A look into the future with the QNAP

[Seineseeker]

I have a 300GB TS101, which I am very happy with, even though I haven't dared go to SS6.5. So, in the future, how do you think it will pan out when SS goes to SS7, hopefully with the multiple music folder feature, that would make me want to upgrade the SS version.

In any case will I have to retire my TS101 when its 300GB is full, or will I be able to expand the memory to enable it to work with higher SS versions, or will it work as a slave to another more powerful NAS (a QNAP perhaps) that does run SS?

Any ideas?

[roamingstudio]

Alor, bonjour Seineseeker

I have still not given up hope of an easy-ish ram upgrade for TS101 - and hope I have an opportunity to try in coming weeks. The U-Boot (bootloader) would need to be changed to enable the board to recognise an additional 2 memory chips.

However it is likely to be a DIY thing - i.e. solder your own chips. SSoDS works well still with 64MB ram; so careful trimming of SS options could enable it to work on TS101... but I still favour branching the SS so that it can work on small footprint devices.

Even if you decide to get another faster NAS system, the old TS101 can still be 'opened' and new software installed - if you are keen.

[Jerryacg]

I have a 300GB TS101, which I am very happy with, even though I haven't dared go to SS6.5. So, in the future, how do you think it will pan out when SS goes to SS7, hopefully with the multiple music folder feature, that would make me want to upgrade the SS version.

In any case will I have to retire my TS101 when its 300GB is full, or will I be able to expand the memory to enable it to work with higher SS versions, or will it work as a slave to another more powerful NAS (a QNAP perhaps) that does run SS?

Any ideas?

Reading between the lines of the recent posts it appears that support for the TS101, if not dead already, is certainly fading fast. With the TS201 already in testing. Roamingstudios work on the memory is certainly interesting, but seems to be strictly for the technically minded. If there isn't a trimmed down version of SS in development I suspect that the TS101 as a slimserver base is redundant.

[roamingstudio]

Jerry

Support is definitely not dead... just on a little vacation ;-)

I agree that the memory upgrade option will almost definitely only be for the technical minded (if i get it working). With respect to SS - a smaller footprint is ideal...

[Seineseeker]

Reading between the lines of the recent posts it appears that support for the TS101, if not dead already, is certainly fading fast. With the TS201 already in testing. Roamingstudios work on the memory is certainly interesting, but seems to be strictly for the technically minded. If there isn't a trimmed down version of SS in development I suspect that the TS101 as a slimserver base is redundant.

Shame, since I've only had it 2 months! What can you do with a 300GB NAS apart from use it as a slimserver?

[Jerryacg]

I have a 300GB TS101, which I am very happy with, even though I haven't dared go to SS6.5. So, in the future, how do you think it will pan out when SS goes to SS7, hopefully with the multiple music folder feature, that would make me want to upgrade the SS version.

In any case will I have to retire my TS101 when its 300GB is full, or will I be able to expand the memory to enable it to work with higher SS versions, or will it work as a slave to another more powerful NAS (a QNAP perhaps) that does run SS?

Any ideas?

Has anyone had any updates from 'support' on the TS101 memory upgrade, usb memory stick, hard disc spin down etc?

[Jerryacg]

Has anyone had any updates from 'support' on the TS101 memory upgrade, usb memory stick, hard disc spin down etc?


Bump... Add to that progress update on testing the TS201

[Steve_k]

This may or may not help but until recently the only service I had running on my TS-101 was SlimServer and I never noticed its disk spinning down. (Or rather I never heard it spinning up as this is much more noticeable).

I recently had cause to enable the FTP Service and now I notice the hard disk spinning up (which means it must have spun down at some point).

I know that this isn't exactly a scientific approach (in that I can't say for sure that it did or didn't spin down before) and I can't see why it would modify the disk behaviour.

I'm running the latest QNAP Firmware, and have downgraded from SS6.5 back to SS6.3.1.

Steve

[Jerryacg]

This may or may not help but until recently the only service I had running on my TS-101 was SlimServer and I never noticed its disk spinning down. (Or rather I never heard it spinning up as this is much more noticeable).

I recently had cause to enable the FTP Service and now I notice the hard disk spinning up (which means it must have spun down at some point).

I know that this isn't exactly a scientific approach (in that I can't say for sure that it did or didn't spin down before) and I can't see why it would modify the disk behaviour.

I'm running the latest QNAP Firmware, and have downgraded from SS6.5 back to SS6.3.1.

Steve

Steve

Just out of interest. Why did you go back to 6.3?

[Steve_k]

Jerry

Performance seemed to go off a cliff when I went to 6.5. The browser interface was so sloooooow as to be unusable, and I seemed to get choppy audio over wireless.

I went back to 6.3 and the web interface was back to normal, but the wireless performance was still rubbish (my signal strength seemed to max at about 21%).

So I bought 2 x 85Mbps Solwise Homeplugs (from www.homeplugs.co.uk) to link my router to the Squeezebox 3 and I'm finally a happy chap. Wish I'd thought of it sooner.

I presume your Qnap still doesn't spin down.....

Steve

[Jerryacg]

Jerry

Performance seemed to go off a cliff when I went to 6.5. The browser interface was so sloooooow as to be unusable, and I seemed to get choppy audio over wireless.

I went back to 6.3 and the web interface was back to normal, but the wireless performance was still rubbish (my signal strength seemed to max at about 21%).

So I bought 2 x 85Mbps Solwise Homeplugs (from www.homeplugs.co.uk) to link my router to the Squeezebox 3 and I'm finally a happy chap. Wish I'd thought of it sooner.

I presume your Qnap still doesn't spin down.....

Steve


Steve,

My Qnap spins down fine on 6.3 but not 6.5.

[Heuer]

Mine spins down happily on 6.5!

[Fifer]

Mine does too.

[roamingstudio]

Ok ongoing news... (cross posting sort of from the OpenTurbostation Yahoo group previously announced)...

Firmware 1.3.0 is in testing and will be released as 2.0.0 sometime (not sure when). If you want to play with the new release (minor changes only) PM me or request details from Qnap. Apparently it does work with SS from progressive.

New U-Boot : U-Boot is the process which starts when you power on the Qnap - and then sets up the linux image and starts all the servers. U-Boot 1.6 is up and working for the Realtek network controller versions of the TS101. The Intel version is taking a little longer - I have limited time and there are issues with memory registers and mac addresses... but it should be resolved soon.

There will soon be the possability of installing Linux 2.6.12 kernel into the firmware; and consequently any package you like. It may be possible to also install the existing Qnap applications... but I suspect no major news on this until after the christmas break (i.e. when we all have time with our Qnap family).

As to the Memory upgrade - now we can build customised U-Boot configurations it should be possible to get it to initialise new memory chips correctly. Something I am currently trying to address is whether it is necessary to have 4x identical SDRAM chips; or whether it is feasible to mix n match 2x and 2x. Once im happy with the process I will update. Since I only have 1 chance with any memory upgrade it will need to work straight away - no not at all (unless I buy another qnap).

Obviously once new firmware / software is installed all issues can be safely addressed.

[Steve_k]

Oh - sorry..

Been a while since I've read the whole thread..;-)

Steve