Server upload and download bandwidth the same?

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

Server Version#: 1.19.2.2737
Player Version#: not relevant

Hi, I installed a bandwidth monitoring app on my windows 7 server. Everything works fine or as expected with other things I do on the web using that machine.

When a user watches something, I can see the bandwidth used by that plex user in real time. My observation is that when a plex user streams something, download and upload bandwidth are around the same for the entire duration of the stream. That seems weird since the player does not need to send that much data back to the server so I’m wondering why that is.

I’m expecting a way higher upload bandwidth on the server side than a download bandwidth.

Expected behavior during stream server-side: 10mbit upload bandwidth/1-2 mbit download bandwidth.

Observed behavior server-side: 10mbit upload AND download.

Any reason for this?
Thanks!
PS: Plex server shows only upload bandwidth but not what the server is receiving because of the stream… feature request?

2

Where are your media files stored?

Is the user who is playing located in your local network or outside?
Does the player have a “direct” connection to the server?

Are you running the Plex server in a virtual machine?

3

I have an old Windows 7 app that monitors network activity, and there is hardly any activity on the “down” side on the local network or remotely. The app only shows the activity for the computer it’s installed on, not the entire local network.

If your app is monitoring the entire local network and not just the server, and you are streaming locally, I would expect the rates to be the same.

4

ah!

I think I understand what is going on…

I’m all on local network, direct connection and no VM but!
My medias are pulled from an external HDD and then streamed to the user.

So if it is streamed at 10mbit, pretty sure it needs to pull the media at the same rate. Totally make sense.

5

If this HDD is connected per ethernet or WiFi to your server.
But not if it is connected directly per USB or eSATA.

6

Yep, ethernet.

7

Hehe, yes. Then you have your explanation.

8

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