Another NAS question

[kilcr...@gmail.com]

Paul & others!

Thanks for the helpful info on NAS and Windows 10.  I have never set up or used a NAS before so am looking for a wee bit advice

I have two B2s ( 1 x 2016, 1 x 2017) with around 140,000 tracks on them. Can you recommend a basic NAS system I could purchase that would get me started?

Thanks

Graham

[Daniel Taylor]

The B2 itself can be a NAS system.  When we talk about NAS here, it's usually in respect to the B2 as NAS (also the BB1).

The only thing you have to do on the B2 itself is to turn on NAS - the command is Start NAS (Maintenance menu).  The hard part is getting your computer to cooperate.

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Further to this, here are Paul (from Brennan) list of steps as to how to set up a NAS connection to a B2.

------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some instructions for getting your B2 to show as a network device on your computer -

NAS mode using a Windows 10 computer:

On the B2:

• Make sure the B2 is connected to WiFi - displaying an IP Address - something like 192.168.1.127

• Using the front control go to the Maintenance menu and select Start NAS - the display will return to the clock and then show 'done' after a couple of seconds.

On your Win10 computer:

• In the 'Type here to search' box type - Turn Windows features on and off (you don't have to type all of this as you will be prompted by the computer).

• Click on 'Turn Windows features on and off'

• Scroll down to 'SMB1.0/CIFS File sharing support' and expand the section - click on the '+' box

• Select the second item - SMB1.0/CIFS Client - it may already be selected so no need to select again

• Click on OK.

On the Win10 computer:

• In the 'Type here to search' box type View network computers and devices

• Click on 'View network computers and Devices'

• BRENNANB2 should be displayed on the 'computer' line - if not wait a while (it can take a while to show the first time) and try refreshing the 'View network....' page.

• Double click on BRENNANB2 - a pop up panel will open

• Enter user name = root

• Enter password = brennan and click on OK

• The B2's 'music' folder will be shown - double click to open it - this can take a while as the computer needs to load all of the files on the B2's HDD.

• Once loaded a list of Artist folders will be shown

• Double clicking on an Artist folder will show the Album folder/s associated with the Artist

• Double clicking any Album folder will show the Tracks and Album Artworks

You can then edit these folders and files as you would any folders/files on your computer e.g. create new folders, copy and paste, cut and paste, rename, delete, etc.

You can also copy music from your computer (iTunes, etc) to the B2 whilst in NAS mode - make sure you maintain the correct Artist - Album - Track folder format so the music is correctly displayed on the B2.

Please note - any changes you make on the computer are local to the computer and must be transferred to the B2 by running Scan Disk - Settings menu - on the B2. If you leave the computer session without running Scan Disk, any changes will be lost.

Paul

Brennan Support.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Fred

[PMB]

Hi Graham,

Brennan owners use NAS mode to view and edit the contents of the 'music' folder stored on the B2's HDD (or the BB1's SD Card) on a network connected computer. You can then manipulate (copy & paste, delete, rename, etc) the Artist and Album folders and the Tracks as you would for any computer files.

Paul

Brennan Support

[kilcr...@gmail.com]

Hi Daniel and Fred

Thanks for the advice.

Sounds like a weekend job - in a dark room with a towel over my head!

Will give it a go in a few days and see what happens.

Wish me luck!

Graham

On Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 2:31:24 AM UTC fred.w....@gmail.com wrote:

[Graham Smout]

Hi 

Re NAS. It's not as difficult as it sounds. Most of the time on a well set up system NAS will start to work without any problem on the B2 and your computer. I have it installed on all my machines but have struggled to get it to work on a phone or tablet. 

Presumably you do have a back up of your B2's contents? You can use a USB hard drive connected to one of the B2's USB ports and use the B2 export command after formatting the USB drive to FAT 32 using B2's format USB command. Or, you can use NAS and windows copy commands or copy and back up software  to copy the B2's hard disc contents to a computer connected drive, or as I have managed to do, used a network connected USB hard drive drive attached to the router. 

Good luck. 
Graham 

[Graham Smout]

Immediately after posting my message above I decided to have another go at accessing the B2 via NAS on my iPad. I installed the vlc media player app which instantly recognised the B2 NAS connection and so I was able to stream directly to the iPad AND then Cast the media directly to a Smart TV, chromecast or other device. 

This has just solved two problems I've been thinking about in less than a minute.  

Remarkable.