NAS For Squeezebox - a confused little guy needs help

[dlam]

Hi all (yeah I know there's a post about 3 topics down asking pretty much the same question for the Sonos and I did a search, but it was all getting a bit techy so I wanted to make sure that I get the answers I need )

Basically I got a Squeezebox 3 the other day and it is all working fine, but I want to be able to access my music without my PC being turned on, so I guess I need a NAS device.

From what I can see on these forums, people are recommending things like:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-Netw.../dp/B00062KPEI

So, am I correct that I buy one of these then plug a USB hard drive into it, plug the NAS device into my router, and my Squeezebox can access the music off the drive? How do I install the Slimserver software onto the NAS box (which I guess I am still going to need)? How do I get the Slimserver browser window open to search for new music and set things up?

Is the cheapest / easiest way to do this, or is there a better way? I definitely want a remote hard drive and don't want to build a small PC as a server, because I don't want the unsightliness of it, and I am aware of the green issues of having it running constantly too.

Any help you can give me would be gratefully appreciated (the simpler the advice the better). Thanks.

[dlam]

Hmmm, since posting it looks like the NSLU2 is no good because it won't use the AlienBBC plugin.

From what I can see, the QNap TS-101 is now looking like the best choice for me. Anyone got any experience of using this?

[lazymatt]

The Qnap is the easiest one to go for as it can come with Slimserver pre-installed.

If you have a look over at the Slimdevices forums, there's some discussion there about NAS drives I think.

[dlam]

Since posting I have had another change of plan. I realised that I hardly ever listen to the radion and so don't really require the AlienBBC plugin. Instead I have bought myself a cheap DAB seperate for the very rare occasion I feel the need to listen to the radio, and am going to get an NSLU2 and try and figure out how to get it working! How hard can it be? *shudder*

Thanks for the tip about the Slimdevices forum. I didn't even know they had one!

[lazymatt]

Good luck

Also worth while having a look at the Slimdevices Wiki.