Network speed slows when NAS is connected

[pcmofo]

I have a 15+mb connection that generally works fine. I own my own Motorola 3.0 modem. I am using FreeBSD based PF sense as a router, and a gigabit switch to connect everything. Lately I will find that my connection on both the LAN and my WAN connection speed will drop to somewhere around 1mb or even lower like 0.2 mb. If I disconnect the FreeNAS in the middle of the speed test, the speed will instantly rebound. I thought it might be my switch so I tried another one. The cable is run though the wall so I haven't tested that yet.

Any idea why the NAS would have connectivity, yet slow the network down even when its not doing anything important?

 

[cyberjock]

I'm using PFsense is pretty much an identical setup to what you describe.

The possibilities I can come up with off the top of my head:

1. pfsense is misconfigured and causing some conflict with the FreeNAS server.
2. The FreeNAS server is somehow misconfigured and it's screwing with your LAN
3. Maybe FreeNAS is uploading/downloading data at the time you do the tests?

I won't lie, I've had abnormally slow internet speeds that I can't explain. I did noticed that there was a 12 hour period where I had no FreeNAS box running at all and I didn't have the problem. But my ISP is doing nasty things with their infrastructure the last few months, so I don't know what is to blame and I haven't tried to investigate it further.

 

[Ericloewe]

pfSense user here, as well. Nothing abnormal here that could possibly correlate with FreeNAS (though 100Mb/s up and 8Mb/s down would mask some issues, there's no logical reason for any WAN activity from the FreeNAS server).