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Forum Discussion
Media Server Availability on Orbi or Nighthawk
Hi, Does netgear provide media server support either on their Orbi series or Nighthawk series for their Mesh products? I have a Asus router that supports media server where I use everyday. I need to...
If by Media Server you mean attaching USB disk drives to the router, then Nighthawk appears to support that feature and Orbi definitely does not. (And is not likely to ever since all new Orbi products do not even have a USB port on them.)
The consensus on the forum appears to be that using USB drives for media servers is no longer (cool? practical? relevant?). Most users who comment appear to have ethernet connected Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions. Most Orbi and Nighthawk routers have ethernet ports and can support NAS.
CrimpOn wrote:
The consensus on the forum appears to be that using USB drives for media servers is no longer (cool? practical? relevant?).
To add to that, recent firmware updates from Netgear are removing this sort of DLNA feature from some routers in an attempt to make room for features, such as Armor and Circle, that can earn it money.
- So can you guys educate me on this ethernet powered NAS? Is this basically an external hard drive connected via ethernet rather than USB? I would like to use my external hard drive connected to Orbi or Nighthawk to access, files, documents, videos, pictures from my phone, my computers and my tvs.
Exactly. Usually 2 or more drives to allow for error recovery. Google NAS storage.
Yup. An NAS is just about a computer in its own right.
An NAS comes with its own operating system and can run various programs, such as backup routines, download operations, media servers and so on.
Some NAS can turn themselves on and off according to a schedule, they can even host websites. You just have to pick what you want and what you are prepared to pay.
The downside is that NASs are more expensive then USB drives, but the price is worth it.