LANSHARKS.NET – Apple, Internet and Network Consulting Services

Fixing Macs and Networks Since 1990

  • About Us
  • Priority Access
  • Tech Articles
  • 510-601-5475

Getting Loopy with Sonos

I’ve now untangled several home networks which were brought to a grinding halt due to network “broadcast storms” caused by Sonos music players. This is avoidable and stupid network engineering on Sonos’s part. Here’s more about why this happens:

With networks, it has always been best practice to connect devices via Ethernet cable, whenever possible. Ethernet cabling is faster and more reliable because it is impervious to radio/WiFi interference. Ethernet performance does not degrade over distance like WiFi.

Devices which are capable of being connected via Ethernet should be designed to disable WiFi (preferably automatically) when connected with a cable. This avoids loops in the network, which create “broadcast storms” and bring the network down. The video below explains this phenomenon and also introduces a technology known as “Spanning Tree Protocol” – something we find in more expensive, business-class Ethernet switches, not the usual “unmanaged” Ethernet gear most users have in their homes:

The problem here is two-fold:

  1. Sonos’s engineering team has made the decision to keep the “SonosNet” wireless network active, even when their device is connected via Ethernet. This is almost certainly going to cause broadcast storms on the user’s network.
  2. This requires the user/installer for a HOME network product to be network savvy and have the knowledge and forethought to avoid this serious problem.

If you have Sonos gear on your network and it is connected via Ethernet (as it should be, when possible), you might consider disabling WiFi on your Sonos products as described in the article here:

https://bsteiner.info/articles/disabling-sonos-wifi

Sonos seems to think keeping WiFi enabled on Ethernet connected devices provides some type of redundancy (I guess in case the Ethernet cable gets unplugged?), but I think it is ridiculous and irresponsible to propose the “fix” to be an expensive business-class Ethernet switch in a home environment. Google search for “Sonos Network Storm” and you’ll see how many users this dumb design has impacted. Here, I’ll do it for you:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=sonos+network+storm

Contact

To contact Kirk or inquire about a consulting project, please email
kirk at lansharks.net
or call 510-601-5475. Operators are standing by.

Recent Posts

  • Good Reminders to Avoid Getting Scammed During the Holidays
  • Thoughts on macOS Ventura
  • Thoughts on Apple’s August 17th Security Updates
  • Avoid Getting Hacked: On Using Unique Passwords and NOT Sharing Personal Information on Social Media
  • Common Sense Advice about Scams and Anti-Virus Software

Categories

Archives

  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • October 2021
  • June 2021
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • October 2019
  • May 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • July 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • October 2017
  • January 2016
  • October 2015
  • January 2013

Copyright © 2023 · LANsharks Consulting · All rights reserved · site by 5 happiness webmaster

blah
blah

Log in