Yes.
I have a Roku and XBOX which stream wireless HD through 10/100 since they are on 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wireless bands.
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Can anyone recommend a wireless storage solution for iTunes?
- Thread starter dh2005
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Yes.
I have a Roku and XBOX which stream wireless HD through 10/100 since they are on 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wireless bands.
It would depend on how the Mac is connected to the network. If the Mac is using wireless obviously the speed of the router ports won't matter, but if the Mac is using wired ethernet any traffic internal to the network like backups to a NAS would see the benefit of the faster GB connection.
I have the following set up as a NAS...May be a little pricey if you have a low budget.
Buy one of these for 109.20
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10322&cs_id=1030605&p_id=8673&seq=1&format=2
Buy 2 1TB caviar black WB drives for 109.99 each
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533
Now you have a Raid 1 set up with a great enclosure for about 350.00.
Buy one of these for 109.20
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10322&cs_id=1030605&p_id=8673&seq=1&format=2
Buy 2 1TB caviar black WB drives for 109.99 each
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533
Now you have a Raid 1 set up with a great enclosure for about 350.00.
I use iTunes Match. I just download a playlists, and keep others in the cloud. Of course I use a lot of computers. I just got tired of it (the HD thing, that is)
BTW, I also use Airplay exclusively now, which works really well, especially with multiple Airplay devices
(I have an Apple TV and an Airport Express).
BTW, I also use Airplay exclusively now, which works really well, especially with multiple Airplay devices
(I have an Apple TV and an Airport Express).
I was thinking of getting Synology DS212J with 2 bays at $200 and then add 1TB of WD HD coming around $300+ in total. then after a while add another drive to increase capacity.
so how compared to that setup is ur setup? I mean I dun really know that much abt these things.
It looks like the one you're interested in is specifically designed to be a NAS (it has a built in ethernet connection). The one I linked doesnt have that. You'd need to have a router with a USB or FireWire port for attaching devices to use mine. The one you link to looks pretty nice as well. It has indicator lights but no display (i really like the display on mine for the information it shows). I'd say you're good going with either one.
Storage via NAS, etc.
Having looked into NAS for storage a time or two my impression remains that there are less complicated alternatives, unless needing all its capabilities. Not necessarily solutions more elegant, only something not unduly taxing one's brain if just wishing simple storage.
If memory serves, for those wishing to go this route then Synology would be a good choice. However I also recall mention of NAS systems not always playing nicely with iTunes; photo libraries may also be a problem.
Using a Time Capsule can be a simple if imperfect solution. With wi-fi built in, it is basically just plug and play. Wi-fi speeds are sufficient to perfectly stream iTune HD movies. One downside would be cost: there are less costly alternatives. Another is that the TC is designed for dedicated Time Machine backup; it cannot be partitioned, and if used for Time Machine will by default continually overwrite the entire disk. So if using one for storage, forget about Time Machine backup with it.
Other external hard drives can of course be partitioned, which will allow their use for both Time Machine backup and separate storage on the same disk. One will likely need to go this route in any event, TC or not, due the need for the safety of all data backed up in two separate places. While one could use but one drive with the redundancy offered by Raid 1, there can be issues at times, and it still leaves all one's valuable data in one location. Preferably the data would be backed up in two physically different places, or at least two different drives in the same location (hopefully not flooding or burning down).
Offsite storage with a paid third party might work great, if not a viable option unless with fairly fast internet.
Also consider if 1TB will provide enough storage. It seems a lot, but if many HD movies will quickly fill. One might wish a bit of breathing room, and enough space for at least that conceivably used in the next few years. By which time technology will have marched on. Even now Thunderbolt is a possibility, but expensive. High transfer speeds can be great, but even those relatively low can stream video. That no more than USB 2.0 will work, with lots of storage options with that standard. Increasingly so with USB 3.0, if one wishes to think forward some.
External hard drives of 2TB capacity, 4TB and more, can be had for relatively modest sums. Figure on two of the same to insure redundancy, unless going with Raid. But if Raid, look into the particulars closely: something like a Drobo can work fine, but reviewers point out various potentially serious problems, as well as just being fairly slow. One reason to aim for higher capacity is simplicity: one larger drive will appear and be used as a single unit, whereas numerous smaller capacity drives daisy chained can by nature not resemble one whole (or at least not easily).
In sum, a Time Capsule can present a quick (if somewhat expensive) and easy storage solution. At least until you've exceeded on it the capacity of your computer's internal hard drive; then one will be considering the need for redundancy. If contemplating NAS, then prepare to do some serious research on best configuration.
Digital is great, the intricacies of its proper storage not so much.
Having looked into NAS for storage a time or two my impression remains that there are less complicated alternatives, unless needing all its capabilities. Not necessarily solutions more elegant, only something not unduly taxing one's brain if just wishing simple storage.
If memory serves, for those wishing to go this route then Synology would be a good choice. However I also recall mention of NAS systems not always playing nicely with iTunes; photo libraries may also be a problem.
Using a Time Capsule can be a simple if imperfect solution. With wi-fi built in, it is basically just plug and play. Wi-fi speeds are sufficient to perfectly stream iTune HD movies. One downside would be cost: there are less costly alternatives. Another is that the TC is designed for dedicated Time Machine backup; it cannot be partitioned, and if used for Time Machine will by default continually overwrite the entire disk. So if using one for storage, forget about Time Machine backup with it.
Other external hard drives can of course be partitioned, which will allow their use for both Time Machine backup and separate storage on the same disk. One will likely need to go this route in any event, TC or not, due the need for the safety of all data backed up in two separate places. While one could use but one drive with the redundancy offered by Raid 1, there can be issues at times, and it still leaves all one's valuable data in one location. Preferably the data would be backed up in two physically different places, or at least two different drives in the same location (hopefully not flooding or burning down).
Offsite storage with a paid third party might work great, if not a viable option unless with fairly fast internet.
Also consider if 1TB will provide enough storage. It seems a lot, but if many HD movies will quickly fill. One might wish a bit of breathing room, and enough space for at least that conceivably used in the next few years. By which time technology will have marched on. Even now Thunderbolt is a possibility, but expensive. High transfer speeds can be great, but even those relatively low can stream video. That no more than USB 2.0 will work, with lots of storage options with that standard. Increasingly so with USB 3.0, if one wishes to think forward some.
External hard drives of 2TB capacity, 4TB and more, can be had for relatively modest sums. Figure on two of the same to insure redundancy, unless going with Raid. But if Raid, look into the particulars closely: something like a Drobo can work fine, but reviewers point out various potentially serious problems, as well as just being fairly slow. One reason to aim for higher capacity is simplicity: one larger drive will appear and be used as a single unit, whereas numerous smaller capacity drives daisy chained can by nature not resemble one whole (or at least not easily).
In sum, a Time Capsule can present a quick (if somewhat expensive) and easy storage solution. At least until you've exceeded on it the capacity of your computer's internal hard drive; then one will be considering the need for redundancy. If contemplating NAS, then prepare to do some serious research on best configuration.
Digital is great, the intricacies of its proper storage not so much.
Airport Extreme + Any external USB drive
This solution is much better than the Time Capsule because:
1) It's cheaper to buy an external USB 3.5" drive yourself
2) Less overheat problem
3) You may need to have a new larger HDD in a couple of years but you usually keep your router running for a much longer time.
This solution is much better than the Time Capsule because:
1) It's cheaper to buy an external USB 3.5" drive yourself
2) Less overheat problem
3) You may need to have a new larger HDD in a couple of years but you usually keep your router running for a much longer time.
You don't even need to airport if there is a USB port on your router. Plus, there are Better, cheaper wireless routers that you can buy.