Hi All,

I am new to the media RAID5 server setup process. I have been using a Win2k3 Server with a JBOD setup for all my DVD's, Videos, Music and etc... All was working fine.

I recently convinced the wife to allow me to build a new server, and update the network for HTPC use. I bought all the parts and have it up and running, moved all data to the RAID Drive. ( See below for Server and Network Specs )

I also changed out the switch I was using to a new Netgear GS108 GB model, and replaced all cables in the house with CAT6. All PC's are now connecting over 1gbps.

All media folders are Network shares to the Media RAID drive that I map to each PC using a login script.

I can move large amounts of data from any PC to the server and back without issues, (6GB's of data moves over in about 3-4min, wow!), music, and internet play is fine.

But, when playing movies, videos, or DVD's from the new RAID server share, the video will pause/stutter/glitch for a second or two during playback, and it keeps happening every 5 or 10min throughout the entire movie.

Now get this, when playing a DVD from one PC I get stuttering, but playing the same DVD or others from the server on other PC's at the same time, the stuttering goes away! Stressing the server seems to clear up the issue? Weird.

It is driving me crazy!!! Not to mention the WAF rating dropping as well.

Anyone else see this happen using RAID5 or GB network?

Please Advise,

Mych

Server Parts:

Intel Pentium D 930 Presler 3.0GHz LGA 775 Processor - Retail

ASUS P5B-VM LGA 775 Intel G965 Express Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail

5 - Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5000YS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM ( For RAID5 Drive to Hold Media )

1 - Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - ( For OS Win2k3 Server )

SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write, LightScribe Technology Black SATA Model SH-S183L - OEM

PROMISE SuperTrak EX8350 PCI-Express x 4 SATA II Controller Card - OEM

New Router:

NETGEAR GS108 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet Desktop Switch - Retail
(Cables are all CAT6, made in house by me and tested to make sure they are working.)

I doubt it's a hardware issue; your server won't even break a sweat serving DVDs. First guess is anti-virus software.

Another idea-- DirectX 9.0c has a bug in quartz.dll that can cause stuttering in some video files. Rolling the quartz.dll file back to the 9.0b version will fix the problem.

GreySkies,

Thanks for the reply, I will check the Anti-Virus on the PC, and disable it if I need to. Will also check the quartz.dll file, but is this the one on the server or the PC that I should update?

Thanks Again for the help.

Mych :)

you might want to check to make sure the other computers/htpc are set up by default to the 1000mps.. some are automatic and some are configured to the 10/100 but not the 1000.

Go to your network card and make sure speed and duplex is set to 1000 as the default. Also make sure your network cards have the latests drivers.

Just an idea. I had a similier problem with music, my cards defaulted to 10megs when I had 10/100 cards installed. Set it to 100megs and it didn't stutter anymore.

It's the one on the PC that you should swap out.

Edit: Here's the 9.0b quartz.dll (http://bar.marvindog.net/files/quartz.zip) version (713KB) and a replacer batch file (http://bar.marvindog.net/files/Replacer.zip) (9.9KB) that'll replace the file without having to reboot into safe mode.

Make sure that you're replacing the version 9.0c file for DirectX 9.0-- I have no idea what would happen if you replace any other version.

Thanks for the info, I checked the network cards, and have them all defaulted to 1000mbs, thought that this was the issue when it first started. Did not seem to solve it.

Thanks for the files, will check that it is showing 9.0c before I change the file back. I will post back my outcome when I get home later today.

Mych

does it really rely on directx to stream over the network?

try streaming from the 160 gig disk, off the raid5 array, if that doesnt work, bypass the raid card by hanging a drive off the motherboard & sharing that out...

i'd try to isolate where its coming from-- either the os/raid card/motherboard, etc

does it really rely on directx to stream over the network?
Nope-- it's the DirectX on the HTPC. It's highly doubtful that the stuttering is coming from the server-- a DVD stream will top out at 8mbps. I had stuttering on mp4 files on a PC until I swapped out the quartz.dll file.

Ok, came home and installed the 250GB SATA II Drive from the old server that I still had the DVD files on, into the new server.

I hung the drive off the motherboard, NOT CONNECTED TO THE RAID CARD, shared the drive folder and played a DVD from the HTPC box, still getting the studdering/pausing/glitching. (Yay, not the RAID5, hopefully)

Now, checked the HTPC box, I recently reinstalled the OS on this box so no Anti-Virus software installed at this time, going to next option.

I downloaded the files you attached GreySkies, and checked to make sure I was using DirectX 9.0c, I was, and reverted the PC back to the 9.0b version file you attached here, then rebooted.

Playing the DVD from the Media-Server now on the HTPC, from the RAID5 - I still get studdering/pausing/glitching.

Playing from the Old Server drive share, (crossing fingers) - I still get the studdering/pausing/glitching, so this seems to have not solved the issue. :mad:

Thanks to all for the help, but I still can use suggestions on this as I cannot seem to see what is causing the issue.

Mych

The only other suggestion I have is to start a movie and see if any processes are grabbing cpu cycles.

Oh, and what sort of machine is your HTPC?

I don't have experience with SATA drives, but Windows will sometimes change my PATA drive to PIO from DMA mode.