Is use of NAS bullet proof?

[fender-bender]

I have searched out and read a few threads posted here about the use of a NAS, but those threads were from people having issues. I have to guess that there are a bunch of people using NAS's that we don't know about because they are working well and they don't need to contact the Forum?? So my question is;

I'm thinking of getting rid of one computer (that has been acting as a storage area only) and replacing it with a NAS, but only if using a NAS with MM is rock solid operationally. If it is not yet, then I can wait till a later date.

I don't know if it makes any difference to this discussion, but I intend to update all computers to Windows 7 before long. I will also want to use a Android based remote program soon after that. (To bad MM can't sell me an Android App, and MM remote app.)

Please let me know what you think.
Thanks,

[mact]

It is as rock solid as the connection and the NAS itself.

I use a $15 Hitachi NAS gadget I bought at Fry's 5-6 years ago, into which I plug a couple HDDs from USB docks (not even a case!<G>). Sadly that cheapo thing is NLA. Search hard and you might find something like it. Or just get a Buffalo case and slap a Green Label 1-2TB drive in it (about $100)

Both of my drives (a Seagate Barracuda 1TB and an older Maxtor 2500) are mapped as local drives on both of my computers. And they usually show up when I boot either computer. If they don't, I fiddle and fuss and soon they do.

At that point all is golden.

I even use these "network" drives as data drives for my checkbook, PIM, and several other things I may want to use on either computer. It works better than I would have hoped and I smile. So, MM is just another app using the remote mapped drives as the data drive. No big whoop.

I do not know how well it would work if the drives were not mapped to the computer (assigned a local drive number). (just use the same drive letter on each computer, like W, X, Y, Z to avoid conflict)

MM does not recognize the drive where the sounds are as a media server. Just as the location of the library on "my computer"--which is fine. Right now I'm listening to Patsy Cline (now Dean Martin<G>) from the HDD in the other room.

I just ripped a new Doris Day Christmas album to my library and it went just fine. While I was listening to Patsy.

So...as I said, if the NAS connection is bulletproof, then MM will work great with the library there.

I don't know how it might work with the non-music of the past 20 years<BGD&R>

[Lowlander]

I've been using it for many years and it's probably more solid than using local storage. There are some things to think about though:

1) Use UNC Path instead of mapped drive in MediaMonkey. Mapped drives can get a different DriveID assigned by Windows (it shouldn't happen) and then MediaMonkey won't find your songs (can be fixed though).
2) RAID isn't as safe for your data as it seems. RAID 0 will reduce data reliability over a single disc. Other RAID settings will often increase data reliability by allowing 1 or more discs to fail without data loss. However RAID rebuilding (after replacing lost disc) with large hard drives can result in another disc failing at which point all data is lost. Furthermore if the RAID controller fails all data is lost (depends on RAID chosen).
3) NAS can be slower and can leave file locks.

Despite that I'd still recommend a NAS as it has a lower overhead and itself is less virus prone (although a infected machine on the network would still be able to wipe your files).

[fender-bender]

Thanks for the input. I will start investigating my options.

[Peke]

Although, I have NAS with TWO 1Gbit ports in LAG I played a little with my Wi-Fi router TP-Link TL-WR2543ND and its USB connection, I must say it works OK.

[scott967]

Guess I'll know soon enough. In the process of configuring a Synology 213 w/ 2 Seagate 3Tb barracudas as JBOD. Synology has an option for something like RAID 1 (they call it hybrid storage) but I don't think it is worth it. In typical Electrical Engineer vs Computer Scientist speak 6 Tb ends up as 5.36 Tb

scott s.
.

[dannyno]

I store all my music on a NAS and it works really well.

The problems I had were when my mm.db file was also stored on the NAS. It is now stored locally and I sync it between machines instead. So I would recommend keeping your db file off the NAS.

Dan

[FrozenAssets]

I've got my music and the MM.DB on a Buffalo NAS. It has been solid for me. I have it set up as a raid10. Raid is not a backup. There is a separate USB drive plugged into the NAS that receives a weekly incremental backup.

I also have an ONKYO network receiver that can connect to either MediaMonkey or the NAS as media servers, so I don't necessarily have to have the computer on to listen to my music. Of course, I use the monkey manage all of my music.

[oldfart]

Hi, Ive got my main monkey library on my local pc, and around 80,000 mp3 on 2 x 2 bay nas/s. I use a buffalo and a dlink (yuk) nas/s and never had any issues with Monkey accessing the music. I prefer the 2 nas boxes because I dont like raid, and cant see any reason for using it in a home environment.

I have a backup of my pc/s on both nas boxes, and inturn a backup of my nas offsite. That keeps my paranoia of losing data under control. A nas is a good option for music files as any pc can access it.

[Lowlander]

I do like RAID and run RAID 6 which will allow 2 drives to fail without data loss. I also keep an additional backup (in case of RAID controller failure) at a separate location. The benefit of RAID (depends on which is chosen) can be speed (certain Raids improve Read Speed, others Write speed) and that recovery is easy (just replace hdd with new, system recovers itself).
I'd recommend backup power if you run RAID as some RAIDs can be sensitive to power loss situations.