Audiolinux Server configurations, Software, Hardware, and Listening Impressions

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On 2/3/2019 at 6:32 PM, lmitche said:

I hope this makes sense. It is a bit complicated.

 

Larry

 

Hi Larry. Just trying to get clear on your wireless setup.

Is this how it works?

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2 hours ago, lmitche said:

Actually it is much simpler. You have the endpoint right, it's 5ghz wireless to the extender. Now draw a solid line(wired cat6) to the server from the extender. A laptop also connects wirelessly for control purposes. Lastly a second 5ghz radio runs to the router on the first floor for internet.

 

That's it. I have no switch.

 

 

Cool. Thanks Larry!

so the wireless just talks to the endpoint 

and I just reread this from your previous post ...“When the EtherRegen arrives it will be interesting to replace the NUC wifi link with a wired connection and to compare SQ.“ 

 

How do you power the extender? Are you using the supplied or have you diy’d a clean voltage?

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1 hour ago, lmitche said:

The extender is powered with a 13.5 volt sigma 11 lpsu and with two 12 volt 1 amp ldovr lt3045 cards connected in parallel to deliver 2 amps of current. It won't run on 1 amp. The extender is a two 5ghz radio Linksys re9000. The 2.4ghz  radio is disabled.

 

Various lpsu configs were tested and this sounds best. FWIW, there is also an Emosystems isolation transformer between the server and extender.

When I got home I was trying to visualise this (being in the design business and looking at pictures all day  ) and still am not quite clear.

So is it A or B? Thanks!

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10 hours ago, lmitche said:

Let's try math:

 

Wireless extender = one or more WirelessAccess Point(s) + Switch in one box.

 

Wireless router = Wireless extender + Wired router in one box.

 

A=B

I see, Thanks.  I'm asking as I'm trying to work out how I can make use of what I have on hand. Technically I have a range extender plus a separate Aqvox switch (which when added gave one of the best improvements I've had).

 

 

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6 hours ago, lmitche said:

Patrick,

 

If you can draw what you have in place today (current state) along with any physical restrictions requiring a wireless link, it would be straightforward to make any suggestions for improvements (future state). If you have unused network gear on hand as well, please provide that list.

Here you go Larry. The NUCs are powered by Paul Hynes SR4 and the Switch and router by modified Teradak LPSUs.

 

 I suppose I could replace the cable between Router and NUC Roon server with the wireless range extender, but don't see how I can send wireless to the Endpoint without a more sophisticated Wireless extender hanging off the switch. There aren’t any other physical restrictions. Thanks so much for having a look!

 

I must say the SQ is superb with recently adding bridging and the latest AL updates using CPU/core isolation on the server.

 

 

[tapatrick]

9 hours ago, Bricki said:

Have you tried the core isolation on the endpoint as well?

 

What effect did it have on the SQ of the server?

 

I might try and have another go getting it to work on my server. After my first attempt I got sidetracked with bridging and lots of ground cables for nuc and server

Hopefully this weekend I'm going to add core isolation on my endpoint to. I tried but didn't work so I've ordered another 4gb ram to see if that will solve it.

 

The core isolation on my server added a small improvement but interestingly also added several second delay before music plays after pressing the play button. I also set up bridging on the server which added an improvement too.

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13 hours ago, lmitche said:

Hi Patrick,

 

Well one can take network design to great lengths.  Here are several simple approachs and I am sure others may have different ideas for you.

 

1) You could duplicate what is happening here and replace the Aqvox switch with a 5ghz wifi extender with one radio connected to your virgin router, and the second connected to your NUC and laptop all at 5ghz, (if your virgin router supports 5ghz). This assumes your NUC has a WiFi card or that one can be made available. This assumes you disconect the cable between your server and router. The server is cabled to the extender in this design.

 

2) Simply get a WAP for the server and setup a link to the router, hopefully at 5ghz. Older routers often can be setup in this mode.

 

3) Get a second Aqvox or someday a EtherRegen and place it between the router and server.

 

All three of these designs rid your system from the noise coming from that virgin router and cable from the street.

 

Make sense?

 

 

Thanks Larry! Indeed there are many ways to skin this cat..

 

I'll have a think and see which direction I will try out. Probably no. 2 as I'm going to wait for Uptone switch before buying any more network gear and I already have the TP Link range extender which will fit with my router.

 

I did have the switch between the router and everything else up until recently when I tried bridging on server after noting @austinpop reminder recently. When I initially added the Aqvox switch a year or so ago it was a major improvement over all. Moving it to where it is now (bridging server and endpoint) didn't really degrade the sound but improved it (probably because of the bridging), so I'm curious what a wireless link between router and server can do. To add, when I changed the power supply on the Router this also had a significant improvement. My whole system is on a big Topaz isolation transformer.

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3 hours ago, lmitche said:

Option 2 will eliminate the "street noise" from the server and another potential  ground loop which should give you a nice bump in SQ again.

 

Plus it is a free option.

 

Once done, it is easy to swap the extender for the switch, again with the assumption that you have a WiFi card for the endpoint. The Linux setup for wifi is the tricky part with this approach.

Yes there is a wifi card in the endpoint (and server) which I have currently switched off in Bios and blacklisted. I hope to give Option 2 a go soon, when I can find the time... :).

 

Cheers Larry, thanks for the input.

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2 hours ago, Bricki said:

Hmmmmm... interesting...how much RAM do you have on your server with the isolated cores working? Are you running roon server?

 

My server has 8gigs of RAM and I was wondering if that was the reason I couldn't get roon server started after I originally got the cores isolated... I'll have to give it another try when I get enough time but I hope 8gig will be enough... I only have 4gig in my NUC7CJYH running roon bridge so I guess that's a no-go from your experience?

I have 16gb ram on my bridged NUC server and yes I'm running roonserver with isolated cores. Piero suggested more ram on the endpoint, so I'm adding another 4 to make 8gb this weekend. Then I will try again with isolate cores.

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17 hours ago, Bricki said:

I have the isolated CPU cores working on my NUC7CJYH running roon bridge in ramroot with 4gigs of RAM with similar SQ results to the server.

 

If you haven't tried this already I highly recommend you put it on your to do list. I am very pleased with the results. 🔊😁👍

 

 

Nice @Bricki!  We have the same NUC server - NUC7PJYH and Endpoint - NUC7CJYH. I have the isolated cores (4 total, 2 for audio) running on my server for a week but haven't been able to get the endpoint running with isolated core(s) after a couple of attempts.

 

There are only 2 cores on the endpoint, so I've tried half and one but won't show up or play. Not sure why this is and I've added 4GB ram to make 8 in total. I've gone back to headless/Ramboot 0.5 version on the endpoint which is completly stable. Sound is awesome none the less.

 

Which isolated setting have you got it working on? 

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8 hours ago, Bricki said:

The way I got it working was:

 

1. On start up don't load the file system to RAM.

2. Disable ramroot and reboot.

3. Run the core isolation script and reboot. I selected "half".

4. Start and enable roon bridge.

5. Enable ramroot and reboot.

 

I have headless 0.7 with everything updated and 0.99 menu.

 

I hope this helps 😁

 

Thanks! Yes I did follow those steps - and tried 'half' option. I'll try again when I have some more time.

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4 hours ago, Boomboy said:

I changed to a external hdd in a orico encloser with lps and ghent 360 usb . Nice improvement over my usb stick into my raspberry pi nas . 

Just purchased a nuc .. if all goes well I'm trying AL this weekend .. cant wait to give it a go .

Nice DIY rack  . Are those the Ikea bamboo boards? I have made a similar but wider one, but needs adjusting to this size now after rearranging gear

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On 3/1/2019 at 5:20 AM, Ben-M said:

and I believe my family thinks I've died or taken up some illicit habits...

... !!!