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Originally Posted by
rms8 
Has anyone ever found the need to implement LACP on their network for their Media Server due to streaming too many high BW content? THX
The following comments are cut/pastes from other threads with very similar topics. So while they may be a little disjointed, you should be able to make sense of them. In short, stop worrying.
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...Let's think about this, assuming that the average BR runs about 30 Mbps (which is actually rather conservative as they tend to run at or below 25Mbps most of the time) and that a normal gigabit connection can handle contiguous data like a RB rip at real world rates easily up to 60 MBps, that means that even with just one gigabit connection being spread out throughout the house, you're still capable of serving 16 BR rips at a time...
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...The OP said he's thinking he'll have 10 or so devices. How many of those do you actually think will be running full bore at the same time?
Let's be generous and say 6 at a time. No Rokus or anything, just 6 streamers that only do Blu Ray rips. Let's say that in this averaged sized, 3400 sq' house he has 6 TVs and all 6 are expected to playback a different BR rip at the same time.
Furthermore, let's say that all 6 of these different BRs are encoded at the absolute max bitrate of 50Mbps, constant bitrate. Its not going to happen, most BRs have an average bitrate of half this or less, but let's say it anyway.
Now with all that going on, let's say he still wants to transfer some backup data or something to a laptop. All 6, *full bore* BR rips run about 37.5MBps, leaving a transfer rate of at least 20MBps to transfer his backup files.
Personally, on my network, it is quite normal to see 60MBps transfer between computers on different switches, even with HD media playing to some network streamers. So that is where I'm getting my numbers. And I use the cheapest switches Newegg had available at the time...
Personally, I've never had a problem running up to three BR streams at a time. I've never had need to run more than that, but I doubt you will see any issues with 4. I have one central switch in the basement, with other switches in line elsewhere in the house to break out a single network connection behind a TV, etc.
Been running this way for years without problems.
I'd put the media server on one 16 port switch, as well as the ISP input from the router (effectively not using the router switch at all) and the 8 port switch from the office. I'd also connect the other 16 port switch to the first 16 port switch. Then use the remaining 12 ports for BR playback devices (where practical) and possibly other high bandwidth needs like a wired drop to plug a laptop in when not in the office, etc. Then I'd put other, less bandwidth instensive stuff on the other 16 port switch and be done with it.
At the same time though, I wouldn't think twice to hang a couple of the BR streamers off the other 16 port switch or the 8 port office switch either. If it made wiring simpler.
-Suntan
