Help me pick a NAS

David, glad it's sorted... did you contact Netgear support on this in the end?

Your method for increasing capacity should work, although follow support guidelines. However check the max disk size the NAS supports. If it's a very old model, newer higher capacity disks most likely won't be supported.

Hi Simon,  Thanks,  I used the website/forum first,  and tried the factory reset, which to my suprise worked.

I have checked disk compatibility

David

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Dave my idea of KISS does not include using a Mac as a general purpose computing resource for music storage and streaming with all the considerations that go with a PC.. A good NAS can be simply be setup and be left to do its stuff without any need to to worry about OS, configuration and the such like .. but each both their won..

There really is nothing to setting up Mac Mini for music storage and streaming via network: turn on, download a UPnP server (many people seem to change the inbuilt UPnP server on their NASs), add your music files, and that's it. You do not need to update the OS or other software if you don't want to - though with Mac it's a doddle compared to WIndows systems - and you don't need to run anything else on it if you are dedicating to music (or other UPnP serving functions)

If you do choose to install Audirvana or other rndering software, taking it beyond a NAS and making it an all-in-one store and player, there is some setup to do, but not difficult and the Audiv manual is pretty clear.

Things change. I'm now getting a NAS as a Xmas present. Going with Synology DS216j. 

On another topic. I'm running minimserver on my Mac mini but I'm having some issues the last few months. Minimserver will show on the Naim app and play 6-7 songs but then stops playing and no longer shows on Naim app. I look at properties on minimserver and it show it's running but also shows Error while scanning my files. Any ideas what's going on?

All I'd say, having used both, is that Asset on a Qnap is easier than Minim on a Synology. Automatic scanning of new albums and the ability to control it from the iPad is really good, with no need to fire up the computer to use MinimWatch. Both options are good though. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

All I'd say, having used both, is that Asset on a Qnap is easier than Minim on a Synology. Automatic scanning of new albums and the ability to control it from the iPad is really good, with no need to fire up the computer to use MinimWatch. Both options are good though. 

Crazy question. Does asset have short cuts while in folder view? With minimserver while in folder view there are letters on the side to make it easier to navigate quickly. 

What, like this?

Yes. Thanks. 

It also has a 'new albums' feature, so you don't lose what you've just bought! Useful when you are forgetful, like me. 

Asset really is much easier and nicer to use. But it won't work on Synology. 

I think it's a feature of a Naim app...

Adam Zielinski posted:

I think it's a feature of a Naim app...

I thought so too but if use Auralic Lightning DS with Naim app it does not have it with Folder view. I contacted Auralic and with Filder view the shortcut is not used. 

spurrier sucks posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

I think it's a feature of a Naim app...

I thought so too but if use Auralic Lightning DS with Naim app it does not have it with Folder view. I contacted Auralic and with Filder view the shortcut is not used. 

Aha... learned something new today. Thanks.

Synology DS216j ordered along with 1 4TB WD Red HD. I'll add another HD later when funds allow. That will make 3 backups for me now and I'll likely add another external HD to the NAS for backup. 

Asset can be installed on Synology servers - or at least some of them. The official site has details: http://www.dbpoweramp.com/asset-upnp-dlna.htm. It uses the Pi version of the software.

The built in Synoloigy Media server is not bad either; I have that and Minim and really don't see the that much advantage of Minim ar Asset vs the Synology media server.

DUPREE posted:

The built in Synoloigy Media server is not bad either; I have that and Minim and really don't see the that much advantage of Minim ar Asset vs the Synology media server.

100%    ...........   but (always a but)  Synology "Media Server" is let down with its inability to transcode (to WAV) & play gapless (together) & transcoding also  down-samples  24 bit to 16 bit.     That said if you have no wish to transcode & to play FLAC (&/or the other codecs) as they are, then its just as good (if not better) as any other media server software.   And obviously it plays WAV & DSD faultlessly without any such considerations.  Its better in my opinion as it simple to setup & optimise your personal preferences in Synology's DSM on its webpage, it can be set to auto-update as new software is released meaning it's almost fit & forget & it uses a lot less CPU than does Minimserver.

I have my DS216J up and running with minimserver. Took about an hour to get it setup. Fairly easy to to do. Now I have a question and hopefully someone can help me out. When transferring files from my existing external HD to the NAS it doesn't seem to want me to drag and drop a folder. It gives me an error when doing that. I have to,open up the folder and then drag and drop the song files. Does this seem correct? If this is correct then I will need to drag and drop all song files onto NAS and create another folder on the NAS to put the song files in. This may take a while. Does my description seem accurate with your experience?

So, Santa kindly enabled me to dip a low-cost toe into the NAS waters with a Synology DS115J.

After a few hours of head-scratching, cursing the Synology manuals, reading and rereading the Minimserver guides, I appear to have 620 albums copied across and transcoding (ALAC to WAV) successfully. Pheeww.....

Now sitting back with a coffee and exploring the novelty (for me) of not needing the PC on to stream ripped albums.

Could be my imagination and I haven't done a back to back comparison but the level of detail appears better.

Now, will it start up automatically after its gone into hibernation ..... ?  

Cheers N.

spurrier sucks posted:

I have my DS216J up and running with minimserver. Took about an hour to get it setup. Fairly easy to to do. Now I have a question and hopefully someone can help me out. When transferring files from my existing external HD to the NAS it doesn't seem to want me to drag and drop a folder. It gives me an error when doing that. I have to,open up the folder and then drag and drop the song files. Does this seem correct? If this is correct then I will need to drag and drop all song files onto NAS and create another folder on the NAS to put the song files in. This may take a while. Does my description seem accurate with your experience?

I must have been typing my post at the same time as you !

I've shut the PC down now but I recall I think did it via DSM File station; you should see the attached drive then you can highlight the album folders and select the copy option onto the desired folder on the NAS.  I.e. Not via drag and drop.  I did it in 5 or 6 batches and it worked fine.  If you can't find the route let me know and I'll fire the PC up again and have a look.

Borders Nick posted:

spurrier sucks posted:

I have my DS216J up and running with minimserver. Took about an hour to get it setup. Fairly easy to to do. Now I have a question and hopefully someone can help me out. When transferring files from my existing external HD to the NAS it doesn't seem to want me to drag and drop a folder. It gives me an error when doing that. I have to,open up the folder and then drag and drop the song files. Does this seem correct? If this is correct then I will need to drag and drop all song files onto NAS and create another folder on the NAS to put the song files in. This may take a while. Does my description seem accurate with your experience?

I must have been typing my post at the same time as you !

I've shut the PC down now but I recall I think did it via DSM File station; you should see the attached drive then you can highlight the album folders and select the copy option onto the desired folder on the NAS.  I.e. Not via drag and drop.  I did it in 5 or 6 batches and it worked fine.  If you can't find the route let me know and I'll fire the PC up again and have a look.

 

I appreciate your offer to help and it seems as though I'm going to need it. The way I'm doing it is going to take forever. I'm in file station and have minimserveropen and running. You say you see the attached drive. I'm assuming that is a link to the where the files are currently stored? If so please show me the way. 

I have file file station open and the WD My Book, where my files are stored, open and trying to copy that way, but is not allowing me to copy an entire folder at once. 

Think I found it. I'll report back asap.

I lied.   Help me if you can. TIA

Assuming you have the external HD connected directly to the NAS, 

If you go into File Sation you should see something like "usbshare1" then you open this and go your music folders,  select (highlight) the ones you want then go to the "Action" tab and Copyto/Moveto..  and select where on the NAS to copy them to.

Clear as mud ... let me know how you get on.

I seem to recall that in order to copy folders to a Synology NAS you need to have Java (JRE) installed on your computer. 

Borders Nick posted:

Assuming you have the external HD connected directly to the NAS, 

If you go into File Sation you should see something like "usbshare1" then you open this and go your music folders,  select (highlight) the ones you want then go to the "Action" tab and Copyto/Moveto..  and select where on the NAS to copy them to.

Clear as mud ... let me know how you get on.

I have the external HD connected to my Mac mini but that is in the same network as my NAS. However I do have a backup on another external HD so maybe I can just connect that to it and copy from there. 

[@mention:36201736949470193] you are correct about Java. I do have that installed. 

spurrier sucks posted:

Borders Nick posted:

Assuming you have the external HD connected directly to the NAS, 

If you go into File Sation you should see something like "usbshare1" then you open this and go your music folders,  select (highlight) the ones you want then go to the "Action" tab and Copyto/Moveto..  and select where on the NAS to copy them to.

Clear as mud ... let me know how you get on.

I have the external HD connected to my Mac mini but that is in the same network as my NAS. However I do have a backup on another external HD so maybe I can just connect that to it and copy from there. 

[@mention:36201736949470193] you are correct about Java. I do have that installed. 

I would have a go connecting the other backup drive directly to a usb port on the NAS  - worked fine for me & I imagine it would be quicker than copying files over the network