Moving Library to Synology NAS

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BarrowWight
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2017 2:29 pm

Moving Library to Synology NAS

Post by BarrowWight »

I am hoping this is a simple operation but so far have been unable to find how to do this.
I have MM4 installed on a desktop Windows PC and a Windows laptop.
My music files are all stored on a mapped folder on my Synology NAS.
It seems that both have their own database files (MM.DB) stored in their respective locations:
C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\MediaMonkey.
I assume that the Library and other data are stored here.
Is there a way to move this data to my NAS so that I can access the same data form the PC and the laptop?
Lowlander
Posts: 57474
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: MediaMonkey 5

Re: Moving Library to Synology NAS

Post by Lowlander »

As NAS connections are much slower than internal drive I don't recommended it, it's also not really designed for two instances accessing the database at the same time, but it can be done: https://www.mediamonkey.com/support/kno ... vironment/
MightyPG

Re: Moving Library to Synology NAS

Post by MightyPG »

Hi! I'm sort of in the same boat as you (MM5 here, though).

One thing: have you set up the Media Server package on your Synology? I recommend doing that before you set up your music library, because then you can connect to the your synology as a media server rather than as a network drive.

Here's what I've been able to do (again, I'm using MM5 so I don't know if this will work in 4)--1) set up the synology drive in the music library. 2) using the file tree, cut-and-paste your music library into the /music directory on your media server 3) use the add/rescan library--it didn't duplicate, it seemed to realize that artist/album/track.flac went from d:\artist\album\track to \\nas\music\artist\album\track.flac. OBVIOUSLY, you want to start with only a few tracks to make sure it works right,, but it even updated my playlists etc.

(I actually DO have a related question about media servers for MM Android but I'll take it to that forum) :)
Lowlander
Posts: 57474
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: MediaMonkey 5

Re: Moving Library to Synology NAS

Post by Lowlander »

You can only stream media files from a Media Server, there is no editing of files whatsoever.
Cbleman
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2024 11:02 am

Re: Moving Library to Synology NAS

Post by Cbleman »

Does anyone know if Mediamonkey is working on a server package for a NAS? (Synology or otherwise)

Currently, although there is a section labeled "Network" under the add folders section of Add rescan files to the Library, I can't see my LAN folders to add files from the NAS from my network. So far, it looks like I have to map the folder where my files are stored on the NAS as a drive, to add the files to the Mediamonkey library. (Perhaps networking is broken, or as seems more likely, I'm just missing something. Either way, I can't get it to work.) I experimented with the suggestion to add files to Mediamonkey using the Synology Server (Since I'm running 2 servers anyway) and so far, it appears to have hung. If it's still stuck at the same file in 30 minutes, I'll have to terminate the process.
It would be more convenient, (If I'm going to be running a Mediamonkey Server too) to have everything directly on the NAS where the files are stored. It appears that I'm not the only one using a NAS to stream media throughout the house. I'm sure somebody must have thought about a package for NAS owners. Accessing my files while I'm on the go through Mediamonkey would be a real plus too, and not carry the security implications of Quickconnect.
Although Synology has its own Media server, I haven't found a way to access anything outside the LAN without Quickconnect WEB-DAV or a static IP address. Even then, you're directly accessing the files and not the media server. (I guess in a way, Quickconnect IS a Media server. I hope you know what I mean though.) I figured Mediamonkey would be an easy way to access media files on my phone, tablet or computer when I'm away from the house. Since the NAS runs 24 hours a day, I could shut down the computer (where the current Mediamonkey server resides) when I leave the house. Ideas or education would be welcome, in addition to the answer to the question.
Lowlander
Posts: 57474
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: MediaMonkey 5

Re: Moving Library to Synology NAS

Post by Lowlander »

MediaMonkey is not an easy way to share files outside of the home network. it can be done, but provides no access security: https://www.mediamonkey.com/support/kno ... e-network/

You need to scan the NAS via it's UNC Path, you may need to manually enter it: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHel ... he_Library Mapped drives is actually not recommended.
BarrowWight
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2017 2:29 pm

Re: Moving Library to Synology NAS

Post by BarrowWight »

Thanks to Lowlander and MightyPG for your comments.
I have now found a method of achieving what I wanted to do.
Originally, this was set up in MM4 but I later upgraded to MM5 and the method remained the same.

The first time round, I created a folder on the Synology NAS to hold the MM.DB file and linked MM to this database from both PCs.
This worked to an extent, but there were problems if the PC lost connection to the Synology while MM was running.

In my final configuration, I created a local folder on both PCs to hold local MM5.DB files which are both synced to the master MM5.DB file on the Synology using Synology CloudStation.
On both PCs, I linked MM to the relevant database by adding the following line to the MediaMonkey.ini file:
"DBName=<<local folder path>>\MM5.DB".
This now works well.
I do not intend to have MM running on both PCs at the same time, so I have created a text file in the Synology shared folder to remind me on which machine MM is running to avoid database clashes.

As I want to have full editing access on whichever PC I am using at the time, I have not set up the Synology as a Media Server.
Lowlander, thanks for the link to scan through the UNC Path, I had read somewhere that this was the preferred method but was not sure how to do this.
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