LAN video streaming

[Sir. Crackerjam]

Well, with my setup now I store my movie files on a separate computer(1TB HD) on my LAN. It and my gaming computer are both connected through the same 100mbps ISR. For some reason if I try and just watch the videos that are stored on the shared HD, I get major packet loss and lots of artifacts in the video. To watch any video I have to copy it to my local HD first, any ideas why this is happening? (same problem with my 54mbps wireless laptop)

[Sir. TheHeartSmasher]

Please call an ISR a router :) and an AP a WAP or a wireless access point :) .

What type of network cards are they running?

If you have port management options make sure you have the ports configured to run 1000Mb/s. If you have a weak router it will not be able to accurately stream information from one pc to another without extreme packet loss.

I get perfect video from my xbox360 to my PC and from my PC to my XBOX360 when streaming or debugging games over wireless. Also make sure you have defragged the videos and have Flow Control turned off on the network cards.

[Sir. Crackerjam]

Sorry, I like my networking acronyms.

My "server" computer has a 100 mbps integrated NIC, my gaming computer has an integrated 1000 mbps NIC. Both are set to auto duplex negotiation so that shouldn't be a problem.

Router ports are set to run at 100mbps, I think the router is my problem though, it's not very configurable, thus it is probably killing my video.

I haven't defragged the videos, and I'll be sure to set flow control off now, though I think it's off by default.

[Sir. TheHeartSmasher]

Change your PCs NIC speed to 100Mb, as I have seen instances when stuff just doesn't work unless everything is set to the same port speed unless you are using a switch.

Even us big networking guys don't call a router an ISR or a Wireless Access Point (WAP) a Access Point (AP). If I called a router an ISR people would laugh at me and ask me if I was still taking introduction to networking unless they specifically asked what type of router it was. Since your talking about consumer grade routers that you pick up at the store 99 percent of them are ISR routers.

Also what method are you using to stream videos? VLC?

[Sir. Crackerjam]

changed my NIC speed to 100, no change.

saying ISR makes me sound smarter to people that dont actually know what it is

just playing them through WMP by browsing to the network folder and opening the file

EDIT: apparently my "server" had flow control on for some reason, turned that off and the problem seems to have disappeared. Much thanks Smasher.

[Sir. TheHeartSmasher]

No problem :), glad to know you or now longer having laggy streaming, which is very annoying.

[Sir. Crackerjam]

:)