NAS for time machine, and Plex

[MrMister111]

I currently have a 1Tb NAS that is old and full now. I did also have an Apple TC, used for backing up my iMac. I've upgraded to an Apple airport extreme now so lost the TC backup. I'm temporarily using a USB HDD but prefer the network. I'm also getting a new Apple TV soon, so wouldn't mind Plex for streaming from a new NAS to the aTV rather than using my iMac.

So my question is, is there a NAS that can backup my iMac using time machine, and also be compatible with Plex app so I can stream (not bothered on it having to encode on fly, as videos will be Apple mp4 anyway).

Or if really necessary can the new time capsule stream to Apple TV's and smart TV's etc? If so would consider one of these and sell the AE.

I'm in UK so prefer links to UK if possible.
Thanks

 

[firedept]

I currently have a 1Tb NAS that is old and full now. I did also have an Apple TC, used for backing up my iMac. I've upgraded to an Apple airport extreme now so lost the TC backup. I'm temporarily using a USB HDD but prefer the network. I'm also getting a new Apple TV soon, so wouldn't mind Plex for streaming from a new NAS to the aTV rather than using my iMac.

So my question is, is there a NAS that can backup my iMac using time machine, and also be compatible with Plex app so I can stream (not bothered on it having to encode on fly, as videos will be Apple mp4 anyway).

Or if really necessary can the new time capsule stream to Apple TV's and smart TV's etc? If so would consider one of these and sell the AE.

I'm in UK so prefer links to UK if possible.
Thanks

I have a Seagate NAS Personal Cloud that would fit your needs. You can get up to a 5TB single bay or up to 8TB double bay. I have been using it for close to a year now without any issues. I have been using it to backup 2 iMac's and 3 MBP's with Time Machine. It came with the option to use Plex already installed on it. I am sure there are many others out there, but I got such a great deal on it, that I had to buy it. Seagate has deals on these all the time. I purchased 2 of them, 5TB single bay for about $250 CDN each through Best Buy.

 

[MrMister111]

Thanks for that will look at that here in UK if available.

I've been on Plex forum and they have a list of compatible NAS though and can't see this listed.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...-Ac4oOLPRtCkgUxU0jdj3tmMPc/htmlview?sle=true#

have you got an Apple TV new one? Does it stream via Plex to this fine?

Do you have a smart TV, does it stream to this via DLNA, and maybe a PS4 which is DLNA also I think.

On the Seagate UK site there is a 4Tb for £160 I'd be happy with that

 

[firedept]

Thanks for that will look at that here in UK if available.

I've been on Plex forum and they have a list of compatible NAS though and can't see this listed.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...-Ac4oOLPRtCkgUxU0jdj3tmMPc/htmlview?sle=true#

have you got an Apple TV new one? Does it stream via Plex to this fine?

Do you have a smart TV, does it stream to this via DLNA, and maybe a PS4 which is DLNA also I think.

On the Seagate UK site there is a 4Tb for £160 I'd be happy with that

1. Yes I have a new ATV 4 and yes it streams via Plex just fine.

2. No I do not have a Smart TV and do not use DNLA, but you will find your answer about DNLA here. Page 18. I believe the answer is yes.

3. Alright price, but I believe you could still find it cheaper if you do a little searching. I paid about £125, with the conversion, for the 5TB. Super quiet, solid device.

 

[MrMister111]

1. Yes I have a new ATV 4 and yes it streams via Plex just fine.

2. No I do not have a Smart TV and do not use DNLA, but you will find your answer about DNLA here. Page 18. I believe the answer is yes.

3. Alright price, but I believe you could still find it cheaper if you do a little searching. I paid about £125, with the conversion, for the 5TB. Super quiet, solid device.

Brilliant thanks for the straight answers.

Wonder if you have a iPhone, do you have the Plex app? Can you stream from the NAS to your iPhone via Plex and then airplay it to the Apple TV (I have aTV3 in some rooms).

Looks like says can to DLNA devices so hopefully to PS4 and TV's

Can you confirm it's this one? There's a local shop close so I could just buy it from here.
http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/3656808/searchTerm/Seagate+personal.htm

 

[firedept]

Brilliant thanks for the straight answers.

Wonder if you have a iPhone, do you have the Plex app? Can you stream from the NAS to your iPhone via Plex and then airplay it to the Apple TV (I have aTV3 in some rooms).

Looks like says can to DLNA devices so hopefully to PS4 and TV's

Can you confirm it's this one? There's a local shop close so I could just buy it from here.
http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/3656808/searchTerm/Seagate+personal.htm

Yes I have an iPhone 6 with the Plex app on it. Have not really tried that yet so can not give you an answer.

Yes that is the Seagate. Pretty good price you found.

 

[MrMister111]

Yes I have an iPhone 6 with the Plex app on it. Have not really tried that yet so can not give you an answer.

Yes that is the Seagate. Pretty good price you found.

Great, if you have a minute to test would appreciate that thanks. It sounds like it can't transcode video, so I presume you have for video streaming all your video saved in Apple friendly mp4 for your Apple TV?

Found it cheaper again here £125 for 4Tb. Out of stock currently though
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/ol/B00U8XA4WI/ref=mw_dp_primenote_olp?ie=UTF8&condition=all

 

[firedept]

Great, if you have a minute to test would appreciate that thanks. It sounds like it can't transcode video, so I presume you have for video streaming all your video saved in Apple friendly mp4 for your Apple TV?

Found it cheaper again here £125 for 4Tb. Out of stock currently though
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/ol/B00U8XA4WI/ref=mw_dp_primenote_olp?ie=UTF8&condition=all

1. Here is what I did to Airplay from my iPhone:

To connect to an AirPlay device in the Plex for iOS app, you'll just use the regular iOS Control Center as normal. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the Control Center, then select your AirPlay device there. When you do so, content will be played on the selected device rather than on the iOS app itself and you can then use the iOS app to control playback.

2. No it can not transcode video. I converted my movie library with Handbrake and iFlicks 2 for the ATV. Did this over the years as I have a 1000+ videos.

 

[MrMister111]

1. Here is what I did to Airplay from my iPhone:

To connect to an AirPlay device in the Plex for iOS app, you'll just use the regular iOS Control Center as normal. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the Control Center, then select your AirPlay device there. When you do so, content will be played on the selected device rather than on the iOS app itself and you can then use the iOS app to control playback.

2. No it can not transcode video. I converted my movie library with Handbrake and iFlicks 2 for the ATV. Did this over the years as I have a 1000+ videos.

Thanks again, so using the Plex on iOS you can choose anything on your NAS and then the Plex app allows you to airplay (as some apps dont that's all, eg Sky Go), to other devices, great!

I've mostly converted my stuff as well, anything that isn't, I'm happy to do it as it plays ok when converting to Apple friendly, on most other devices as well, so a sort of all format file. I use iVi Pro

I've ordered just now from Amazon UK, but currently out of stock, although can get from Argos if not in soon.

 

[MrMister111]

Bought a personal cloud 4Tb. Will update how I get on. Hopefully time machine backup works without errors

 

[Cordorb]

I have used apps like VLC -nPlayer -Infuse to play .WTV (windows media player ) files from WD nas cloud units to ipad.

Using PLEX on a mac mini as a server works better but I don't alway have it running.

The faster NAS units like WD EX2 or EX4 have their own PLEX app but I wasn't happy with the speed and do not use anymore.

Plex App on the new apple tv using Mac mins Plex server works very well.
ONLY item is on the apple TV the jump forward is 10 sec where other Plex devices it is 30 + sec.
You can FF if you keep pushing the remote but I overshoot.

Please keep posting progress on any NAS direct to new Apple tv.

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Note: for VLC you may need the old version to get sound on some video with AC3 audio