Dipping toes into the NAS (world) with no clue and getting rid of the CD player

Thank you Tony2011 - it does feel like that!

Stephen Tate posted:

 

Also, will I need to purchase a switch?

Only if you haven't got enough sockets to plug the NAS in to your router, or if you want to split it off and put the NAS somewhere else. I'd keep it simple at this stage. Being overly simplistic, a switch is the networking equivalent of a multi-way mains extension lead + adaptor, allowing more things to be plugged in further away.

Stephen Tate posted:

ChrisSU posted:

You can use FLAC or WAV with any popular server. If you change your mind, you convert your library from one format to the other at any stage. Don’t worry about it!

Ok, thanks Chris!

If that being the case then I will probably go with a Synology 218J because of it's competitive pricing.

Do you think this is more than ok? and I can just use one drive?

Thanks

I see you have decided on a QNAP, which is probably a good idea as setting it up with Asset is easier than Minimserver on Synology. I can still see no reason for using more than one drive (in the same enclosure) if it’s just for music, but others will no doubt have different views on this. 

ChrisSU posted:

ChrisM’s response

Probably in the (probably forlorn) hope that in the event of a hard disk failure I wouldn’t have to spend hours/days/weeks/months/years(?) re-ripping our 2300 CDs .....started last August and still got over 100 to do!

And I have yet to convince my dearly-beloved of the easiness of streaming...she prefers sticking the silver discs into the Karik/CDX/Meridian200/CD3.5/Denon.............

Suzy Wong posted:

ChrisSU posted:

 I can still see no reason for using more than one drive (in the same enclosure) if it’s just for music, but others will no doubt have different views on this. 

ChrisM’s response

Probably in the (probably forlorn) hope that in the event of a hard disk failure I wouldn’t have to spend hours/days/weeks/months/years(?) re-ripping our 2300 CDs .....started last August and still got over 100 to do!

And I have yet to convince my dearly-beloved of the easiness of streaming...she prefers sticking the silver discs into the Karik/CDX/Meridian200/CD3.5/Denon.............

My point is that putting a backup disc in the same enclosure is ineffective. It may work if the main drive fails, but it gives zero protection if there is a fault elsewhere in the enclosure, or in the event of fire, theft, flood etc. So yes, you should have a second drive, but in a second enclosure in a different location. Then if one fails, the other can immediately be used to play music, as well as to restore data to a replacement drive. 

Chris is right, the second drive in the same enclosure is not the correct way of securing a backup and a number of factors can result in data loss.  Even if you have RAID you MUST have independent backups.

However, I do think there is benefit in having a mirrored drive, (or RAID5 in a larger unit) as if one drive fails the music keeps playing and the resilience allows time to source a replacement with very little effort being required to get back to normal as the replacement drive will automatically rebuild once installed.  

Yes, it is easy for a power supply fault in a NAS to take out all the drives. In fact you really should have the backup disconnected from everything most of the time, including the mains, as a spike due to nearby lighting strike is one of the most common causes of total loss of computer data - in this case potentially a large music collection, all of which might then need to be retooled, and  in time, if you purchase by download, no CD copy in the loft. You simply connect up the backup periodically to add to it whatever New has been added, the frequency for that minor hassle balanced against the purchasing pattern, only new music being vulnerable until done. If you want complete protection against loss in the event of fire or burglary, avoiding the hassle of replacement under insurance, or even an option not to bother insuring your collection, then an additional backup could be held in another place entirely - at work, or in a friend’s house.

Stephen and I discussed this when he visited, including how to back up to a removable USB drive. With the Qnap you can hot swap a failed drive without turning it off, and can back up to USB at the touch of a button. So it’s all very easy. 

Removable USB drives can be prone to failure and when they do fail you can't get at your data. A better option could be a USB to dual SATA HDD docking station, when the docking station fails you still have your data on the HDDs, and the unit can be removed and powered off in the same way to avoid power surges etc.

Hi everyone,

Just to say I have now received my Qnap, plugged it all in and I have already hit a brick wall with it.

How do you register it?

I've tried to follow the 'easy' set up guide and I have fallen of deaf ears.

Many thanks

Hi again folks,

 just to try and clarify here.

I have may laptop plugged into the NAS via a Ethernet cable. Another Ethernet cable comes out of the NAS and into my modem. I then went online and followed the 'quick setup guide' without any success so far. I have no clue on how to register it and it won't let me go any further. Am I doing something really stupid and missing something that is hiding in plain sight?

Thanks

You need both the Qnap and the laptop to be on the network. You don’t connect the two directly together. I will forward your email address to Richard, who has agreed to assist. 

Ok thanks HH, that's very kind of you. As I say, I am a bit 'lost at sea' when it comes to computers or networking. 

I think I have so far managed to download the Qnap app and install the settings but i'm still quite lost as for the life of me I don't really know how I managed that.

Many thanks

Hungryhalibut posted:

You need both the Qnap and the laptop to be on the network. You don’t connect the two directly together. I will forward your email address to Richard, who has agreed to assist. 

Stephen - you have email!

Innocent Bystander posted:

Yes, it is easy for a power supply fault in a NAS to take out all the drives. In fact you really should have the backup disconnected from everything most of the time, including the mains, as a spike due to nearby lighting strike is one of the most common causes of total loss of computer data - in this case potentially a large music collection, all of which might then need to be retooled, and  in time, if you purchase by download, no CD copy in the loft. You simply connect up the backup periodically to add to it whatever New has been added, the frequency for that minor hassle balanced against the purchasing pattern, only new music being vulnerable until done. If you want complete protection against loss in the event of fire or burglary, avoiding the hassle of replacement under insurance, or even an option not to bother insuring your collection, then an additional backup could be held in another place entirely - at work, or in a friend’s house.

You want back-ups?, Yup, we got backups.

I suppose I should have mentioned my other NAS. It’s an old LG with a BD writer..........older and slower than the Synology and the discs are too small, but it holds the primary backup of my photos and a few other bits. The iTunes library is “backed up” on the various family iPods. The other thing I do is use a variety of old hard disks (both SATA & IDE) which I can temporarily attach to the PC via a USB “adaptor”, save stuff to them, then disconnect and store elsewhere. Not to mention the number of BD with back-ups on them!

Short of the house burning down, we’re pretty well covered.

trickydickie posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

You need both the Qnap and the laptop to be on the network. You don’t connect the two directly together. I will forward your email address to Richard, who has agreed to assist. 

Stephen - you have email!

Ok Richard, thank you very much for reply. I'm just going into my mail box now.

Crikey, this is all seeming to be quite complicated for me. I've been mucking around for hours now and have got nowhere. I'll try again tomorrow...

Hi Stephen, it is easy. Please check out the following link:

https://www.qnap.com/en-us/how...as-using-qfinder-pro

But first you need to download the QNAP qfinder pro.

That is it.

Stephen Tate posted:

Crikey, this is all seeming to be quite complicated for me. I've been mucking around for hours now and have got nowhere. I'll try again tomorrow...

I sumpathise: it can be a bit of a learning curve when you take the plunge, but you have approached it a logical and unpressured way, getting the NAS before streamer, so no pressure to get up and running. You will get there, I’m sure with willing guidampnce on here, so indeed just take a break from lt, and try again when fresh. It will get there, after which you’ll wonder what the problem was!

Thanks IB.

If I can't the thing working tomorrow then I think I will be sending it back and getting a Rega deck instead. I just want to listen to music at the end of the day and not be faffing around with complications.

<slight rant>

Hang on in there, Stephen. Take a deep breath. You’ll be alright in the end. Of course, I told you to go with the Synology solution. Just saying...

Stephen Tate posted:

Thanks IB.

If I can't the thing working tomorrow then I think I will be sending it back and getting a Rega deck instead. I just want to listen to music at the end of the day and not be faffing around with complications.

<slight rant>

Don’t panic! This stuff is not intuitive. If you get fed up with it, call Naim support and ask Phil Harris to sort it for you. He may not thank me for upping his workload, but this stuff is childsplay for him, and I’m quite sure he will be able to get you up and running. 

By the way, have you looked at this Naim document about setting up a QNAP NAS? It’s a little out of date now, but still largely relevant. 

https://www.naimaudio.com/site...NAP_TS-412_Setup.pdf

It is primarily concerned with setting up the NAS for use with a Naim server, which you are not doing, but the initial setup steps may still be relevant. 

Stephen Tate posted:

Thanks IB.

If I can't the thing working tomorrow then I think I will be sending it back and getting a Rega deck instead. I just want to listen to music at the end of the day and not be faffing around with complications.

<slight rant>

the beginning in set up a streaming system is not so easy for not computer men, like me.  But when you will succeed, you will be happy and choosing your music just using an ipad is very comfortable and even magic.   Try perhaps to do it by phone, with someone in the forum.  See also youtube, you can perhaps find a video to help install a nas.

Perhaps HH could visit?