← Back
Editing & Post-Production

Network latency causes scrub delays even though local workstation CPU and GPU utilization are low.

Problem

Network latency causes scrub delays even though local workstation CPU and GPU utilization are low.

Solution

Root Cause / Diagnostic:
Network-attached storage (NAS) operating over high-latency networks or unoptimized SMB protocols suffers from round-trip packet delays during frequent random-read seek requests. Because video scrubbing requires hundreds of rapid micro-seeks, latency stalls the timeline even with ample processing power.

Actionable Fix:
1. Configure SMB protocol settings on the server: enable SMB3, activate SMB Direct (RDMA) if supported, and adjust TCP receive window sizes.
2. Connect editing workstations directly to the NAS via dedicated Cat6a/fiber 10 GbE connections rather than routing through corporate subnets.
3. Perform a network round-trip ping test to confirm latency remains under 0.5 ms between editing clients and storage controllers.

Pro Tip:
Enabling Jumbo Frames (MTU 9000) end-to-end across your 10 GbE switch, NAS, and workstation network adapters significantly reduces packet overhead and eliminates scrubbing lag on shared storage.