Interesting question Dave. I’m still on the original firmware. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this thread. 

Hi I have tried various firmwares and software images, absolutely no difference... hardly suprising as the benefits are down to the physical architecture and build rather than the firmware code in my opinion. However my current streamer facing catalyst 3560 switch is on 

Hardware Board Revision Number : 0x01
Switch Ports Model               SW Version   SW Image
------      -----   -----                     ----------            ----------
* 1        9       WS-C3560-8PC 12.2(55)SE11 C3560-IPBASEK9-M

Hi DaveBk,

I did a lot of testing a year or so ago with differant configs and IOS versions and found no change. If you search for my posts it'll come up. This supports S-in-S theory about it being down to the chips used in (some) enterprise switches. Would always recommend the latest firmware though if you technically adept, but no sonic change from my testing.

Regards, Russ

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Hi I have tried various firmwares and software images, absolutely no difference... hardly suprising as the benefits are down to the physical architecture and build rather than the firmware code in my opinion. However my current streamer facing catalyst 3560 switch is on 

Hardware Board Revision Number : 0x01
Switch Ports Model               SW Version   SW Image
------      -----   -----                     ----------            ----------
* 1        9       WS-C3560-8PC 12.2(55)SE11 C3560-IPBASEK9-M

Hi Simon

I'm looking to upgrade my Netgear GS108 to a managed switch, and was considering the Cisco WS-C3560-8XPD-S, which has some future-proofing built in by having a couple of copper 10Gbe ports (my QNAP has a 10Gbe port); I spend quite a bit of time shuffling 4K video files around between DAS and NAS, so feel this could be useful, though my 2015 iMac only has 1Gb connectivity at this time. Not sure which flavour of the 3650 you have? It's certainly not inexpensive, but I'm hoping it will also improve occasional discovery issues with my Naim kit. I'd also looked at the Netgear GS110EMX, which is a Smart managed switch, but I'm not sufficiently savvy about network protocols to know if the Netgear will do the job as well. Would be interested in your thoughts?

Duncan

Hi, I’m sure the Netgear will provide the basic switching functions as well.. I use the 3560 as it suits my needs (it’s a layer 3 switch) and the model I use lusted above supports power over Ethernet, which I use for a local wlan access point in my listening room. 

As far as so called discovery issues.. there can be many causes, many of which are app and software related,  but from a network perspective it’s a case of ensuring the multicast IP address group is correctly propogated to participating devices on the network. This can be manually done by applications specifically issuing group advertisements which can be a bit hit and miss or you can get a device on the network to  setup up an IGMP querier, which independently regularly refreshes the multicast Ip address group  without an app having to  do it.. this helps ensure all servers and streamers are always instantly available in the Naim app... and other devices.. I run an IGMP querier using a simple IOS config on one of my 2960 switches... however before I expand on this I would need to check you knew how to enter a configuration state and edit the run time config IOS script in the device.

Thanks Simon. My network topology consists of a BT Home Hub 5, going to the existing Netgear GS108 - Wifi is handled by a Time Capsule in bridge mode running from the Netgear. I used to use a Draytek modem which was fine, but had issues (presumably multicast) when I bought a BT UHD TV box, which necessitated reintroducing the Home Hub - which to be fair has proved very stable. The HH5 is configured to handle DHCP, with a lease time of 21 days. I've set up a Static IP for the NAS, but not at this point for the SU2, or any other device for that matter.

In use, Naim App finds the Muso (connected via Wifi) consistently, but pretty reliably not the SU2. This applies whether the SU2 is connected to the Netgear switch or directly to the HH5. Oddly, I find that if the SU2 is not listed on the Rooms list, but it was the last connected device, I can sometimes initiate streaming and it will talk to the SU2. However, if I then try to multiroom, only the Muso is listed in the Multiroom pick list. All issues can be resolved by a quick trip to the switch, and unplugging and replugging the SU2's ethernet cable, which refreshes the app, which now lists the SU2 as one of the rooms. It's not a biggie, which is why I haven't invested a huge amount of energy to fixing it - but would be nice to have it working properly.

Re IGMP, you state that you run an IGMP querier using a simple IOS config on one of our 2960 switches, and ask if I know how to enter a configuration state and edit the run time config IOS script in the device - simple answer is no, I don't have any experience with the Cisco Internetwork OS, or indeed config of Cisco switches generally. Network engineering isn't an area I've dabbled in much, I'm willing to learn though! I did as a result of this thread come across a very good Cisco document on configuration of IMGP Snooping, which explained very clearly the concepts as well as the practicalities of config - which has been educational!

I was thinking of getting the Netgear switch from the Big River and just trying it - if it's not a success I can simply return it within 30 days. The Cisco switch is a big ticket item in relative terms, so would require a bit more thought in terms of understanding its potential benefits...

Thanks for your input, as ever...

Duncan