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Philip F
Contributor I
February 20, 2020

Need help understanding my Ubiquiti - Sonos network and whether I can get rid of 2 Bridges or replace w/ Boosts

Hi all!

I’ve got a decent sized Sonos setup and have two problems I’m trying to solve: 1) The bridge being EOL’d and whether or not I still need them and 2) The fact that when I tried to connect a Connect:AMP via ethernet, I had something happen on my network (traffic storm, loops, etc) that crippled it.

 

My network is Unifi gear, a router (USG) connected to a 24 port managed switch running to network drops throughout the house, and two 802.11AC wireless access points connected to that switch, one upstairs and one downstairs.

In my home theater shelf area I’ve got a 5 port unmanaged gigabit switch because there’s only one ethernet drop there.

Right now the Sonos devices and how they’re connected:

Upstairs Bridge - Connected directly to the switch.
Upstairs Playbar - Wirelessly connected, could be hard-wired if I added another 5 port switch there, there are 3 devices (roku tv, xbox one, and playbar) but only 2 ethernet drops.

Downstairs Bridge - In my office closet.
Office Connect - Wirelessly connected on the other side of the office.
Dining Room Play:1 - Wirelessly connected.
Kitchen Play:5 - Wirelessly connected.
Living Room Connect - Connected via ethernet (and that 5 port switch to the 24 port switch to the router)
Patio Connect:Amp - Serves a set of outside speakers, sits next to the LR Connect.

The patio Connect:Amp is the one where I plugged it into that 5 port switch and it immediately crippled my network. My related questions are: Do I need Boosts, if so 1 or 2, and if not, is there a way to utilize more ethernet connected devices (the playbar, the connect in the LR) to serve sonosnet? And is there any way to allow the connect:amp to be connected via ethernet?

Here’s my network matrix:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2phbgt6hlyopwfk/Screenshot%202020-02-20%2011.12.00.png?dl=0

 

Thanks so much for your help!

Phil

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      19 replies

      ratty
      ratty
      February 20, 2020

      A few preliminary observations: 

      • The wired Living Room Connect has its radio disabled, so it’s impossible to see how well this could support wireless nodes.
      • The Upstairs Bridge is doing nothing useful whatsoever. If it has a wired connection then that’s not working correctly.

      Re-enable the Living Room Connect’s radio. Remove power from the 2 Bridges. Wait 5 mins then take another matrix snapshot. 

        Philip FAuthor
        Contributor I
        February 20, 2020

        Took those three steps. Within a minute, Unifi sent me a message “UniFi Alarm: network interface blocking. Switch port 12 blocked by STP protocol”

         

        I assume this is the same issue I ran into when I had the connect:amp plugged into ethernet with the wifi radio also enabled?

         

        Moderator note: Removed Image

         

        Philip FAuthor
        Contributor I
        February 20, 2020

        I plugged everything back in and turned off wifi on the connect again, to reset back to the original state. just turning on wifi on the living room connect turns it to red in the matrix:

        Moderator Note: Removed Image 

        ratty
        ratty
        February 20, 2020

        The Living Room Connect has a poor noise floor. Is it adjacent to other digital electronics? If so try moving it away. Even a foot or so could make a difference.

        What is wired to Unifi port 12?

        What switches are in use, and where? It would help to have a clear idea of the wired topology. 

        Philip FAuthor
        Contributor I
        February 21, 2020

        Hi,

         

        The office bridge is wired to port 12.

        The living room connect is next to the connect:amp, an old onkyo reciever, a logitech harmony hub, and a roku. I’ll look at where I can move it but it’s a small set of shelves so I don’t have a ton of options.

         

        Apologies for the terrible drawing -- hopefully it gives enough context. If you need additional detail, let me know. The USG and switch and upstairs bridge are all up in a sort of attic room, and the 5 port unmanaged switch is in the media shelf along w/ the connect, connect:amp, old receiver, roku, etc.

         

         

        Philip FAuthor
        Contributor I
        February 21, 2020

        Also the 24 port is a Ubiquiti managed switch. The 5 port is a dumb unmanaged gigabit switch.

        buzz
        buzz
        Grand Maestro
        February 21, 2020

        Philip F,

        You must configure the Ubiquiti managed switches for STP. SONOS does not support RSTP.

          ratty
          ratty
          February 21, 2020

          The office bridge is wired to port 12.

          Yet the Office Bridge was powered off when you witnessed the “Switch port 12 blocked by STP protocol” message? In any event the switch appears to be trying to break a loop that SonosNet ought to be dealing with itself. buzz’s direction could be the answer.

           

          The living room connect is next to the connect:amp, an old onkyo reciever, a logitech harmony hub, and a roku. I’ll look at where I can move it but it’s a small set of shelves so I don’t have a ton of options.

          The Harmony hub and possibly the Roku could have their own RF emissions and may be responsible for the noise.

           

          Apologies for the terrible drawing

          I don’t see one. Did you attempt to paste one into a post?

           

          the 5 port unmanaged switch is in the media shelf

          What make/model is it? 

           

            brianthesnail
            brianthesnail
            Avid Contributor II
            February 21, 2020

            I have same network, and have had it stormed when using Sonos items, i have had to Hard wire all SONOS items i have 11 Sonos devices on the network which covers my office and house.

            I have disabled wifi on the SONOS devices also.

            I have no Boosts and no Bridges, 

            I have 4 Ubiquiti WiFi points from 2 managed switches (2 buildings)  they create one network.

            I have the Sonos devices plugged into the wired network. When i use Wireless, it gets stormed and am unable to use anything attached to the network wired or wireless !

            Years of trial and error !

             

            Following for future information and help with my system.

            Automation is fantastic, unless it fails and then all hell breaks loose !
            Philip FAuthor
            Contributor I
            February 21, 2020

            Hub is a trendnet green 5 port gigabit hub.

             

            Here’s the drawing again. It didn’t upload. 

             

             

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