Servers: Are we there yet?


I was shocked to discover that my brand-new high-end server is entirely dependant on a functional wireless network. If either the Ipad or the wifi are not working, the server is rendered non-functional. I spoke to the dealer and he informed me that all the servers he carries are like that. Huh?!?
psag
If you have a music server, and a large music library, BE SURE to have a reliable backup and restore capability to go along with it.

All devices die eventually including storage devices. Not if but when it happens, you need a backup to be able to restore from. I’ve failures impact me already on 2 occasions in teh lsat 7-8 years or so where a restore of music files was needed.

It goes with the turf and is a unique and critical consideration for any large and valued music file library.

My music server is PLex and Logitech Media servers running on an older Gateway laptop running Windows 10. I rip using dbpoweramp to a conventional Seagate 1.5 TB external USB drive and use another 2.0 Tb attached for backups.

I plan to add an active second backup copy sometime soon. I might consider adding another backup other than directly attached disk drive ( the fastest but not the safest) for this but am not sure yet how. I have about .7 Tb of mostly lossless compressed FLAC files in my library which would take forever to restore from cloud storage over an internet connection if needed.  NAS on my home network is the other option.

I am also still looking at different backup software solutions on Windows 10. Seagate manager worked nicely on Windows 7 but I did not care for newer Seagate Dashboard on Windows 10. I added a native Windows 10 File History backup just last week. It seems to work well but I have not tested a full restore yet and I am not sure if it can be restored easily to non-Windows platform if needed without using the restore function. I’d like to be able to just flat copy all my library files from disk to disk in order to restore if needed, but not sure that is possible.

So still working on the perfect restore solution on Windows 10 if any suggestions but sound quality wise things are the cat’s meow and have been for a few years now.



In the latest issue of Stereophile, Mike L. raved about the Melco server and preferred it to the Antipodes DS. Sounds like very good value, sound- and price-wise.
sbank...

I got the Sony about a week ago and I am happy as a clam in mud.  Nice piece, easy to use,  good sonics.
oblgny,

Glad the Sony worked out for you. 

I am still deciding my next move for a renderer/streamer. I've been captivated by the pre-launch discussion surrounding the Sonore Microrendu, which is coming out sorta-soon maybe, with price TBD. Lively debate on Computeraudiophile about it.
There's a good chance I'll go DIY, with a friend building a low powered Linux-based computer to use strictly for local and streaming audio, controlled by Daphile, Volumio or similar free software. It's the wild west out there in digiland! Cheers,
Spencer