Problems Connecting to Brennan B2 NAS

[robin menzies]

I have ongoing difficulty connecting to the B2 NAS from my MacBook Pro.

No problem connecting using the B2 application but when I try to see the files on the NAS I keep getting the message:

The operation can’t be completed because the original item for “music” can’t be found.

After 6 or 7 tries I normally connect but I'm getting frustrated by the need to have to make multiple attempts. Sometimes I find the B2 has flipped into compression mode which seems to be part of the problem.

Can anyone advise on what causes the problem? 

And how can I stop the B2 continuously switching to Compression mode with unpredictable consequences?

[Daniel Taylor]

One way to keep the B2 from going into compression mode is to set Compression to None (Settings menu).  Also, if you have a browser open to the WebUI, I think that is supposed to keep it from going into compression - it wants to be in Standby.

It occurs to me that your WiFi signal strength may be marginal or weak.  Check WiFi Strength on the Maintenance menu.  Your signal strength should be at least -60 (-50 being better, -70 being worse) and not fluctuate wildly.  To improve your signal strength, try the following:
Move your B2 closer to your router.
Switch the WiFi dongle to USB C.
Move your WiFi dongle to the end of a USB extension cable.
If none of that helps, you could try plugging a network cable between the inside back of the B2 and your router.  If you do the direct connect, then you should have unplugged the WiFi adapter first (with power off).

[PMB]

Hi Robin,

Your B2 is going into standby (compression) mode because it thinks it has been idle for 5 minutes - this is a feature, not a problem. Also it means you have some WAV music files on your B2 that require compression.

If you open the web UI it will prevent the B2 going into standby or turn the front control (or press any of the buttons) to wake up the B2 before attempting to connect via NAS.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Chris Jones]

This not an issue with the MacBook, you get the same issue with Windows Desktops and Linux Desktops, I believe it an issue with the Pi, they were never designed to be used as a NAS, they have very slow I/O and it take a while to make initial connection, if you never turn off the B2 it should connect first time every time. 

hope this helps

[Daniel Taylor]

The two biggest problems that I know of for getting NAS working are these:

1) getting the SMB 1.0 settings right

2) the fact that when first connecting, it is not instantaneous, but rather you have to be very patient while the computer finds the music folder, and then reads and builds an index for all the files in that folder.  It's very slow, so you have to just go and do something else for awhile.

[PMB]

Hi All,

I'm not a MAC user but is it possible to map the B2 as a drive, similar to Windows, on the MAC?

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Peter Lowham]

Paul,

Here is an instruction set from Tom which worked for him. 

Setting up NAS for Mac OSX 

I've been following this thread as I just upgraded my MacBook Pro to OS Catalina, 64 bit, 

losing access to all my 32 bit software and, coincidentally, to the Brennan B2.

What Peter says in his message of 31 March definitely worked for me:

Finder

Go

Connect to Server

Enter SMB://IP of B2

Add this as a favourite server once it works

I had to try twice - it doesn't always connect the first time.  Use the usual 

Brennan B2 name/password when challenged.

Kind Regards,

Tom.

Regards,

Peter.

[PMB]

Thanks Peter.

Paul

Brennan Support.