Hardly a modern entertainment electronics product today dispenses with a network connection to stream media content. But many users miss important functions, because they put on an unsuitable media supplier. All the features include specialized network hard drives, also known as Network Attached Storage (NAS).
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You should pay attention to these ten points to help you choose the right network drive.
Tip 1: Sufficient storage space
You must answer the question of the amount of storage space yourself. The answer depends very much on what data you want to store. An uncompressed movie Blu-ray requires up to 50 gigabytes of memory, a photo or a music MP3, however, only a few megabytes. But even if you want to take photos and music, you should have at least one terabyte (1,000 gigabytes).
Tip 2: Data Security
The security issue should always be kept in the back of the disk when deciding on the storage location. Because at some point even the best hard drive breaks. If important data is stored on the NAS system, it should be backed up, preferably by an additional hard drive. Therefore, many NASs offer space for two and more disks.
Tip 3: The appropriate media server
If your system has two slots, the data can be mirrored from the first to the second hard disk. This configuration is called RAID 1. RAID stands for "Redundant Array of Independent Disks", which means the redundant arrangement of independent hard disks. If a hard disk is broken, the data is still available on the other. If, on the other hand, RAID 0 is used, the read and write speeds are increased to the two hard disks and the double storage space is available. However, if a disk is broken, both disks are often unusable and all data is lost.
Some manufacturers offer NAS systems with or without built-in hard drives. The purchase including hard drives simplifies the installation. In addition, the manufacturer can ensure that no hard disks of the same production batch are used. It is not uncommon for hard disks, which were produced shortly after each other, to be defective. The disadvantage is that the price may be higher compared to the retail purchase.
If you want to equip your NAS yourself, each manufacturer offers a list of compatible hard disks. If possible, make sure that you do not use hard disks from the same production. The hard disk drives do not have to be the fastest at 7,200 revolutions per minute, while slower and more economical memory is enough.
But despite all the security measures mentioned, if a fire occurs in the home or if the NAS system is stolen, the data is still gone. On the other hand, it is only a matter of helping to secure another one for the provision of the secondment and to put it in another place. Or you save the data online.
If the network hard drive is finally at home and films are archived on it, they should also be shining on the TV. The UPnP resp. DLNA standard that many current TVs, players and receivers support to stream media over the home network. The UPnP server for the clients just mentioned is the NAS system. It prepares videos, photos and music for networkable TVs or players. That is, it scans the NAS storage and sorts content, such as videos, music, and photos.
Especially in the case of music, a comprehensive preparation is crucial. After all, you do not want to go through individual folders or even a list of all songs to find a piece. Therefore, many servers sort music by artist, album, and genre. But also for videos and photos a representation by date or camera is helpful.
Many servers specify the criteria they use to sort media. However, it is useful when the user can decide for themselves, or decide which folders contain videos, photos, and music.
Each network hard drive has to decide which media format it offers under videos, music or photos, so that a DivX film does not appear among the photos. However, it can happen that the server does not know what to do with a file. For example, many NAS systems do not recognize ISO files (such as Blu-ray or DVD images) and therefore do not provide them as video to UPnP clients.
However, some products do not rely on the manufacturer's comprehensive UPnP standard, but on their own solutions. Apple, for example: In order for the network player Apple TV to operate on a NAS, an iTunes server must be installed. Logitech's music streaming products from the Squeezebox series also have their own standard, which some network hard drives support.
Tip 4: Remote Access
Many want to have their data not only at home, but also on the road. This also allows some NAS systems. If the network hard disk is tapped, however, you can not expect speed records.
For an ordinary DSL-16000 connection, the speed at which NAS data is sent outside is a maximum of 1 MBit / s. Streaming films with good picture quality is not possible. Access is via the Internet browser or the manufacturer offers a specially developed app for smartphones and tablet PCs.
Tip 5: Backup from computer
But how does data get at all on the network hard drive? The easiest way to transfer them is via the file explorer on the computer. It is also automatic. On the other hand, the manufacturers sometimes pack backup software for the PC. This allows the user to specify when and at what intervals a backup of all or the newly added data is to be created. For Mac owners, it is important that the Time Machine data backup software is supported by the NAS system.
It is not necessarily a computer required to secure content on a NAS. Many products have interfaces for transferring data: a USB or eSATA port to connect hard drives, an SD slot for photo memory cards, or even an optical drive to store data on the NAS or to store files on a Blu-ray or Blu-ray disc DVD.
NAS systems dominate even more. This starts with a user administration to allow people to write and write rights to the network hard disk or to allocate them own disk space.
Tip 6: The Right Interfaces
Tip 7: Additional tasks
Tip 8: Sufficient Performance
Tip 9: Noise generation
Tip 10: Power Consumption
Many devices can also be used as full-fledged web servers. Others even act as servers for an e-mail account, while others integrate a BitTorrent client to load data from the Internet. In some cases, the user can decide which additional programs (addons) to install on the network hard drive.
In order to accomplish all these tasks, enough computing power is necessary. Entry-level systems often come with ARM processors, others use Intel Atom CPUs, such as those used in netbooks, for more performance.
The processor performance first becomes noticeable at the read and write speeds. When it comes to crawling dozens of gigabytes of music to provide them on the network as a UPnP server, a strong processor shortens the time.
But a powerful processor also has its disadvantages: it generates a lot of heat, which must be dissipated, so that the NAS system does not overheat. Often only a fan helps, which in the worst case disturbing noises in the living room. Caution is also offered with supposedly quiet fans: Through dirt such as dust, a quiet fan can develop into a seer.
Another problem that occurs with strong computers is an increased energy requirement. And that is often also present when one does not need the NAS. However, to conserve power, all network hard disks can be controlled to turn on and off at specific times.
However, it does not mean that the network hard disk can not be addressed. If it supports Wake on LAN (WOL), a player or smartphone can send a so-called "Magic Packet" over the home network that wakes it.
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