QNAP vs. Synology setup

Great comparison, thanks!

For sure it seems that Asset on QNAP is easier to install than Minim on Synology, although Minim seems to be equally easy once it's on board. The differences in RAM are likely the reason for how fast it copied all the data.

These two seem to be the best NAS options judging by forum feedback, and certainly Syno has been flawless for me. 

Sounds easy for QNAP.

Synology doesn't even have screws to do up. Just a plastic slider to hold the drive in place.

And Minimserver is available from package centre so not even any googlies.

Glad it went well for you Bart. I've been having one or two issues with Asset on the QNAP - first of all it wouldn't find any music but this was overcome via an updated program. However, now for some reason Asset doesn't find all my albums. There's no logical reason I can see for this but I'll have a fiddle tomorrow (when we've not got a power cut!).

I'm not using the QNAP for my main music storage but it's handy for streaming to my Muso & it's mainly for movies using the PLEX app.

I can't really call the HS-251 "silent."  During heavy hdd access (initial setup), I can definitely hear the drives from across the room.

You don't have the music loud enough

So true

That's not the HS-251 fault! You put the HDDs in - That's why I put SSDs in...

SSD's greater than 1TB are still too expensive for me -- not worth a few thousand dollars to eliminate what I hear   Another year or so and that'll be a great option for all I bet.

Comparing the installation of those two UPnP servers on QNAP and Syno is a bit like apples and oranges:

- Minim is a free multiplatform software based on Java. As far as I remember present in the "App Stores" of both those NAS manufacturers.

On Syno you have to go to Oracle and download Java first. Then install it manually on the NAS. Now you can choose to install Minim in the "App Store".

On QNAP Java get's installed automatically when you choose to install Minim.

- Asset is a commercial native software for QNAP (amongst other platforms, but not Synology). Free mode after 30 days premium test for non-commercial use, or paid registred use with premium features.

Since it's not present in the "App Store", you have to download and install it manually. -> Like Java on the Syno.

It's both not rocket science and has to be done only once... and the procedure could be changed with NAS firmware updates.

Clarification: The installation of both UPnP servers has to be done only once.

But the frequent Java updates have to be manually downloaded and installed each time on Synology.

On QNAP you can install and update Java directly from the browser admin GUI like any other app.

I was glad that I could get rid of the constant Java update fuss (security holes) when I changed from Minim to Asset.

Except that the Java updates are not constant. I haven't had one for months.

And isn't there a Java package in Synology Package Centre?

I admit that I didn't keep up with Java updates on my Synology.  Then when I noticed that there were updates, I did them.

Synology & its Media Serve don't use Java,  Java is only req for MinimServer

One of the nice things with the native Synology stuff is the easy auto updates & the e-mail info if you forget to get it done.

How is it with QNAP ??? 

Mike, with Synology, it was nice that when I went to the app display, any that needed updating were so noted.  I've not figured it out with QNAP.  I suspect it's similar.

As to updating the desktop / nas operating system, it's exactly the same as Synology.  It checks periodically and tells you if there is an update.  I don't know if they send emails too, however.

MinimServer is in the Qnap app store, easy 2 clicks away..

ralf

Asset puts some pretty pictures on the artist folders.  The Beatles folder right now has Yellow Submarine as a folder image.  I don't know if that will change over time or not.

Hi Bart,

Congrats on the 251 purchase. I have one albeit with two WD 6GB drives as a RAID 1 pair. Whilst the 251 is silent the drives aren't!

A few things I have found that are worth noting. I have turned off all the various Station apps so there are no superfluous processes running. I also found that these created thumbnails of all the cover art which littered the drives. After turning the apps off in control centre I then used Windows search and ordered the results by file size to easily clean this up.

I also found that files in the QNap recycle bin were still seen by my uServe, so I have also turned this off.

One gotcha I found was that I was hoping to sync my music shares directly to my DropBox as I currently do from a Windows machine I have on the home network. The Dropbox QNap app accesses a different area of storage so you can't create your own named shares from within the Dropbox sync folder on the QNap.

Russ

Thanks for that info Russ.  I've now turned off all of the rest of the 'Station' apps I don't use.

Where did you find those thumbnail filess? I've looked in the individual album folders but don't see them, but I do see little images in File Station that sure do look like thumbnails!  I also see a little message popping up from time to time that says 'generating thumbnails.'  Is this something I can turn off?

Hi Bart - IIRC the thumbnails were in a new folder within the album folder. They might be hidden so make sure you see hidden files, if on Windows Explorer View Options) but I'm now wondering... if I actually didn't trash the whole share and then re-copy my music with the various Stations turned off. The more I think about the more I think that's what I did but happy to help you the Explorer route if needed.

Russ

I didn't see such folders using File Station, but it may be a hidden folder issue. When I'm home this evening I'll check.

Let me ask some more questions . . . 

I want to run only Asset.  I did turn off Twonkey, and I think that there may be yet another UPnP server that's pre-installed on the nas (??).  Is that right?  I'm trying to figure out what I can turn off and what I can't, specifically in the Multimedia Manager app.  

And now I have two instances of Asset showing up in the Naim App.  I'm sure I'll get it all sorted eventually!

Bart,

if you check the QNAP's control panel under applications you can see whether you have the iTunes server or the DLNA server enabled.