I’ve got 4 different devices running media center software - 3 smart TVs plus my main computer. Previously I used a database setup on my PC to keep everything synchronized between all the devices. My computer was also storing all the video files locally. Everything worked great until my hard drive crashed and I lost my entire movie collection that I had ripped from physical discs.
Now I’m looking into getting a network attached storage device to avoid losing everything again. My main question is whether I can configure the media software and database so that both the video files and the sync data live on the NAS instead of my computer.
Is this approach the best way to handle it, or are there simpler alternatives I should consider? I’m not super technical so I want to make sure I’m heading in the right direction before spending a bunch of money on hardware.
Moving everything to a NAS after a drive failure is a wise decision. I learned this lesson the hard way when my local drive crashed. Your proposed setup is solid; most media software is capable of managing network databases seamlessly. I personally use a QNAP with the database stored there, allowing for automatic syncing across all my devices. It’s essential to utilize gigabit ethernet for optimal performance, particularly with large video files, as WiFi can be limiting. Additionally, consider implementing a robust backup strategy since your NAS will be a central point of storage. I perform monthly cloud backups for essential data, which adds a layer of security. This approach has alleviated the burdens of manual syncing and has given me peace of mind.
yup, totally agree! using a nas made a huge diff for me too. no more worries about crashes, and plex is super easy for syncing videos. def worth investing the $!
NAS works but you’re signing up for constant setup and maintenance pain. I watched my team waste weeks getting database sync working between devices, only to watch it break with the next update.
I ditched that approach and automated the whole media pipeline instead. Why fight database configs across multiple devices when you can automate everything - file organization, metadata sync, the works.
Best part? Automate your NAS backups too. Set triggers to push new media to cloud storage automatically. Add monitoring that restarts services when sync fails.
I even automated metadata fetching and thumbnail generation. Everything stays organized without lifting a finger. System runs itself and I never worry about losing data.
Way more reliable than manually syncing databases across 4 devices. Set it once, forget it exists.
Been running this setup for two years after my own storage nightmare. NAS works great, but start with Jellyfin or Emby instead of jumping into complex database stuff. They handle sync automatically once you point all your devices to the same server on your NAS. Wish someone told me this earlier: get a NAS that supports containers. You can run the media server right on the NAS, so your main computer doesn’t need to stay on 24/7. My Synology does everything now and devices just connect when needed. Performance’s solid on wired connections, though I had buffering issues until I upgraded my router. Make sure your network can handle the bandwidth if you’re streaming high-quality stuff to multiple devices at once.