Uniti2+Mac Mini+network switch?

Posted by: spurrier sucks on 15 February 2015

Hello all. 

 

1st post here. I'm the new owner of a Uniti 2. After owning a new XS 2 for about 2 weeks I decided to trade that in on a U2. I saw that the XS 2 was going to get more expensive in the future with various upgrades and decided to go with an all in one box and be done. It has been suggested to me that I could benefit from having both the U2 and my MM  hooked up via a network switch. Do I need to do this? What are the benefits of this over Ethernet to U2 and MM via wifi? If I have open ports on my router would connecting both the U2 and MM to it via Ethernet be the same as a network switch?

 

TIA

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by Mike-B

Welcome to the forum,    Most wireless hubs (routers) are not good switches as they don't handle MAC address distribution correctly, i.e. send & receive only required data between the correct network devices. Routers pebble-dash data all over & that slows everything down. Your system will work better with a switch whatever, & you never know,  you might even detect better SQ.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by spurrier sucks
Originally Posted by Mike-B:

Welcome to the forum,    Most wireless hubs (routers) are not good switches as they don't handle MAC address distribution correctly, i.e. send & receive only required data between the correct network devices. Routers pebble-dash data all over & that slows everything down. Your system will work better with a switch whatever, & you never know,  you might even detect better SQ.

Thanks for the welcome and answer.

 

now for the follow up. Is there a switch that is recommended or will any generic switch work? Once I get a switch is it then just plug and play? How do I connect to it? Ethernet from router to switch then from switch to Mac and a separate Ethernet to Uniti?

 

sorry for the newbie like questions but if course I am somewhat of a newbie.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by Mike-B

Most of the popular consumer stores switches will be OK, I use a Network GS105 ProSafe Gigabit switch.  Look on www for revues & best deals,  but just be sure its "unmanaged" - i.e. doesn't need programming & you're OK, price is around £18-£25.

 

Its plug 'n play,  but need to do it right

The switch is the centre "hub" of your network

Router to switch

Mac to switch

Uniti to switch

Use at least Cat5e,  better Cat6,  ethernet cable

Connect & turn everything on except the switch,  then when everything is on & stabilised, turn on the switch.  That "teaches" all the devices "MAC" addresses to the switch,  its like their post codes.

That's it, good to go,  happy listening.

Posted on: 15 February 2015 by spurrier sucks
Originally Posted by Mike-B:

Most of the popular consumer stores switches will be OK, I use a Network GS105 ProSafe Gigabit switch.  Look on www for revues & best deals,  but just be sure its "unmanaged" - i.e. doesn't need programming & you're OK, price is around £18-£25.

 

Its plug 'n play,  but need to do it right

The switch is the centre "hub" of your network

Router to switch

Mac to switch

Uniti to switch

Use at least Cat5e,  better Cat6,  ethernet cable

Connect & turn everything on except the switch,  then when everything is on & stabilised, turn on the switch.  That "teaches" all the devices "MAC" addresses to the switch,  its like their post codes.

That's it, good to go,  happy listening.

Thank you very much! Couldn't have made it easier for me!

Posted on: 16 February 2015 by Bart
Originally Posted by spurrier sucks:

Hello all. 

 

1st post here. I'm the new owner of a Uniti 2. After owning a new XS 2 for about 2 weeks I decided to trade that in on a U2. I saw that the XS 2 was going to get more expensive in the future with various upgrades and decided to go with an all in one box and be done. It has been suggested to me that I could benefit from having both the U2 and my MM  hooked up via a network switch. Do I need to do this? What are the benefits of this over Ethernet to U2 and MM via wifi? If I have open ports on my router would connecting both the U2 and MM to it via Ethernet be the same as a network switch?

 

TIA

How are you serving the music from the Mac Mini? Are you running Asset UPnP or something else on it?

Posted on: 16 February 2015 by spurrier sucks
Originally Posted by Bart:
Originally Posted by spurrier sucks:

Hello all. 

 

1st post here. I'm the new owner of a Uniti 2. After owning a new XS 2 for about 2 weeks I decided to trade that in on a U2. I saw that the XS 2 was going to get more expensive in the future with various upgrades and decided to go with an all in one box and be done. It has been suggested to me that I could benefit from having both the U2 and my MM  hooked up via a network switch. Do I need to do this? What are the benefits of this over Ethernet to U2 and MM via wifi? If I have open ports on my router would connecting both the U2 and MM to it via Ethernet be the same as a network switch?

 

TIA

How are you serving the music from the Mac Mini? Are you running Asset UPnP or something else on it?

Right now I'm using Twonkey but I also have minimserver. I like Twonkey better so dar. It breaks the files down with more options to search.

Posted on: 16 February 2015 by Bart

There is another thread, not too old, discussing some of the limitations of trying to use a Mac as a UPnP server.  If it's working -- great!  If it stops working . . . look to see if any of the power-saving features are causing issues.  A Mac isn't really intended to be up and running 24/7 as a server, but so long as it's working, enjoy!

Posted on: 16 February 2015 by spurrier sucks
Originally Posted by Bart:

There is another thread, not too old, discussing some of the limitations of trying to use a Mac as a UPnP server.  If it's working -- great!  If it stops working . . . look to see if any of the power-saving features are causing issues.  A Mac isn't really intended to be up and running 24/7 as a server, but so long as it's working, enjoy!

I'm starting to look at possibly going with a NAS or Vortexbox. I don't know a lot about either so we'll see what I come up with. I've been using the Mac for about 2 years with itunes and the remote app with no problems. Hopefully it will continue to work until I decide on which way to go. Any suggestions? Any links on helping me make a choice?

Posted on: 16 February 2015 by Bart
Originally Posted by spurrier sucks:
Originally Posted by Bart:

There is another thread, not too old, discussing some of the limitations of trying to use a Mac as a UPnP server.  If it's working -- great!  If it stops working . . . look to see if any of the power-saving features are causing issues.  A Mac isn't really intended to be up and running 24/7 as a server, but so long as it's working, enjoy!

I'm starting to look at possibly going with a NAS or Vortexbox. I don't know a lot about either so we'll see what I come up with. I've been using the Mac for about 2 years with itunes and the remote app with no problems. Hopefully it will continue to work until I decide on which way to go. Any suggestions? Any links on helping me make a choice?

There are about 7,000 threads here discussing nas choices   And a couple of posters who routinely recommend Vortexbox . . . but it seems that a QNAP or Synology nas is the choice of most.