How to set up a NAS drive
Posted by: Ptangyang on 15 May 2012
Hi all
After some digging I'm about to invest in a qnap drive for my uniti. Being a bit of a noob to this naim world, I'm not sure what I need to do to set it up. I'm looking at the Ts212 or ts219P (incidentally, any comments on pros or cons on these 2 units?). Please take it slowly, what would my step by step process need to be from getting that qnap grey box home, to having glorious streaming music on my lovely black box.
Many thanks.
Posted on: 15 May 2012 by garyi
Turn it on.
Put music in the qmultimedia folder.
End
Posted on: 15 May 2012 by Ptangyang
Fantastic, so actually no need for ripping software, streaming software, new folder mapping, or tagging?
Posted on: 15 May 2012 by McGhie
For ripping/tagging/album art download dBpoweramp (there are comprehensive instructions on its website) - I'm assuming that you have a PC, though you haven't said. Can't advise what file format to use as I'm not familiar with that NAS so I don't know what its streaming software supports, go for a lossless format though (Wav or FLAC) and you'll be able to convert from one to another (using dBpoweramp software). You can rip from PC to NAS once you know what the path to the music folder on the NAS is (I presume that this will become clear once you've installed the software that comes with the NAS - again, not familiar with that NAS so can't be more specific), though you need to consider how you want to back these files up (or you risk losing them). Not familiar with the NAS or its streaming software, so can't advise on how you configure that. Can you not get hold of a manual off the manufacturer's website?
Your NAS and PC will both need to be connected to your router (or a switch if you're using one) using an Ethernet cable (you don't want to be copying large files over wifi. Ideally your NU will also be connected to the router (or switch) in same way, though this may not be practical...
Once the NAS's streaming is turned on you should see the UPnP stream via n-Stream (I'm assuming you have an iDevice to control your streaming, if not you can pick the stream up on the NU).
Cheers
Ian
Posted on: 16 May 2012 by Ptangyang
Thanks Ian, thats really useful. I'm on a Mac, and plan on ripping to FLAC for tagging/art work reasons, and drive capacity Vs collection size!
Have you any idea how easy it is to install hard drives to a NAS system (I realise they need to come from the compatibility list)?
Posted on: 16 May 2012 by McGhie
In both my Netgear ReadyNAS Duo and my HP ProLiant MicroServer there are 'quick release' type (with a lever) slide out caddies that you screw the hard drives onto. So, screw drive onto caddy then slide/click caddy into NAS. My Netgear NAS annoyingly didn't come with spare screws and required quite low profile ones to allow the caddy to slide in/out. It was supplied with an installed drive so I took two of four screws out of supplied drive (diagonally opposite ones) and fixed new drive in with those as a short term measure... I'm sure yours will be supplied with all of the right parts!
NAS should detect drives when turned back on.
My most recent HD purchase was WD Green Caviar (low noise, power, speed - the latter should not be an issue for data drive on NAS as the bottleneck will be network speed). My NAS and server were both supplied with Seagate drives (which are a bit noisier and faster but I believe they are reliable enough and work well in NAS use case (always on, lots of spinning up and down...)
Can't help you on the Apple side but hope you've found something better than iTunes for ripping. Don't think you can run dBpoweramp on native Apple OS (shame) but hopefully you've found something with similar functionality (AccurateRip etc.)
Cheers
Ian
Posted on: 16 May 2012 by fatcat
Originally Posted by Ptangyang:
Hi all
After some digging I'm about to invest in a qnap drive for my uniti. Being a bit of a noob to this naim world, I'm not sure what I need to do to set it up. I'm looking at the Ts212 or ts219P (incidentally, any comments on pros or cons on these 2 units?). Please take it slowly, what would my step by step process need to be from getting that qnap grey box home, to having glorious streaming music on my lovely black box.
Many thanks.
I bought a TS211 a couple of months ago. Didn't find it that easy to set up, but got there in the end. The main problem was the instructions supplied. Basic instructions which tell you how to hook it up and switch on, detailed 200 page instructions which are far to complicated.
I also had difficulty transferring files from my PC. Eventually discovered I needed a piece of software called NetBaK Replicator.
Posted on: 16 May 2012 by Bart
Posted on: 18 May 2012 by Ptangyang
Posted on: 18 May 2012 by SKDriver
Whilst I certainly wouldn't' dissuade you from buying a QNAP NAS, since they are recommended by NAIM, I went for a Synology NAS due to the fact that the software can 'transcode' FLAC to WAV on the fly. This saves your Uniti doing the work of transcoding and potentially increases sound quality, assuming you rip to FLAC!
I believe the QNAP TS212 and Synology DS212j are effectively the same box under different brands...
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by Ptangyang
Thanks for the tip - does it run silently? Also can any Qnap users comment on noise? Its going in the sitting room...
Thanks
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by garyi
Why are you putting it in the sitting room, the main point of a NAS is it can go anywhere, out of the way.
You won't find a silent NAS, so I recommend you rethink where its going.
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by Ptangyang
Hi - its where the router is. I dont want to relocate router with all the wiring that would entail. Is there any other way around?
So you think I will struggle with noise with all NAS drives?
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by garyi
The NAS will be noisy. Unless you go solid state which is going to be uber expenive.
Sorry but why is the router in the sitting room?
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by McGhie
I shared my study with a Netgear ReadyNAS Duo for a short while until the noise drove me mad and I moved it to the loft (it had a particularly noisy fan though). I can tolerate the MicroServer (it's as quiet as my PC which it sits next to and which has an SSD) but I wouldn't want it in my lounge - I don't mind intermittent disk noise in my study but I would if it were in my lounge (and while streaming music). I think I'd get complaints from other quarters too.
If you insist on siting a NAS in your lounge then google quiet or silent NAS to see if you can find something that makes very little noise (assuming you don't want to go down the SSD route) or try to rig it up elsewhere.
Cheers
Ian
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by rjstaines
Just to be awkward I have a Netgear ReadyNAS Duo V2 in the lounge with 2x Seagate Barracuda 3TB drives. It's whisper quiet !
And I've moved my Sky router into the lounge too in order to get a decent WiFi signal to my iPad to run the n-stream app.
The HDX & NDX & ReadyNAS are all connected to a separate (gigabit) switch, which then has a long (10m) cat5e cable running over to the router.
I find the mice make more noise than the network stuff.
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by thebigfredc
To rjstaines
Sounds likeyou have a great NAS solution.
Could I be so bold as to enquire where you bought it from, as I need to back up my unitiserve?
Atb
Ray
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by Bart
Originally Posted by Ptangyang:
Thanks for the tip - does it run silently? Also can any Qnap users comment on noise? Its going in the sitting room...
Thanks
My Synology212j with 2 2tb WD Caviar Green hd's is really quiet; I'm pleased with how quiet it is.
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by McGhie
My ReadyNAS Duo was not a v2 and it sounded awful (I should have done my research before buying as the issue is widely reported in reviews).
If you do manage to get a quiet enough NAS then the residual noise will be the hard drives, so be careful with their choice. You can google this but the WD Green Caviar are reported to be on the quieter side.
Cheers
Ian
Posted on: 21 May 2012 by NickSeattle
Originally Posted by rjstaines:
The HDX & NDX & ReadyNAS are all connected to a separate (gigabit) switch, which then has a long (10m) cat5e cable running over to the router.
I am curious why you run an HDX and not a US with your NDX.
Thank you.
Nick
Posted on: 21 May 2012 by Ptangyang
Originally Posted by SKDriver:
Whilst I certainly wouldn't' dissuade you from buying a QNAP NAS, since they are recommended by NAIM, I went for a Synology NAS due to the fact that the software can 'transcode' FLAC to WAV on the fly. This saves your Uniti doing the work of transcoding and potentially increases sound quality, assuming you rip to FLAC!
I believe the QNAP TS212 and Synology DS212j are effectively the same box under different brands...
Bit off topic, but how would conversion from flac to wav result in increased quality? Does the uniti currently do a conversion then?
Originally Posted by McGhie:
For ripping/tagging/album art download dBpoweramp (there are comprehensive instructions on its website) - I'm assuming that you have a PC, though you haven't said. Can't advise what file format to use as I'm not familiar with that NAS so I don't know what its streaming software supports, go for a lossless format though (Wav or FLAC) and you'll be able to convert from one to another (using dBpoweramp software). You can rip from PC to NAS once you know what the path to the music folder on the NAS is (I presume that this will become clear once you've installed the software that comes with the NAS - again, not familiar with that NAS so can't be more specific), though you need to consider how you want to back these files up (or you risk losing them). Not familiar with the NAS or its streaming software, so can't advise on how you configure that. Can you not get hold of a manual off the manufacturer's website? Your NAS and PC will both need to be connected to your router (or a switch if you're using one) using an Ethernet cable (you don't want to be copying large files over wifi. Ideally your NU will also be connected to the router (or switch) in same way, though this may not be practical... Once the NAS's streaming is turned on you should see the UPnP stream via n-Stream (I'm assuming you have an iDevice to control your streaming, if not you can pick the stream up on the NU). Cheers Ian
Has anyone tried poweramp as a ripper on a mac using crossover?
Posted on: 21 May 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by thebigfredc:
To rjstaines
Sounds likeyou have a great NAS solution.
Could I be so bold as to enquire where you bought it from, as I need to back up my unitiserve?
Atb
Ray
Novatech have the ReadyNAS Duo v2's for the grand total of £119 inc VAT ... just add the appropriate drives for the capacity you want.
Phil
Posted on: 21 May 2012 by thebigfredc
Thanks Phil
Quietness of the NAS is an issue for me which is why I took an interest in this thread.
It seems the V2 model is the one to go for.
Ray
Posted on: 21 May 2012 by rjstaines
ReadyNAS Duo V2 - Dabs price this week down to £99.99 - that's good!
Posted on: 21 May 2012 by Phil Harris
Originally Posted by rjstaines:
ReadyNAS Duo V2 - Dabs price this week down to £99.99 - that's good!
Bargain! 
Phil
Posted on: 21 May 2012 by rjstaines
Originally Posted by NickSeattle:
I am curious why you run an HDX and not a US with your NDX.
Thank you.
Nick
Nick, it's one of those personal taste things. I had an HDX since their launch, sold it & bought a Unitiserve, missed the display screen and power supply upgradability so sold it and bought another HDX then converted it to SSD version. Funny old world isn't it? Lesson learned would be a more careful pre-purchase evaluation, I suppose.
I won't go near the "music streamed from HDX sounds better than a US" discussion.
Roger
