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[phil1331]

Hello all, I tried searching the forum for this (but found conflicting info), and I apologize for what might be a very simplistic question.  I'm still relatively new to this, but so far I'm impressed with what I'm seeing with the software (and the JRiver forum overall).  I'd like to set this up right the first time, rather than re-configuring everything in the future.

In short, I'd like to know the best location and configuration for the MC library (or libraries) and my media files, when running multiple computers on a home network, given the computer speeds, connection types, and usage habits. 

My network:
- Desktop upstairs (connected by wireless AC) where I usually listen to music and occasionally watch movies, with a SSD main drive, and 2x 500 GB 7200rpm HDDs;
- On the ground floor, I have my entertainment system with TV and AV system and speakers, and
- A FIOS router & wireless AC access point, with gigabit Ethernet connections to my: 
- Synology NAS with a gigabit port, with WD Red drives, with my 1.5 TBs of media files, mostly FLAC with some mp3s, and two dozen movies in mostly mkv format;
- HTPC (where I usually watch movies and occasionally listen to music) with a small SSD main drive and 1x 750GB data drive with some additional mp3s and handful of moves;
- Plus 2x laptops (one AC wireless, one N wireless) and a tablet (N wireless).

Should I make a directory with my MC library on my NAS and map to it from my computers?  And have that library import from the NAS media directories and the HTPC's data drive?  Or should I make a local library on each computer and use the sync function?  Or make a Library server on the HTPC (or the Desktop) and make all the other computers clients to that main library? Should I get creative and move my most commonly accessed movies and music to one of the data drives on the Desktop or HTPC?

Seems like there are countless options. Within the forum here, I found recommendations to put local libraries on the SSDs of each computer (so each computer has its own local library), but found other recommendations to put the MC library and the media files on the NAS and have each computer access the same library. 

Factors I'm trying to take into consideration:
- Reducing the amount of time I spend updating media file tags (would prefer not to manage libraries too much/too often for same media);
- The connection speed between each computer and the various storage locations around the network;
- Usually watch movies on HTPC + TV, but will occasionally watch movies and listen to music on Desktop and other laptops;

How/where would you setup your library (libraries?) and media files?  Any and all advice is greatly, greatly appreciated.  Thanks.


 

[JimH]

MC's Library (the database itself, as opposed to the media files) should be on a local drive for speed.

The media files can be anywhere.

[blgentry]

Surely someone else will have good advice for you.  In the mean time, here are some things to consider.

You should probably be using MC's Media Network feature so that one computer is the "server" and the rest are "clients".  The server computer will have a local MC library (meaning the small database files) on it's SSD drive. 

The media files for the server can be local or on NAS.  Local is better in that it eliminates one layer of complexity.  NAS is better because the files can be accessed by any computer on the network that maps the NAS drive.

Which computer to use as the server?  To me it's three things:

1.  Use the most powerful computer if possible.
2.  You want the server to have a wired network connection for best performance and stability.
3.  You'll be doing all of your media maintenance on the server:  Metadata changes and corrections, adding new media, setting up views, etc.  So you'll want to choose a computer that you can use easily, whether it be locally at a keyboard, or with remote access software.

I don't know much about how Media Network works in terms of it's client/server model.  Hopefully someone else will give you good advice on that aspect.

Brian.

[CountryBumkin]

Just to add to whatever else has said...

I would install MC21 on the "HTPC" computer. Then go to Tools>Options>Library & Folders>"Configure auto import..." and use the "Browse" to point to the Folder(s) on your NAS where your media is kept. You should set up root Folders on the NAS for "Movies", "TV Shows", "Audio" and "Images". Then create subdirectories under those for the specific Movies, Shows, etc. This way you can have the "auto import" feature add the correct Media Type and Media Sub Type to the specific media type when it is imported into MC (BTW - "imported into MC" does not mean anything is copied to MC, it just means MC adds the file location, media type, and metadata to its database).

On the HTPC computer (this is your "Server") you then go to Tools>Options>Media Network and check the box "Use Media Network to share this Library ...". Create the "Access Key".
Then go to the other computers (the "Clients") install MC and (and in Standard View) go to "Playing Now>Add Library, and enter the "Access Key". This will connect all your Client computers to the Server and use the Library from the Server.

The drawback to this method is that the Server computer has to be running for each Client computer to access the media. The advantage is that you can import files and maintain those file in one location (the Server) and still setup different rules/views for each Client.

[phil1331]

Thank you JimH, blgentry, and CountryBumkin for your advice.  (And apologies for my delayed response -- the holidays plus a personal injury distracted me from my JRiver setup for the last week.)

I'll set it up as recommended.  Thank you again!