes. 

Edited May 24, 20242 yr by Frank1940

1 hour ago, Johnny T said:

he server has a steel box and is seating on top of a wooden table but I would assume it would be earthed through the power cable that goes to a USP ?

There is a tool to test that a socket is properly wired.  See here for example:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Southwire-Equipment-40022S-Receptacle-Tester/dp/B07HB2J3ZG/

Edited May 24, 20242 yr by Frank1940
Cleaned up Amazon link!!!

1 hour ago, Frank1940 said:

There is a tool to test that a socket is properly wired.  See here for example:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Southwire-Equipment-40022S-Receptacle-Tester/dp/B07HB2J3ZG/

Yep, the socket itself is definitely fine. All the sockets were checked not long ago. But thanks for the link. Looks like a handy tool.

1 hour ago, Frank1940 said:

 

Have a look at the plug socket on the switch to see that none of the pins are bent on the plug.  When unplugging and replugging a connector 'fixes' the problem, it is a mechanical issue---  bent pin on plug or socket, broken wire in cable, locking tab on cable not engaging properly in switch socket, or corroded connectors cover most of the causes. 

Yes, I've ordered a cable (arriving Sunday) to bypass the problem area and hopefully sort the issue. It will certainly rule a big chunk of it out.

 

At least I'm getting closer to the solution now. Thanks

Edited May 24, 20242 yr by Johnny T

1 minute ago, Johnny T said:

Yes, I've ordered a cable (arriving Sunday) to bypass the problem area and hopefully sort the issue. It will certainly rule a big chunk of it out.

 

At least I'm getting closer to the solution now. Thanks

Good idea.  This will have a secondary benefit.  The bandwidth of the uplink cable is shared with everything that is connected to the switch.  With a dedicated cable to your server, it will have the full bandwidth all to itself.  

On 5/24/2024 at 3:07 PM, Frank1940 said:

Good idea.  This will have a secondary benefit.  The bandwidth of the uplink cable is shared with everything that is connected to the switch.  With a dedicated cable to your server, it will have the full bandwidth all to itself.  

Just an update... fitted the cable today and that has sorted it!!

 

We're now cooking on gas!! Thanks again for all your help