SFP+ Cable Issues, Qbiquit and Mellanox

[Bob Zelin]

Hello Creative Cow readers –
I hope that I have kept you entertained.

Kevin Patrick contacted me. There were 2 problems in his system causing issues, that resulted in his slow speeds.

1) the latest QNAP firmware is not working correctly with his QNAP TS-873U-RP. After several tests with different firmware, we finally installed QNAP QTS 4.3.4.0569 from May 1, 2018, and now he is able to select MTU 9000
on the QNAP 10G card.

2) the Ubiquiti 16 port 10G switch is unsuitable for these applications. Once we were able to select MTU 9000 on both the iMac Pro and the QNAP 10G port, we were still getting poor speeds. Because I am unfamiliar with all the menus in the Ubiquiti (for Jumbo Frame selection) – we simply bypassed the Ubiquiti US series switch and plugged the iMac Pro directly into the 10G port of the QNAP, and now we are getting 500 MB/sec WRITE and 1000 MB/sec READ.
I will continue to research the Ubiquiti 10G switch, but for the moment, I still stress the use of Netgear XS series 10G switches, or the QNAP QSW-1208-8C 10G switch.

The end ! It’s all working.

Bob Zelin

Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
bobzelin@icloud.com

[Salvador Garza]

I have a couple of Ubiquiti products in my home office. You’ll need either a cloud key or controller software running on a computer. Assuming you’ve adopted the switch and you have access to the controller’s web GUI, you can enable jumbo frames here:
Select “Devices” on the sidebar, select the switch, this will open up the properties tab, go to config > services, enable jumbo frames and apply. This will enable Jumbo Frames for all ports on the switch.

Salvador Garza
https://salvadorgarza.com

[Kevin Patrick]

[Salvador Garza] “config > services, enable jumbo frames and apply”

I have no idea how I missed that, as I went looking for it. I even chatted with Ubiquiti tech support, asking them specfically if I need to do anything to improve the performance through their switch. I guess “nope” means, “Hey! you’ve got to enable Jumbo Frames, which is over here … ”

There doesn’t seem to be a setting for how many frames. Perhaps enable Jumbo Frames means 9000?

Either way, thanks Salvador.

Though, with Bob’s help, the iMac Pro is now directe connected to the QNAP server and the performance is great. I guess I’ll just have to use the UniFi 10 Gbe switch to maintain heat levels in the rack.

[Salvador Garza]

If you ever do get around testing the switch with Jumbo Frames enabled and the QNAP NAS, I’d be interested in the results. I’m about to install a TS-1685 in my home office and would be nice to keep it all Ubiquiti. Love the idea of one management interface for all my network components, however performance needs to be on par.

Salvador Garza
https://salvadorgarza.com

[Kevin Patrick]

Well, not sure I will. I’m now in the mode of … It’s not broke.

Besides, I’m still all Unifi. Router, 48 Port Switch, 5 Access Points and a Cloud Key in a pear tree.

[Kevin Patrick]

Here’s a not quite correct timeline of my QNAP adventures.

Nov 16 – Hey QNAP, why so slow?
Nov 16 – Hey Kevin, set your Jumbo Frames to 9000
Nov 17 – Hey QNAP, Jumbo Frames set, why still so slow?
Nov 17 – Hey Kevin, reboot
Nov 17 – Hey QNAP, I’m not stupid, both rebooted
Nov 17 – Hey Kevin, let’s schedule a call
Nov 29 – Hey Kevin, I don’t know why slow. Hang tight
Dec 03 – Hey Kevin, it’s your Unifi Switch. (ha ha)
Dec 03 – Hey Kevin, buy more QNAP stuff, RJ-45
Dec 04 – Hey Kevin, it’s Bob, call me
Dec 04 – Hey QNAP, why new card so slow?
Dec 04 – Hey Kevin, cause I waited to tell you about new FW!
Dec 04 – Hey QNAP, new FW can’t set Jumbo Frames
Dec 05 – Hey Kevin, it’s Bob again, call me
Dec 06 – Hey Kevin, let me into your system (again)
Dec 06 – Hey Kevin, new FW is broke
Dec 06 – Hey Kevin, it’s Bob. Again, Please call me.
Dec 07 – Hey Kevin, it’s Bob. Let’s look at your problem
Dec 07 – Hey Kevin, Bob again. All fixed.
Dec 07 – Hey Kevin, QNAP here, confirmed our FW is broke, hang tight

Next time?

Call Bob.

Thanks Bob.