[ZazaBB]

Hello Folks!

Sorry, I got preoccupied with the birth of another granddaughter. All is well and everyone is fine.

Now, to get back to the matters at hand....

As far as speeds, it kind of reminds me back when I worked for Playback in the 70's.... people measured "power" in several ways until it finally became the accepted RMS values. To tell the truth, I never have figured out exactly how to measure network speed or drive transfer speed in any meaningful way other than to say it takes "x" amount of seconds to move a file of "x" amount of bytes either between two drives on the same bus or across a network to a different computer.

Also, I use Norton Commander to transfer files as opposed to Windows Explorer. There is a simple CRC routine in it that does make for a small difference in overhead, but negligible. (Yes, Norton Commander for 95, 95 & NT... AND I still have my DOS version 1.0 of it too.)

Now that being said, if there is some mechanism by which the speeds can easily measured without a slide rule & calculator, I will be happy to comply. Point me to the program to run and I'm all over it.

With regards to the port modifications for intrustion prevention, I am running a business gateway, not a home cable modem. I have 5 static IP's which I use for whatever little project I might be working on. The infrastructure for my network is 2 - GS724 Netgear Gigabit Switches which can be managed for throughput, etc, but not a true managed switch as I have no need for that. My server is a Dell PowerEdge 2900 with lots of storage that serves my document needs and houses my video and audio library. Mezzmo is the DLNA server I use because of it's simplicity and reliability. The Snap 410 is an external gateway for family who have little access to TV shows, etc, so I put a modicum of files out there for them to grab. I could utilize another router such as suggested by blue68f100, but I had hoped the Snap was at least as configurable as lesser NAS systems out there. As I mentioned, my old 4100 was able to show any user attached, whether HTTP or via LAN..... why this is no longer so, I cannot fathom.

I had hoped the Snap would allow such mundane things as locking out a scope of IP's and also even throttling bandwidth, as some other lesser NAS systems have, but alas, it's not to be. I spoke with a friend who is well versed in Linux and NAS systems who basically said I'm spinning my wheels. FreeNAS seems to be the OS with the most flexibility and ability to add features as I have wanted, and also a DLNA server for those interested in that for a NAS.

I have another NAS by Iomega that is spec'd about the same as the 520 is, but it's much louder so I haven't really played with it much.... yet.

If it wasn't for the fact that I don't want to run IIS on the Dell server, I'd have just done something along the lines of a Website and/or FTP relegated to another NIC on a separate drive.

Whew, that was long winded.....

Anyways, I have my abode wired with a Network Media Tank (Like a Popcorn Hour, eGreat or similar) and in some instances a networked Blu-Ray player. Total media devices on the network
is 9. I have concurrently served a combo of HD & normal NTSC to 5 with no issues whatsoever. I don't do wireless... at all.... period... for media playing.

Well thems my bona fides and I will be happy as a clam to answer any questions about any of it or how I am doing whatever.

Thanks for the responses and I look forward to some more banter!