NAS - replace/ upgrade?

themoid

Hi guys

So, I'm running a HP Proliant N54L NAS, holds films, tv, music, photos.

It's been good for me, running Freenas and mostly running to a Raspberry Pi 3 with Kodi.

However, its been having more and more issues with streaming smoothly. especially on Blu-ray rips  which tend to have stuttering (which is beginning to become an issue). I've also set it up as Plex server direct to two Smart Tv's, with the same stuttering on the same sources.

All connections are wired rather than wireless.

So.....is this simply a case of needing a NAS with some more oomph ? If so any recommendations for something as a replacement (not silly money!).

Or any other fixes ?

Thanks
Stu

Sloppy Bob

The NAS possibly isn't your issue.

Full HD audio to a RPi may be causing buffering issues and using your TV as a Plex client is probably forcing some kind of transcoding, certainly as far as audio is concerned, which your HP isn't up to and you'd possibly have to spend a lot of money on a NAS to replace it that would as it would require the grunt to transcode.

A different solution may be to look at the client side of things and get something that will play all the formats natively such as a Nvidia Shield TV, Vero4K, Zappitti etc.

mickevh

I agree - if you're going to spend money on solving this, IMHO it would be better VFM to obtain some more capable clients rather than a new server.

I'm running an N54L and after something like 6 years, I've done nothing to it apart from turn it on/off as required. (And I don't run Plex.) It's not running out of horsepower yet (indeed, it barely uses any resources "just serving files.") On the very rare occasions that my now ancient NetGear media streamer finds something it cannot play, I do a one off transcode with Handbrake, store the amended version back and I'm done. Admittedly, I'm not into new fangled 4K UHD and so forth so my media is all DVD/BD rips and downloaded stuff.

I suppose it could just be possible one of your HDD's is on the way out. Have a look at any disc health stats you have available (such as SMART monitoring) and see if there's any alarming numbers. A failing HDD is about the only issue I've ever had.

themoid

Thanks for your thoughts chaps, i'll check out the drives and bone up on client side options.

Bryn1

Just to reiterate what has been said above, I also run an N54 only thing I have done to it is replace the main OS drive with an SSD, I run Plex server on it without any issues but ensure all of my clients are capable of playing all of the formats I use natively (I use the Nvidia shield)

themoid

Hi guys

Just a follow up question. I've just put plex on the xbox to see how that handles the files. Streaming a ripped blu Ray from the NAS which constantly buffers if I play it on the pi, xbox, plex, wherever.

Looking at the control panel for freenas the cpu when this is streaming is running at well over 100% all of the time. Is this still a media player problem rather than the NAS? I thought the xbox would have enough grunt to process anything.

Thanks for your help, this is an area where my knowledge is lacking ....

Stu

Sloppy Bob

I'd say your NAS is still transcoding something, probably audio. Try Kodi on the Xbox as it's built-in player won't transcode anything but will play it natively.

themoid

That's got it, thanks for your help

Sloppy Bob

Glad you got it sorted and that the advice we gave was on the ball.

Now you just need to decide if the Xbox does all you need or what streaming device with Kodi on it you want to buy.

I know Kodi on Xbox had some limitations compared to other platforms but have never used it so don't really know. It may not bitstream full HD Audio or Atmos if you need/want that whereas other devices will.

themoid

Thanks, I'll do some research.