Currently my Plex server is downstairs and connects via ethernet. I use either my Apple TV or the app on my Android TV to watch Plex. I use a Mac Mini with a thunderbolt storage array as the server.
The TV and all the devices connected to are upstairs and are all hooked up via ethernet to a switch that is itself connected to my OnHub router set up in a mesh network, the other OnHub router is downstairs and it is connected to the modem.
What would offer a better connection, the MacMini downstairs directly connected to the internet via ethernet and streaming via wifi to the Apple TV and android TV upstairs or moving the server upstairs and connecting it to the same switch as my apple TV and my Android TV?
Is there some advantage to both the server and the client being on the same switch even if they connect to the internet via wifi? I mean they don’t know they do since it all goes through the router but does it change anything?
Do you have buffering issues or some playback issues or are you just looking for the optimal configuration?
In my opinion hardwired direct is always the best way to go but with that said hardwired is not always an option…
I would think the in your scenario having your Mac Mini upstairs connected to the same switch where your clients are connected is the best setup but unfortunately based on this info both your Apple TV and Android TV require internet so moving this upstairs may not buy you much.
You might also want to look into powerline adapters as you may get better throughput between upstairs and downstairs compared to wifi.
@nokdim said:
Do you have buffering issues or some playback issues or are you just looking for the optimal configuration?
In my opinion hardwired direct is always the best way to go but with that said hardwired is not always an option…
I would think the in your scenario having your Mac Mini upstairs connected to the same switch where your clients are connected is the best setup but unfortunately based on this info both your Apple TV and Android TV require internet so moving this upstairs may not buy you much.
You might also want to look into powerline adapters as you may get better throughput between upstairs and downstairs compared to wifi.
Mostly looking for the optimal configuration. To be clear everything is connected to the internet just wifi is obviously less reliable then wired. So really i want to know is it better to have the client and server connected to wifi and each other via a switch or to have the server hardwired via ethernet and the client on wifi.
