Sorry for the delay:

Order #769161671136393

I think the point being made is that we paid for an item that we never received.  I appreicate the fact that others are willing to help out, but the fact remains that if you pay for something you should get it.  What in the world is the hold up?

Outstanding.  Here is the Media Director ifconfig result:

root@moon72:~# ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:1D:92:0F:44:D8
          inet addr:192.168.80.3  Bcast:192.168.80.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::21d:92ff:fe0f:44d8/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:392239 errors:141 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:141
          TX packets:307922 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:409797850 (390.8 MB)  TX bytes:95461943 (91.0 MB)
          Interrupt:20 Base address:0x8000

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:1368 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:1368 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
          RX bytes:88740 (86.6 KB)  TX bytes:88740 (86.6 KB)

Here is the ifconfig output pf the NICs on the linux core:

dcerouter_1:/home/linuxmce# ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:1D:92:B6:99:6B
          inet addr:192.168.80.1  Bcast:192.168.80.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::21d:92ff:feb6:996b/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:7359526 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:9313628 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:1442576109 (1.3 GB)  TX bytes:6700041446 (6.2 GB)
          Interrupt:17 Base address:0x8000

eth1      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:0E:0C:A2:23:D3
          inet addr:192.168.0.56  Bcast:192.168.0.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::20e:cff:fea2:23d3/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:165369 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:128543 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:192231471 (183.3 MB)  TX bytes:19128842 (18.2 MB)
          Base address:0xe400 Memory:febc0000-febe0000

I can't get the results from the media director though because it apparently doesn't use the same password for su that the core is using?

I started a packet capture after the movie was going for a bit.  The following is what I see after the movie studders for a moment:

mii-tool shows the following:

eth0: negotiated 100baseTx-FD, link ok
eth1: negotiated 100baseTx-FD flow-control, link ok

My core is running gigabit though, so shouldn't this show up as such?

cat/proc/interrrupts on the core shows:

dcerouter_1:~# cat /proc/interrupts
           CPU0       CPU1       CPU2       CPU3
  0:       5040       5664     271228   22644729   IO-APIC-edge      timer
  1:          0          0          0         10   IO-APIC-edge      i8042
  8:          0          0          0          0   IO-APIC-edge      rtc
  9:          0          0          0          1   IO-APIC-fasteoi   acpi
 12:          2          1         76       8192   IO-APIC-edge      i8042
 14:         30         73       8956     453140   IO-APIC-edge      ide0
 16:          0          0          0        293   IO-APIC-fasteoi   ohci_hcd:usb1, HDA Intel
 17:       1070       1177     214978   51339817   IO-APIC-fasteoi   ohci_hcd:usb2, ohci_hcd:usb4, eth0
 18:       1089       1017      49495    4670493   IO-APIC-fasteoi   ohci_hcd:usb3, ohci_hcd:usb5, nvidia
 19:         94        251      47362    3870708   IO-APIC-fasteoi   ehci_hcd:usb6, 3w-9xxx
 21:          8         10       1396     141982   IO-APIC-fasteoi   eth1
 22:          0          0          0          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   ahci
 23:          0          0          0          3   IO-APIC-fasteoi   ohci1394
NMI:          0          0          0          0
LOC:   22926590   22926525   22926544   22926509
ERR:          0

show int gi0/12 (core) and gi0/1 (Media Device)

test3550#show interfaces gigabitEthernet 0/12
GigabitEthernet0/12 is up, line protocol is up (connected)
  Hardware is Gigabit Ethernet, address is 000f.23a9.dc8c (bia 000f.23a9.dc8c)
  MTU 2000 bytes, BW 1000000 Kbit, DLY 10 usec,
     reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 2/255
  Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
  Keepalive set (10 sec)
  Full-duplex, 1000Mb/s, link type is auto, media type is 10/100/1000BaseTX
  input flow-control is off, output flow-control is on
  ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
  Last input never, output 00:00:01, output hang never
  Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
  Input queue: 0/75/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
  Queueing strategy: fifo
  Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
  5 minute input rate 10436000 bits/sec, 1331 packets/sec
  5 minute output rate 1100000 bits/sec, 1004 packets/sec
     5266411 packets input, 741758640 bytes, 0 no buffer
     Received 60087 broadcasts (0 multicasts)
     0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
     0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
     0 watchdog, 20 multicast, 0 pause input
     0 input packets with dribble condition detected
     4062890 packets output, 629197124 bytes, 0 underruns
     0 output errors, 0 collisions, 1 interface resets
     0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
     0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 PAUSE output
     0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
test3550#show interfaces gigabitEthernet 0/1
GigabitEthernet0/1 is up, line protocol is up (connected)
  Hardware is Gigabit Ethernet, address is 000f.23a9.dc81 (bia 000f.23a9.dc81)
  MTU 2000 bytes, BW 10000000 Kbit, DLY 10 usec,
     reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
  Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
  Keepalive not set
  Full-duplex, 1000Mb/s, link type is auto, media type is 1000BaseTX
  input flow-control is off, output flow-control is on
  ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
  1000BaseT module (WS-G5483) in GBIC slot.
  Last input never, output 00:00:00, output hang never
  Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
  Input queue: 0/75/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
  Queueing strategy: fifo
  Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
  5 minute input rate 651000 bits/sec, 684 packets/sec
  5 minute output rate 9693000 bits/sec, 1044 packets/sec
     2814020 packets input, 396925632 bytes, 0 no buffer
     Received 158 broadcasts (0 multicasts)
     0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
     0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
     0 watchdog, 57 multicast, 0 pause input
     0 input packets with dribble condition detected
     4146275 packets output, 377667857 bytes, 0 underruns
     0 output errors, 0 collisions, 1 interface resets
     0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
     0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 PAUSE output
     0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
test3550#

Wireshark is a bit huge, so I'll try and sort it to what looks to be the issue.

Results from show interface after the first hiccup.  More to come.

test3550#show int gigabitEthernet 0/1
GigabitEthernet0/1 is up, line protocol is up (connected)
  Hardware is Gigabit Ethernet, address is 000f.23a9.dc81 (bia 000f.23a9.dc81)
  MTU 2000 bytes, BW 10000000 Kbit, DLY 10 usec,
     reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
  Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
  Keepalive not set
  Full-duplex, 1000Mb/s, link type is auto, media type is 1000BaseTX
  input flow-control is off, output flow-control is on
  ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
  1000BaseT module (WS-G5483) in GBIC slot.
  Last input never, output 00:00:01, output hang never
  Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
  Input queue: 0/75/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
  Queueing strategy: fifo
  Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
  5 minute input rate 902000 bits/sec, 681 packets/sec
  5 minute output rate 8491000 bits/sec, 972 packets/sec
     560193 packets input, 124061300 bytes, 0 no buffer
     Received 122 broadcasts (0 multicasts)
     0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
     0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
     0 watchdog, 41 multicast, 0 pause input
     0 input packets with dribble condition detected
     768301 packets output, 827748511 bytes, 0 underruns
     0 output errors, 0 collisions, 1 interface resets
     0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
     0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 PAUSE output
     0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
test3550#show int gigabitEthernet 0/12
GigabitEthernet0/12 is up, line protocol is up (connected)
  Hardware is Gigabit Ethernet, address is 000f.23a9.dc8c (bia 000f.23a9.dc8c)
  MTU 2000 bytes, BW 1000000 Kbit, DLY 10 usec,
     reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 2/255
  Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
  Keepalive set (10 sec)
  Full-duplex, 1000Mb/s, link type is auto, media type is 10/100/1000BaseTX
  input flow-control is off, output flow-control is on
  ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
  Last input never, output 00:00:00, output hang never
  Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
  Input queue: 0/75/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
  Queueing strategy: fifo
  Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
  5 minute input rate 9211000 bits/sec, 1241 packets/sec
  5 minute output rate 1378000 bits/sec, 983 packets/sec
     988008 packets input, 910853215 bytes, 0 no buffer
     Received 7563 broadcasts (0 multicasts)
     0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
     0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
     0 watchdog, 0 multicast, 0 pause input
     0 input packets with dribble condition detected
     800396 packets output, 178362238 bytes, 0 underruns
     0 output errors, 0 collisions, 1 interface resets
     0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
     0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 PAUSE output
     0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out

haha, paranoia is good 

Don't forget to update the Core and MD with the same settings(speed, dup) though

I will reset all ports on the 3550 to the default configuration as suggested, but I'll leave the portfast enabled on the client ports.

sh int afterwards is fine. for both of the interfaces. Lots of Runts and drops are not good.
Take a quick look in the syslog as well just to make sure(that all is ok with the 3550).

Not sure how to do a similar in linux though =/ but that will give some hints if this is related to the network which I actually doubt.

(hari posted some nice commands to be run as well)

I plan to reload the server again tonight and try both Hari, and your suggestions. 

Btw, I assume you have everything on the inside of the Core, as recommended?

If you are referring to media directors and all that stuff being on the correct side of the core, then yes.  I have followed all recommendations as closely as possible on my configuration. 

Is it easy for you to move(copy) the same Movie to the hdd of the Core and view it from there as well?

Just to easily eliminate eventual troublecausers.

All my movies exist on the core.  I use the media directors as well as the core itself to rip movies.  I guess I am not sure what you mean?

Also I posted a while ago about twitchy playback and got the recommendation to not use alpha blending.. Try changing that.(in case you are)

I was a passionate viewer of that thread! as I had hoped that it would also uncover my issue. Immediately after it was suggested, I had turned off the alpha blending, but did not see any improvement.  I cried a little inside.

It was raw paranoia that caused me to force the speed & duplex setting as well as the other settings on the switch to begin with.  I’ve been screwing with this issue for months; following numerous threads in this forum that I had hoped would help me to resolve my issue.   I should not need an enterprise class switch to stream movies… and yet, here I am. (Not complaining!)

Furthermore, I won’t need to mess around with QoS as this switch is dedicated to just the internal media network. 
I will take your suggestion and reset the port settings for  speed and duplex.   This was just another example of me needing to verify that I was getting the speed that I was expecting.  I had already discovered cat5  patch cables that were not rated for gig speeds causing me headaches.

So for the sh int, do you need me to grab this a few times while a movie is running?  Do you just need it off the core, or the media device as well.  I’ll do sniffing as well.
I appreciate the assistance from all of you. 

You are all on the Christmas list now.

[switchport mode access]

 switchport mode access (This tells the switch the a computer is attached to this port, vs another switch or router.)

not exactly. This tells the switch to not use 802.11q

bandwidth 10000000 (This manually sets the port to allow the use of maximum bandwith.)

wrong. This does not affect the bandwith of the port but adjust metrics for routing protocols.

spanning-tree portfast (this is essential for PXE clients as it disables the 45 second port diagnostic and spanning tree checks that each port typically goes through when a new device comes on line.)

this has nothing to do with port diagnostics. Btw, the default settings for spanning tree are 50second (2x15s+20s).

from my point of view the switch config looks fine. Any results from the port counters?

best regards,
Hari

When I attempted to disable the firewall I got an ugly web error on the system.  I'm going to reload it and see if I Can get around that problem.  after that, I will post for you what I see.

you have your bandwidth set to 10Mb...?

No. Bandwidth = (10000000/raw bandwidth measured in Kb/s)

Below is the current config of my 3550 switch.  There are a few modifications that I made that I can point out.

test3550#show config
Using 1784 out of 393216 bytes
!
version 12.2
no service pad
service timestamps debug uptime
service timestamps log uptime
no service password-encryption
!
hostname test3550
!
enable secret 5 $1$pJkJ$L5DQXi1e5t.7vXaG9IstH1
enable password cisco1
!
no aaa new-model
ip subnet-zero
!
!
!
crypto pki trustpoint TP-self-signed-598334592
 enrollment selfsigned
 subject-name cn=IOS-Self-Signed-Certificate-598334592
 revocation-check none
 rsakeypair TP-self-signed-598334592
!
!
crypto pki certificate chain TP-self-signed-598334592
 certificate self-signed 01 nvram:IOS-Self-Sig#3201.cer
!
!
spanning-tree mode pvst
spanning-tree extend system-id
!
vlan internal allocation policy ascending
!
!
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/1
 switchport mode access
 bandwidth 10000000
 delay 1
 spanning-tree portfast
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/2
 switchport mode dynamic desirable
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/3
 switchport mode dynamic desirable
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/4
 switchport mode dynamic desirable
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/5
 switchport mode dynamic desirable
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/6
 switchport mode dynamic desirable
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/7
 switchport mode dynamic desirable
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/8
 switchport mode dynamic desirable
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/9
 switchport mode dynamic desirable
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/10
 switchport mode dynamic desirable
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/11
 switchport mode access
 duplex full
 spanning-tree portfast
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/12
 switchport mode access
 bandwidth 10000000
 speed 1000
 duplex full
!
interface Vlan1
 ip address 192.168.80.254 255.255.255.0
!
ip classless
ip http server
ip http secure-server
!
!
control-plane
!
!
line con 0
line vty 0 4
 password cisco1
 login
line vty 5 15
 password cisco1
 login
!
end[/b]

The server currently sits on interface 0/12. 

interface GigabitEthernet0/12
 switchport mode access (This tells the switch the a computer is attached to this port, vs another switch or router.)
 bandwidth 10000000 (This manually sets the port to allow the use of maximum bandwith.)
speed 1000 (You guessed it.  This is tells the switch to run at 1000MB/sec)
duplex full (Run at full duplex).

My test media extender lives on port 0/11
interface GigabitEthernet0/11
 switchport mode access
 duplex full
 spanning-tree portfast (this is essential for PXE clients as it disables the 45 second port diagnostic and spanning tree checks that each port typically goes through when a new device comes on line.)

no service password-encryption (in the terminal configuration of a cisco switch, (config t) you can specify whether or not to encrypt all passwords.)

Ok, is there a quick way for me to allow access via SSH and web to access the Core on its public side?  That will give me a quick way to grab the config for you.

Hari- I have a WS-C3550-12G It is a 12 port gigabit switch capable of both fiber and RJ45 connectivity.  I even have my eye on a few fiber nics to try on the core...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cisco-WS-C3550-12G-Gigabit-Switch-10-x-GBIC-2-Copper-GE_W0QQitemZ260303411174QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260303411174&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 I'll have the rest of that infor for you as soon as I get home.  I agree that DVD streaming should not require jumbo frames, but at the same time, I can't ignore the preformance gain that I saw after installing it.

Johanr- The freezing up is randam, and is less frequent with the Cisco switch in place.

Didn't you know, when you start plugging $4000 into a server, it develops a gender?  And it has to be a woman, because it drives me F"ing crazy, and yet I keep coming back for more.  

Yes a 3550 is an extremely loud switch.  But we have a (almost full) 72" server rack in the basement that houses all of this stuff so that it can be sealed off from the rest of the house. Thus noise is not an issue.  I am a Cisco guy at heart, so it wasn't difficult to justify the purchase (Ebay ~ $600).

HW: Nope, the core is just that, a filthy huge machine dedicated to a single purpose in life.  It is running LMCE and that is it.  I could use help with monitoring resources though, as I am not well versed in Linux either.  I even turned off the (Autostart Media Director) so that it is only running as a core.

Network:  This is what I am going to try tonight, I'll set up port mirroring and see what is going on.  

Raid: I chose raid 5 to maximize my storage capacity, while still allowing for redundancy.  Raid 0 is out since it offers no protection in the event of a lost drive.  I could use raid 1 or 10, but then I go from having 7TB of storage to 4TB.  I have given this a bunch of thought, and if I don't see anything using the packet sniffer, I guess that is what I will try next.

I'm just using good old alalog sound at the moment.  Or at least that is what Im trying to use.  I have a simple pair of pc speakers plugged into her at the moment.