Skip to main content
rockman
Contributor I
May 18, 2016

Network Loop and broadcast storms with Sonos

I was at a Sonos Training event today and was told if I connected multiple Sonos Connect Amps located in a closet or rack to an unmanaged switch via Ethernet cable I was fine as long as I didn't daisy chain the cat5 cable from Connect Amp to Connect Amp but connected a single cable 5 cable from each connect amp to the switch. The sonos trainer said daisy chaining would cause a loop and broadcast storms. Then an hour later I sat through another vendor training that warned if you connected two connect amps to a switch with single cat5 each they would cause a network loop because they would still communicate through the wireless mesh cause network loop creating broadcast storms. I also forgot to ask what if I had 4 Sonos Connect amps connected via single cat5 each to unmanaged switch, 1 boost connect to switch, 2 playbars connected via cat5, 2 paired Play1 connected wirelessly, and 1 Sub paired with Playbar connected to network by Cat5 cable to switch. Have I created a problem?
    This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

    14 replies

    Show previous replies
    ratty
    ratty
    June 19, 2018
    I need to know if I have to redo these changes EVERY TIME you send out a SONOS update to the players.
    Not with the direct interface via a browser to port 1400, so long as you use the 'Persist Off' option. The setting then persists across reboots and firmware updates. It doesn't survive a factory reset, obviously.

    You'd need to ask Domotz which option they use in their HTTP POST.

    ---

    BTW the article you linked says "Also, a managed switch with Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) running should do the trick." This has always been an officially supported solution. Most dumb switches don't cause problems either.
    MikeV
    MikeV
    June 19, 2018
    BTW the article you linked says "Also, a managed switch with Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) running should do the trick." This has always been an officially supported solution. Most dumb switches don't cause problems either.
    Supported, yes, as long as Spanning Tree is configured correctly. i.e. reduce the priority to make your switch the root of your network (it wouldn't be good if one of those Sonos devices two layers in thought it was the root because it had a lower MAC address than the rest of the Sonos devices and the switch), ensure the path cost values are set correctly (Classic STP is often available on many smart/managed switches, but may not be the default).
    The S in IOT stands for Security.
      rogers2010
      Avid Contributor I
      June 20, 2018
      STP has always been enabled on the switch BTW. I checked with Domotz, their feature already selects 'Persist Off'. Their interface allowed me to do this all remotely. Saved me a trip to the site and having to hack each Sonos thru HTTP. very nice feature imo.

      But really, Sonos.... shouldn't you have an advance settings tab with a radio-button for this? With network loops being such a difficult issue to isolate and resolve. In my situation - these network loops went on for 5 months; they were intermittent. sometimes the site would go for ways without a single one. Then all of a sudden BOOM! there they are, then the entire network crumbles. Reboot the system and it goes away again.
      Here I am thinking: "It can't be Sonos... STP is enabled, all the players are hardwired.. must be some other device."
      I'd go there are turn on the players and they would work. I've sent you countless diagnostic reports, which showed no issues.
      This issue really ate my breakfast, lunch, and dinner..:(
      rogers2010
      Avid Contributor I
      June 20, 2018
      BTW wrt VLANS - Sonos Controller (aka, mobile devices - all of them - HAS connect to the same VLAN as the players; if you create a VLAN for the SONOS. This scheme doesn't work at all for a Luxul environment with WAP controller that uses a single SSID. and the Sonos Controller is on, say a multi-purpose iPAD or even your mobile phone. Having two switch to another SSID to use Sonos, is at best an inconvenient use case.
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement