Naim, Sonos and iTunes accessing same library

Theoretically, if your network infrastructure is sound then there should be no issue

Might be worth trying with multiple clients accessing the NAS simultaneously, to address any issues with DAAP (iTunes Sharing) vs UPnP services acting on the same file set–try playing the same file in all zones....

+1 for Dave's reply (and the suggestion by the Original Poster).

There could well be issues with file locking ... ideally only one device should ever access a set of files at any one time...

Phil 

Might also be worth trying Foobar on the office PC along with its UPnP component–this reduces the requirement for DAAP (iTunes) services at the NAS and keeps all of the devices relatively similar in terms of protocols (Sonos utilises its own flavor of UPnP extensions).

I run a fairly largish network with an 8 zone Sonos system plus NDX/HDX, 2 Ipads, 2 Iphones, Apple TV, Sony PS3 plus 5 PCs accessing music stored on either the HDX (WAV) or Itunes rips on a QNAP TS419+ Turbo P. Network infrastructure is 1GB or 100/200 powerline. I have never encountered any lockup or other issues such as disrupted playback.

Hi Guys,

It's not down to the number of different connection types or now fast your network infrastructure is - don't get lost down that pathway.

To give you a *PRACTICAL* example of what can happen in this way - the NetGear ReadyNAS comes by default with two shares created "Media" and "Backup".

The temptation is to use the "Media" folder to point your HDX / UnitiServe at as a ripping target however the ReadyNAS also runs a UPnP server application which is (by default) set to use the Media folder as its source.

What can (and does) happen in this case is the HDX / UnitiServe rips to the Media share on the ReadyNAS and seems to be working find until at some point later certain tracks get skipped over whilst you are trying to play them - the ReadyNAS UPnP server has them locked for access as it is either doing a filescan or it is actally playing the file.

The solution in this case is to either:

1) Create a share specifically for the HDX / UnitiServe to rip to. (This is my preferred option.)

2) Disable the ReadyNAS UPnP server. (There is no need to have it as the HDX / UnitiServe can share all the data on the ReadyNAS anyway.)

File access and file locking has been an issue for IT networks for as long as networks have been around - the way around it is to have only one process (or application or user) accessing any one set of files at any one time - this is one reason why we made the UPnP server in the HDX and UnitiServe flexible and configurable enough that it is able to access shares across multiple network devices - it is then the only UPnP server that is needed so others can be disabled and then there is no risk of file locking conflicts. 

Cheers

Phil

The issue with file locks is trying to open an file exclusively which a program would need to do if it needed exclusive access to the file i.e. modifying the file contents etc.  If all the programs are accessing the file in read mode only then you should not have an issue with file locks. (other than max locks exceeded on file but this should not be an issue for any home network.  Sounds to me as if some UPNP servers are sloppy implementations and do not choose the right file lock.

In my setup the HDX rips to its own internal hard drive and iTunes rips to the NAS. These are the two main processes that require exclusive file access and should not get into a file lock conflict in this setup.

Correct but not everything always behaves quite as it should... ;-)

Phil