[ALT-F] Newbie needing help

[Jaime Teng]

Hi All!

I have a DNS323, HW-B1, FW 1.10.
HD-R WDC 2000 G    
HD-L Seagate 500 G

Volume_1, RAID 1, 490402 MB
Volume_2, JBOD,  1478351 MB

I want to Install ALT-F:
#1. for use with FTP, however, I need the FTP to support "timestamp" update. Current stock firmware does not support this FTP command and all files uploaded ALWAYS get stamped with the current datetime. I hate it, because I use file's timestamp to identify when photos were taken.
#2. for use with DLNA, currently I have a Samsung TV that accesses video files from DNS323. Works great! Maybe ALT-F will be better?
#3. to use FFMPEG to decode video files to Samsung TV compatible format - though I can use a more powerful laptop for this purpose, I prefer NAS to do it so I dont have to load/convert/upload and do it all within the same box.
#4. SAMBA? I personally DO NOT USE it for file access - I am 99% FTP but will be happy to have this feature.
#5. Network Print server capability; I have an HP printer which I want to share with Laptops and iPads.

I need your help/instructions how to do it.

I appreciate if you can "recommend" other great packages to include here as well!

Jaime

[Alexandre Costa]

#2 and #3: I also have a Samsung TV (C650) and I use my DNS323 with Alt-F and the miniDLNA package and I don't need to decode/convert anything.

It plays all the formats I need out of the box.

[Christian Lobaugh]

The nice things about Alt-F, is that you can install it, without replacing the firmware, and give it a test drive.  If it does what you need and you like it, then you can flash it, and keep it permanently.  If you don't like it - delete it, and all you've lost is a little time. 

To your questions:

#2, #4 - I can confirm that miniDLNA works quite well. Samba works well too, and it pretty easy to set up from the Alt-F web configuration.

#5 - I've never used the print server stuff, but I've seen mention of people using it. Is it a USB printer that you are going to connect to the DNS?  (I think that's how you will need to have it connected)

#1 - I can't speak to your FTP issue (I don't use FTP much on my DNS)

#3 - I've never used the FFMPEG processing on the DNS either, although I saw that the package is available.  I'd be a little concerned about using the DNS for this, as it's likely to be quite demanding on it's resources. There's no reason not to give it a try and see how it performs.  I'm pretty sure the DNS can do it, it just may take longer, and pretty much hog the entire device while it's processing. 

Best of luck to you!

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[Jaime Teng]

HI,

On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 04:09, Christian Lobaugh <chri...@alumni.ou.edu> wrote:

The nice things about Alt-F, is that you can install it, without replacing the firmware, and give it a test drive.  If it does what you need and you like it, then you can flash it, and keep it permanently.  If you don't like it - delete it, and all you've lost is a little time. 

I am intrigue in this "test drive". How do I do it?
I have downloaded the "ALT-F-0.1RC2.BIN" file.
what is the next step?


One of my hesitation is  - I already have data and Im not willing to lose them  - they are priceless. Will ALT-F be able to recognize the HD configuration I mentioned? I was told to "tell SAMBA", how/what is the setting given the below mentioned config?

HD-R WDC 2000 G    
HD-L Seagate 500 G

Volume_1, RAID 1, 490402 MB
Volume_2, JBOD,  1478351 MB

Are these info listed/saved with the HD? or saved in the PROM?

If PROM? will it be erased when ALTF is flashed? will it be erased if Stock Firmware is flashed back?

I am hesitating too because, if something goes wrong, or need help, it would take half a day to get responses from this mailing list :(


 

[Christian Lobaugh]

I would not recommend changing the operating system on any device where don't have a back up or don't mind losing the data. 

if you aren't able to back up, another option would be to start from scratch with a new drive,  then you could add your existing back once you have the system up and running.

Remember that this is a release candiate version as well, so that means there likely will be issues. 

Lastly - be careful complaining about the speed of support on a non-commercial product being offered free of charge...  Alt-F is a gift, as is any support given by it's creator.  I've seen projects die over smaller complaints. 

[Joao Cardoso]

On Feb 27, 1:08 pm, Jaime Teng <jaime.t...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> I have a DNS323, HW-B1, FW 1.10.
> HD-R WDC 2000 G
> HD-L Seagate 500 G
>
> Volume_1, RAID 1, 490402 MB
> Volume_2, JBOD,  1478351 MB
>
> I want to Install ALT-F:

My current box configuration, after flashing the vendor's firmware for
testing RC2 and format the disks using its wizard, is simillar.

> #1. for use with FTP, however, I need the FTP to support "timestamp"
> update. Current stock firmware does not support this FTP command and all
> files uploaded ALWAYS get stamped with the current datetime. I hate it,
> because I use file's timestamp to identify when photos were taken.

Alt-F uses 'vsftpd' as the ftp server. Please ask Google for "vsftpd
preserve file timestamp" and report back your findings.

> #2. for use with DLNA, currently I have a Samsung TV that accesses video
> files from DNS323. Works great! Maybe ALT-F will be better?

No experience.

> #3. to use FFMPEG to decode video files to Samsung TV compatible format -
> though I can use a more powerful laptop for this purpose, I prefer NAS to
> do it so I dont have to load/convert/upload and do it all within the same
> box.

Transcoding works, but is veeeeery slooooow.

> #4. SAMBA? I personally DO NOT USE it for file access - I am 99% FTP but
> will be happy to have this feature.
> #5. Network Print server capability; I have an HP printer which I want to
> share with Laptops and iPads.

This works with my two HP printers, and there is at least one thread
that discuss this subject.

iPads? My syster can't print from her iPad to her iMac USB-connected
HP printer! (there is an app for that, it costs you money)

> I need your help/instructions how to do it.
>
> I appreciate if you can "recommend" other great packages to include here as
> well!
>
> Jaime

...

> I am intrigue in this "test drive". How do I do it?
> I have downloaded the "ALT-F-0.1RC2.BIN" file.
> what is the next step?

There is a wiki entry on how to use/install it.

[Jaime Teng]

On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 09:19, Joao Cardoso <whoami...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Feb 27, 1:08 pm, Jaime Teng <jaime.t...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> I have a DNS323, HW-B1, FW 1.10.
> HD-R WDC 2000 G
> HD-L Seagate 500 G
>
> Volume_1, RAID 1, 490402 MB
> Volume_2, JBOD,  1478351 MB
>
> I want to Install ALT-F:

My current box configuration, after flashing the vendor's firmware for
testing RC2 and format the disks using its wizard, is simillar.

"Format the Disks" is what I am afraid of...
ie, installing ALT-F would delete/format my current drives?

I want ALT-F to retain the contents as-is.

Also, if USB printing isnt gonna work for iPads, is it possible to convert the USB port
to make this ALT-F NAS to appear as a USB HD to another device that will connect to this
NAS from the USB port? (ie, a TV)

I am not totally impressed with DLNA, seems USB HD is better - im not sure.

BTW. When I wrote about this mailing list response not fast enough, I am not "complaining negatively". Anyone "offended" by my previous message, I apologize.

[Joao Cardoso]

On Feb 28, 2:38 am, Jaime Teng <jaime.t...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 09:19, Joao Cardoso <whoami.jc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Feb 27, 1:08 pm, Jaime Teng <jaime.t...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Hi All!
>
> > > I have a DNS323, HW-B1, FW 1.10.
> > > HD-R WDC 2000 G
> > > HD-L Seagate 500 G
>
> > > Volume_1, RAID 1, 490402 MB
> > > Volume_2, JBOD,  1478351 MB
>
> > > I want to Install ALT-F:
>
> > My current box configuration, after flashing the vendor's firmware for
> > testing RC2 and format the disks using its wizard, is simillar.
>
> "Format the Disks" is what I am afraid of...
> ie, installing ALT-F would delete/format my current drives?

No, unless you say Alt-F to do it.

If you follow the "First Login Tour", and you should, you will reach
the "Disk Wizard" page, where you are asked for your disk layout/
filesystem wish; one option says "Don't touch my disks in any way!"

But look upon Christian comment:

I would not recommend changing the operating system on any device
where don't have a back up or don't mind losing the data.

Don't you have an old disk to try with? I use two old 80GB disks for
my testing, not my data disks!

Nobody has (yet) reported any data loss when making the transition
from the vendor's firmware to Alt-F.

> I want ALT-F to retain the contents as-is.
>
> Also, if USB printing isnt gonna work for iPads, is it possible to convert
> the USB port
> to make this ALT-F NAS to appear as a USB HD to another device that will
> connect to this
> NAS from the USB port? (ie, a TV)

I would like to offer it also, but don't know how. Any pointers?

> I am not totally impressed with DLNA, seems USB HD is better - im not sure.

Completely different things. Not comparable.
And of course you want the box to behave as a disk to the TV and as a
NAS from the network, don't you? ;-)

> BTW. When I wrote about this mailing list response not fast enough, I am
> not "complaining negatively". Anyone "offended" by my previous message, I
> apologize.

I'm not personally offended, just annoyed by answering the same
questions again and again -- some of your questions have already been
answered, you don't seem to have searched the forum first.