About to buy a NAS - Any benefit of NFS for media streaming?

[Smurfin]

Hi all

I'm about to buy a NAS - either a Qnap TS-409 or 409 Pro, and as far as I can see the main difference of the pro over the normal one is support for NFS. I've read conflicting information as to whether NFS is better than SMB and historically the consensus has been yes, NFS is better. However, I've read a number of forum posts here and elsewhere where SMB is now considered on a par with NFS?

To give you a bit more info, I'm ordering a HDX-1000 today (as a result of my Popcorn Hour nightmare) and this will be connected to my wired network; just not sure if the 409 Pro is worth the extra? (I understand that probably HTTP via myihome is the most efficient for streaming which will render the extra features of the TS-409 Pro redundant - if this is the case?).

Any views or advice?

Thanks
Matt

[t72bogie]

I wouldnt buy either if I didnt already have a NAS (Netgear NV+)

Netgear have the ReadyNAS PRO model out, which has built in iSCSI support so you can run it as a SAN, rather than a NAS - the difference being instead of any devices seeing it as a networked drive, and then data being transferred SMB/NFS etc, it can be set-up as a SAN, to appear a local drive (works at the block layer, rather than network) - so a lot quicker

all depends on how much you want to spend I guess, as with anything - you can get a <£100 network hard drive enclose, or a £1500 6 bay SAN, both will do the same job, whether the £100 has enough poke to stream full bandwidth Blu-Ray is questionable though

[Smurfin]

Originally Posted by t72bogie

I wouldnt buy either if I didnt already have a NAS (Netgear NV+)

Netgear have the ReadyNAS PRO model out, which has built in iSCSI support so you can run it as a SAN, rather than a NAS - the difference being instead of any devices seeing it as a networked drive, and then data being transferred SMB/NFS etc, it can be set-up as a SAN, to appear a local drive (works at the block layer, rather than network) - so a lot quicker

all depends on how much you want to spend I guess, as with anything - you can get a <£100 network hard drive enclose, or a £1500 6 bay SAN, both will do the same job, whether the £100 has enough poke to stream full bandwidth Blu-Ray is questionable though

I don't know the price of the ReadyNAS Pro, but it sounds like serious money - I need 4TB basically, and looking at the prices for the Netgears it's big bucks?

Given that my max budget is circa £400, do either of the models tick the boxes for HD streaming? Are you implying that the Qnap wouldn't be up to the job?

[t72bogie]

the PRO stuff is over a grand, its really for small companies rather than consumers

the Qnap should be fine for streaming HD over 1Gbps ethernet connection, I was thinking in the "ideal world" money no object scenario

[Patient]

I bought a Thecus N5200 - cheaper than the QNAP, faster than the QNAP, more bays than the QNAP.

Works like a dream - includes NFS.

Available from Scan with free delivery: here

[madgames]

Ive just took delivery of a Qnap 209 , really love it
Put my 1tb drive into it , set it up from work yesterday afternoon and when i got home just plugged it in to my network. Immediately the 360 saw the built in twony server and i was watching my divx from the qnap no problem
All in all im well chuffed

[Smurfin]

Originally Posted by Patient

I bought a Thecus N5200 - cheaper than the QNAP, faster than the QNAP, more bays than the QNAP.

Works like a dream - includes NFS.

Available from Scan with free delivery: here

Is the 5th bay reserved for hotswap or could you put 5 x 1TB drives in it?

Do you know if this NAS is Western Digital Caviar Green friendly?

[Geesus]

Originally Posted by Smurfin

I'm ordering a HDX-1000 today (as a result of my Popcorn Hour nightmare)

I always presumed they were practically the same machine in a different case? I don't think your experience will be any different with the HDX

[Smurfin]

Originally Posted by Geesus

I always presumed they were practically the same machine in a different case? I don't think your experience will be any different with the HDX

They are, but I have 2 duds sitting in my room living room, and advanced mp3 players aren't getting any new stock in for 2 weeks. The HDX-1000 may be more expensive but it looks alot better and will fit in my rack well. Plus I can have it early next week

[Geesus]

Originally Posted by Smurfin

They are, but I have 2 duds sitting in my room living room, and advanced mp3 players aren't getting any new stock in for 2 weeks. The HDX-1000 may be more expensive but it looks alot better and will fit in my rack well. Plus I can have it early next week

Let us know how those files playback on the new machine. Will be interesting to see if it was indeed hardware related.

Did you try your power-pack on their test machine btw? Maybe it was the PSU on the test machine that was faulty?

[Smurfin]

Originally Posted by Geesus

Let us know how those files playback on the new machine. Will be interesting to see if it was indeed hardware related.

Did you try your power-pack on their test machine btw? Maybe it was the PSU on the test machine that was faulty?

Will do Decided to buy the NAS if and when I get the new NMT working properly

re: the PCHs, yes I tried both PSUs and no power...

[Patient]

Originally Posted by Smurfin

Is the 5th bay reserved for hotswap or could you put 5 x 1TB drives in it?

Do you know if this NAS is Western Digital Caviar Green friendly?

The 5th bay isn't reserved - you can put an array disk in it or allocate it as a standby. The Thecus claims all disks can be hot-swapped but haven't been tempted to try it. You can also add an external 6th disk if you run out of space.

Don't know about the WD Caviar Green as I haven't tried it. There is a list of disks that work on the Thecus website so you could look there.

I don't know why more people aren't buying the N5200 - you get a 5-bay device with a decent processor for less than the competition's 4-bay devices!

[Smurfin]

I looked at a review but it said it was "rough around the edges", with poor support and isn't user friendly, and it's loud. The spec does look good for the price though!

[Patient]

Originally Posted by Smurfin

I looked at a review but it said it was "rough around the edges", with poor support and isn't user friendly, and it's loud. The spec does look good for the price though!

I've always found that Hexus provides excellent reviews - they reviewed the N5200 and gave it the thumbs up at £600 - now its half that price.

Hexus Review

[bigfecker]

Originally Posted by Patient

I bought a Thecus N5200 - cheaper than the QNAP, faster than the QNAP, more bays than the QNAP.

Works like a dream - includes NFS.

Available from Scan with free delivery: here

This price is without disks I assume.