Hello,

I'm looking for anyone who uses (or has used) a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device so we can share experiences.

Few weeks ago, I bought a Qnap NAS (1 bay) and fitted it with a 2TB HDD (WD Red).

The NAS is connected to my personal home network, and I've been able to access it via apps on my gadgets, and via browsers on my computers.

However, I've been underwhelmed by the performance. I've been copying all my files (mostly videos) to the NAS, and the process has been so slow with plenty interruptions. So far, I've transferred about 1.6TB of data.

I have installed PLEX Media Server on the NAS, but I haven't been able to access the media library through any other device yet.

I've also not been able to setup automatic downloading of torrents, and that's something I really want to do.

I'm eagerly awaiting positive contributions. Cheers.

Hi. Please where did you get the QNAP & how much? I have a WD my net central n900 2tb. Your copy speed will only be as good as the media over which you are copying. Try using wired LAN and remove the throughput settings of your LAN card from auto-negotiate to the highest value. If you're considering getting a router, don't compromise on wireless ac (as in ignore n). For access using Android devices, install ES Explorer or X-plore. Their LAN access are very good.

bigboa:
Hi. Please where did you get the QNAP & how much? I have a WD my net central n900 2tb. Your copy speed will only be as good as the media over which you are copying. Try using wired LAN and remove the throughput settings of your LAN card from auto-negotiate to the highest value. If you're considering getting a router, don't compromise on wireless ac (as in ignore n). For access using Android devices, install ES Explorer or X-plore. Their LAN access are very good.

Thanks for commenting.

I bought the NAS fairly-used from a colleague for £40. It's connected to my Virgin Broadband router via wired cable, but every other devices access it through wifi.

I already use ES Explorer (and QManager/QFile) on my android devices, and QManager on my Lumia.

Three things I've been unable to do:
1) Use my Smarttv and phones to access the Plex media library I installed on the NAS
2) Use my SmartTv to directly access the videos on the NAs via WLAN
3) Setup automatic download of torrents.

I'm hoping to do all three this weekend.

What kinda smart TV you got? I have an LG LN 3200 and after some updates was able to access my router/NAS. The last update broke it however causing the streams to fail after about 5mins. I'd advise getting a dedicated dlna server (a fairly cheap Android TV box should do it or you could install a upon app on your phone/old tablet) in between the TV and NAS. You could just search for dlna servers from the smart TV and should see the NAS (You'd need to have the dlna option turned on and the 2 devices on the same network)

It's a Samsung SmartTv. I don't recall the exact model, but it was made & bought in 2014.

I'm not willing to buy another device (DLNA server) to make this work . I already watch movies through an external 1TB HDD, or stream from a laptop via Chromecast.

I'll research it, though. Thanks.

Is there a particular default folder in the NAS that's 'public' or openly accessible? I'm not home now, but by default, the NAS has these root folders: Home, Homes, Multimedia, Public, Downloads, etc. I think I'll store a small folder of videos in each root folder and see which ones the tv can access.

. I feel you; it's a bit of a bummer getting a device that's supposed to be the ultimate and then finding out you still need another piece to complete the puzzle. I was similarly piqued. Since it is a Samsung, you could use the TV's all share app to search for the dlna server already loaded on the QNAP. My problem is that the technology is not properly standardized; law 7 of the 12 truths of networking applies- good, fast, cheap. Pick any 2, you can never have all 3.

you can simply uninstall plex and reinstall it again.
It should fix the problem or you could try serviio.
I have also run into problems with plex.serviio really did the magic.
Though i built my media server myself running on intel core i5 on windows server and serviio connected to a wireless router via a lan cable.never had any problems with it and it runs well on all devices, smart tv,laptops,handheld devices with no issues till date

Service was a headache for me.

*serviio

geswith:
you can simply uninstall plex and reinstall it again.
It should fix the problem or you could try serviio.
I have also run into problems with plex.serviio really did the magic.
Though i built my media server myself running on intel core i5 on windows server and serviio connected to a wireless router via a lan cable.never had any problems with it and it runs well on all devices, smart tv,laptops,handheld devices with no issues till date

Thanks for commenting.

I installed the Serviio plugin yesterday, but didn't have time to test it. I'll get back to you when I do.

spacyzuma:


Thanks for commenting.

I installed the Serviio plugin yesterday, but didn't have time to test it. I'll get back to you when I do.

At your service bro

geswith & bigboa

Some days ago, I installed Twonky Media server on my NAS. It's great! Everything just works! You should try it.

I'm angry that I wasted so much time struggling with Plex and I've uninstalled it.

7 reasons to use a NAS for data storage backups

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-reasons-to-use-a-nas-for-data-storage-backups/

After months of using my single-bay NAS, I'm a bit underwhelmed by its performance.

I intend to get a more powerful NAS in the future. One with at least 3-bays, each loaded with at least a 2TB HDD, and with very fast connectivity with online cloud backup. By then I expect to be paying for professional cloud storage in the range of 10TB.

The NAS is still working as it has always been.

Except that I’m accumulating too much data. The 2TB HDD stores about 1.79TB of data. With all the movies and tv series I keep downloading, the HDD got full last month . I had to move about 500GB of data (programs, disk images, documents) to another storage device. The NAS is now purely used as an online Media Library (TwonkyMedia) , not as a backup storage device.

If I need to upgrade, I’m not sure if I should buy a 4TB HDD for the NAS, or just buy a new NAS bay with 2 or more slots.

Buying a new 4TB WD Red HDD is the cheaper option, but then what happens to the existing 2TB HDD? Sell it? Throw it away? Keep it for future use?
Buying a new multi-bay NAS is more expensive. I’ll reuse the existing 2TB HDD, but I’ll still need to buy another HDD for the new NAS. I could sell or give away the existing NAS.

Well, let the money come first.

Some lists about the best NAS options

Techrader "The 10 best NAS devices 2016" http://www.techradar.com/news/the-10-best-nas-devices

PC Advisor "10 best NAS drives 2017 UK" http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/pc-peripheral/10-best-nas-drives-2017-uk-3217608/

CNet "Best Network Attached Storage of 2017" https://www.cnet.com/uk/topics/storage/best-hard-drives-and-storage/network-attached-storage/

Damn! These things are expensive! Much cheaper to buy multiple portable HDDs and use as offline backup storage or plug directly to TV.

spacyzuma:
7 reasons to use a NAS for data storage backups

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-reasons-to-use-a-nas-for-data-storage-backups/

Totally agree, good recommendation, it's still trendy, man. And an easy application like AOMEI free backup software will deliver a hand to fast finish NAS backups.

ANY ONE KNOW OF ANY SUPPLIERS OF QNAP NAS UNITS AVAILABLE FOR QUICK PURCHASE AND DELIVERY IN LAGOS?

I was copying new movies/series to my NAS last night (like I do every few weeks) and it got full. I had to delete some unwanted tv series to create more space.

A 2TB (actually 1.81TB) NAS device is no longer sufficient for my video collection (which should be about 2.5TB now).

I should get a larger NAS HDD, but I don't think it's worth it unless I get a better NAS (with faster speeds and 2/3 drive bays).

Doing all that would cost a pretty fortune. I'm not ready.