2. pc-audio
  3. 118793-1583

need help moving to NAS and RAID

Looking for some helpful suggestions and guidance:
I currently use 3 3TB Seagate portable Hard drives, linked via USB to my PC laptop running JRiver 21, and connected via USB to my Playback Design DAC5 as my digital music library. I am concerned that these portable HD's are not that reliable, and would like to migrate to an integrated NAS/RAID storage device, and connect that to my laptop for JRiver access. Please provide some easy thoughts on best method of transferring all my files, creating auto back up, and importing the new library into JR. I am not very computer literate. Also would like recommendations on which brands/devices are reliable, and sound good.
Question 2: I am not that happy with the new Media Center 21...when I access my library via the PC, I used to be able to create new random playlists by opening an album, and only selecting a few tracks...now it doesn't let me; and upon clicking, it moves the entire album to the Playing Now song list...but from iPad, I can still create playlists from specific tracts. Do folks know of how I can regain my prior functionality? The MC forum has not been helpful. Should I consider the new AUrender N10 or N100H instead of laptop and JRiver, but still use the NAS, and RAID? Would it sound better, and be easier to use and import music, and Tidal?
Thanks..just an old fashioned audiophile, trying to deal with these new fangled options of listening to music.
Happy Holidays...
mribob
russbutton's avatar
russbutton
462 posts
 
I have yet to find an inexpensive commercial NAS which I feel has acceptable performance.  I run Ubuntu Linux on my laptop instead of Windows.  I popped for a new 1TB drive for it as I have only about 1/2 TB of flac music files.

I run a nightly cron job which copies everything on the laptop to a secondary 3TB drive I have on my Linux desktop box.  I also have a nightly cron job which copies everything from the secondary 3TB drive on my Linux box to another 3TB drive which is hanging off of a Raspberry Pi.  Additionally I have an account with Crashplan, which is an off-site backup service and a copy of everything is there as well.  So I have FOUR copies of my music files in various locations.

If I were on Windows, I'd do something similar.  I'd have a large drive local to my laptop.  I'd also have one of those inexpensive commercial NAS drives on the network, but just for backup purposes.  And then I'd also subscribe to Crashplan for their off-site backup service.
russbutton's avatar
russbutton
462 posts
 
One more thing...   I agree that a UPS isn't a bad idea, but they aren't all that great as surge protectors.  Get yourself surge protectors made by Belkin.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JE9LD4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpag...

Laptops don't need UPS protection and if you're using your NAS strictly as a backup device, then it's not really necessary to have it on a UPS either.  What both desperately need are good surge protectors (and they're a lot cheaper too...).
mribob OP
229 posts
 
Thanks everyone for their thoughtful posts. I have just upgraded my wireless router to the new ASUS 3100 dual band, with 8 GB switch ports in back, and access for direct NAS connectivity. This is a great router, with awesome wireless coverage. Exploring possibility of Aurender server, and will then to migrate from my WD portable drives to a NAS...hopefully will finalize all details by March...leaning to Synology NAS, or the QNAP, and will have plugged in UPS.
More once I take the plunge!
Best,
Bob
More to discover