NAS shopping - QNAP questions

Posted by: Bart on 06 March 2015

I'm going to try a QNAP as it looks like it was a home power failure that may have taken out one of the drives and some of the network connectivity of my Synology. I like to try different things . . . why not try a QNAP.

Who here runs the HS-251 ("silent") model? Which UPnP media servers do you like on it? The 251 is Celeron based, so I think I can run Asset. And it looks like I can install Minimserver too.

And for all knowledgeable folks -- should I forget about any RAID setup? With my Synology, RAID did save some of my data (as one hdd failed and the other didn't and the data is still on the working one). It's not the cost of the redundant drive . . . and I am good with backups to usb drives. I guess I'm talking myself into RAID.

Posted on: 10 March 2015 by blythe

Many thanks Bart, I'll have a look in the morning (late night here now!)

Posted on: 10 March 2015 by Bart

Originally Posted by blythe:

Many thanks Bart, I'll have a look in the morning (late night here now!)

If you go onto the qnap website, they have some vendors listed for AU.

I ordered the HS-251, but they must build them to order. 2-4 week wait was quoted.

Posted on: 10 March 2015 by blythe

I've just been looking at QNAPs and I am reluctant to order just yet as I see different CPU's listed and I'm not totally sure if I am restricted to ARM and INTEL processors only? (I don't really understand the Asset website, to be honest, being a relative novice)

A number of QNAP's, such as the TS-220, 212 appear to have a "Marvell" processor?

Would the single bay TS-131 with ARM Cortex A9 dual core 1.2GHz CPU work with Asset?

Can anyone tell me if I need a particular processor?

I ideally want a single drive QNAP, noise isn't an issue as it will be located well away from the listening environment, so if it has a fan, that's fine.

Two discs will only add to expense, so I'd rather go for one.

Thanks, Martin.

Posted on: 10 March 2015 by Egerton

Originally Posted by blythe:

Hi Martin,

I have the TS-131 on which Asset runs faultlessly. The TS-131 is easy to set up and Asset was installed and configured with ease. I moved away from using an iMac with Asset as it was a pain having the Mac booted up all the time and not looked back.

Despite forum warnings of noise from NAS drives, the TS-131 is whisper quiet and sits on my rack allowing a very short Ethernet cable to my Qute. The only time I hear it is when the disc spins up and thats only if there is complete silence.

Asset now have one version for QNAP which works with all recent and new models.

I hope that helps.

Paul

A number of QNAP's, such as the TS-220, 212 appear to have a "Marvell" processor?

Would the single bay TS-131 with ARM Cortex A9 dual core 1.2GHz CPU work with Asset?

Can anyone tell me if I need a particular processor?

I ideally want a single drive QNAP, noise isn't an issue as it will be located well away from the listening environment, so if it has a fan, that's fine.

Two discs will only add to expense, so I'd rather go for one.

Thanks, Martin.

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by Bart

Originally Posted by blythe:

A number of QNAP's, such as the TS-220, 212 appear to have a "Marvell" processor?

Would the single bay TS-131 with ARM Cortex A9 dual core 1.2GHz CPU work with Asset?

Can anyone tell me if I need a particular processor?

I ideally want a single drive QNAP, noise isn't an issue as it will be located well away from the listening environment, so if it has a fan, that's fine.

Two discs will only add to expense, so I'd rather go for one.

Thanks, Martin.

I"m a little confused too as the Asset website lists ARM X19, etc., where the QNAP site uses different designations.

ARM and Intel are the two choices for QNAP nas models and Asset seems to be supported on both. But I can't correlate the ARM model designations either after looking at the specs pretty quickly.

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by blythe

I'm pleased it's not just me but reassured that the 131 does work, assuming it' not running a Marvell CPU.....

I wish I could buy with confidence that I won't have wasted my money buying the "wrong" CPU'd QNAP.....

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by blythe

Egerton, do you know which CPU / processor your TS-131 uses?

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by Solid Air

It uses an ARM Cortex chip made by Freescale. No idea if that means it runs Asset.

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by blythe

Originally Posted by Solid Air:

It uses an ARM Cortex chip made by Freescale. No idea if that means it runs Asset.

Exactly, how am I meant to know when the Asset web site uses different designations for the CPUs.....

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by dave4jazz

Originally Posted by blythe:

I ideally want a single drive QNAP, noise isn't an issue as it will be located well away from the listening environment, so if it has a fan, that's fine.

Two discs will only add to expense, so I'd rather go for one.

Thanks, Martin.

QNAP TS112P + WD Red HD running LMS for streaming duties. It sits on my equipment shelf. Fan or disc noise is not an issue.

Dave

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by blythe

What is LMS?

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by dave4jazz

Originally Posted by blythe:

What is LMS?

Logitech Media Server. Streaming to a couple for Squeezebox Touch's.

Dave

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by Egerton

Hi Blythe........it's as stated in the spec in the QNAP site I.e. CPU Freescale™ ARM® Cortex®-A9 dual-core 1.2GHz processor with hardware encryption engine.

From my experience with the TS-131 you can buy it with confidence using Asset.

I use it with a 3GB WD Red drive which was easy to install and set up.

If you have any queries re Asset, the guy that runs it is very happy to help if you email him.

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by Egerton

Blythe I meant to say that there is only one version of Asset for QNAP available on the site which works in the TS-131

Posted on: 11 March 2015 by blythe

Many thanks guys, a QNAP TS-131 with a 2TB Western Digital red drive has now been ordered on-line.

Once it's arrived, I'll let you know how easy (or not) it is to install the hard drive and also Asset....

Fingers crossed!

Posted on: 12 March 2015 by tonym

Hi Bart,

Sorry, only just spotted this. I recently bought an HS-251, ostensibly to store ripped movies to access over the internet. It's very good! I've installed 2x3TB WD Red drives in it, not bothered with RAID for the reasons given by a previous poster. I use PLEX media server, which I can also access using an Amazon Fire TV, but I do know you can use Asset on it just fine. Given its capacity I plonked all my music on it too, and can access this via Asset to my Muso.

(Alas, my Broadband's too slow to enable streaming from it over the internet, but it works a treat on the home network).

Posted on: 12 March 2015 by Bart

Thanks Tony! I'm a few weeks away still from getting my HS-251. I'll do 2 x 3tb WD Red, and probably will skip raid but back up one hdd to the other. (Still both could be wiped out if the nas explodes, so external backup will be done too.)

In the meantime, my old Synology 212j is struggling; the discs are 90% full and it's rather slow compared to even my 214j; maybe it's because the discs are so full.

Posted on: 16 March 2015 by blythe

QNAP has arrived, it was indeed easy to install the WD Red HDD.

However, the QNAP comes with virtually no instructions, so be prepared to download the user manual (I had to find an address to download from as there was no instructions in the box worth mentioning) and then if you are a low tech person, be prepared to get someone to do it for you!

Setting it up, firmware update, finding the interface etc. is NOT for the novice!

I am currently copying all my files over from my old NAS and have installed the trial version of Asset which will be upgraded to the full version (trial needs to be deleted then full version installed) once all files are copied over.

Even directing the Asset to look at the correct folder is not as easy as with the Mac version of Asset.

It's taken me quite a while!