Synology DS1511+ with Mac Mini 2010

[Sensamic]

Hi everyone.

I have the basic Mac Mini from 2010 and i use it with Plex and all my media on an external Lacie 2TB hard drive. However, Im in need of more storage. Much more.

So I've been researching and my two final options are the new Drobo S and a NAS like the new Synology DS1511+, which looks great. I want to buy this one, so I can connect to it with my other iMac too.

Anyway, Im a little bit confused on how to setup a NAS. I bought the router Linksys E3000 to use it with the NAS. Its got simultaneous dual band, wifi N, ethernet 10/100/1000, HD streaming, 300mbps, etc. I thought it was the perfect router to use with the DS1511+ so I could achieve its amazing speeds: 180mbs reads and writes.

My doubt is: those speeds are over WIFI?

I have absolutely no idea how would everything need to be connected. I want to access all my movies and tv shows via WIFI in the Mac Mini, which is connected to my TV. The router is on another floor, but not too far away anyway.

So, what would be my setup? NAS connected to the router and thats it? Or does the NAS has to be connected to the Mac Mini? Which way is the correct one?

I want to achieve those amazing speeds, because if not I would buy a FW800 like the Drobo.

I dont need a switch cause the linksys router has gigabit ethernet, right?

I want to have my HAS on another room so it doesnt bother me its noise.

EDIT: Im looking at the specs of the Mac Mini and it doesnt say that the ethernet is gigabit... does that mean I wont be able to see the 180mbps of the DS1511+?

Thanks!

 

[littlebudha]

In order for you to get the maximum benefit you would need :

wired Network - probably cat 6 - The speeds on wireless would be slower
Most MacMini have gigabit built in
The linksys has a built in switch and so you probably do not need a separate switch.
I would connect the NAS to the switch and switch to mac mini, probably want a static ip for the NAS.


The speeds will be very dependent on the hardware, the cables, and load on the network...

 

[Sensamic]

Thanks for the reply!

With that setup does the Mini have to be on all the time? My guess is that no, but Im not entirely sure... With the NAS connected to the router then I would be able to access it with my iMac without the Mini having to be on, right?

But then copying files over wifi from my iMac to the NAS would be really slow, right? And how fast would the playback be if I access my videos from the Plex app for iPhone over wifi or 3G?

Thanks!

 

[CraigJ]

Thanks for the reply!

With that setup does the Mini have to be on all the time? My guess is that no, but Im not entirely sure... With the NAS connected to the router then I would be able to access it with my iMac without the Mini having to be on, right?

But then copying files over wifi from my iMac to the NAS would be really slow, right? And how fast would the playback be if I access my videos from the Plex app for iPhone over wifi or 3G?

Thanks!

Personally I leave the Mini on all the time. In fact the new one has been on continuously since September - It just goes to sleep when not in use.

The Synology box is essentially just a dedicated server. Any machine on your network can access it. The reality is that if you have a lot of data it takes time to move it around. In my personal experience you'll want to use ethernet to move the data around, but you may have some luck watching movies over WiFi (N). Depends on how you're setting it up. If you're going to use the services in the Synology to talk directly to iTunes that works pretty well over WiFi. Personally I rip my movies in their entirety to my server with RipIt and watch them on my mac with the DVD player app. If you're ripping with Handbreak they the files are compressed. There are a lot of variables...

Best setup for media is still to use ethernet. The type of switch you have matters as well.