iTunes stuttering and stopping

What is the exact model of the WD disks? Perhaps check the SMART stats for all of them.

Are you using AFP or CIFS?

I have the exact same problem, running a ReadyNas Duo (X-Raid) with 2 x WD Green 1TB disks and very large iTunes library on 12.1.x. The NAS is connected via Ethernet through a Netcomm NF3ADV wifi / adsl / router. The disks i n the NAS make quite a lot of 'clicking' noises (once a second?) at random, perhaps the heads are parking?
Ran a SMART check and both disks check out fine, only 44% full.
Problem is there regardless of AFP or CIFS shares.
Iv'e been trying to rest the MTU to 1492, but all I get is NAS hang and spinning beachball.
Interestingly this NAS works fine streaming video via ReadyDLNA to a WDTV over ethernet, and doesn't miss a beat. It's only when connected to my newish iMac / iTunes that the problem arises.

Firmware - RAIDiator 4.1.13 (1.00a043)
Jumbo frames NOT enabled
Journaling disabled

For standard ethernet, the MTU should be 1500.

Are you using the itunes server on the duo? Or is the itunes server/library on the iMac (with the media on the duo)? Is the iMac also using ethernet, or is it connected with wifi?

BTW, your profile says duo v2, but you have a v1.

Hi Stephen - thanks for your reply. All the iTunes files (.itl, .xml, media etc) reside on a separately configured share on the ReadyNas. All connections are made wired with ethernet.
Would it work better with the database on a local drive (Fusion in my iMac) and media on the NAS?
This stuttering and unresponsive-beachball-spinning iTunes I think started with the roll out of iTunes 12.x.x. This release also broke AirPlay.

I have now tried using AudioFile's Fidelia, which has the ability either to create its own library, or to 'import' the iTunes XML file - I have tried the latter. Although file management is still unbelievably laggy at least once the music is playing it keeps playing, without any skipping stuttering or crashing. Which confirms my suspicions that iTunes 12 is the cause of the issue? I will now investigate migrating music server away completely from iTunes to a third party solution such as Fidelia. iTunes has grown into such a sprawling, buggy, unresponsive mess that its original core mission of being a music player has been compromised.

On another OT matter, as you note, I am using a v1 duo with 2 x 1TB in a RAID 1 config, which is overdue for replacement. I'd also like to replace the disks with WD Red or similar. What is my best upgrade path? (NAS first, then disks or vica versa? Do I simply replace one disk, initiate a disk mirror update, then replace the other disk etc) Or should I post this question in another forum?

Thanks for your help
Matt

cruisingyacht wrote:
On another OT matter, as you note, I am using a v1 duo with 2 x 1TB in a RAID 1 config, which is overdue for replacement. I'd also like to replace the disks with WD Red or similar. What is my best upgrade path? (NAS first, then disks or vica versa? Do I simply replace one disk, initiate a disk mirror update, then replace the other disk etc) Or should I post this question in another forum?

New NAS with new disks. Use backup jobs to copy the data across from the old NAS to the new one. The RAID format is different in the new NAS. So simply migrating your disks across is not an option.

On iTunes - you can try running iTunes on the imac easily enough. It might work out better, since it is the "real" iTunes, and not a reverse-engineered server.


I use 2x2 TB in my duo (jbod in my case). The newer disk is a wd20efrx. You can hot-insert one disk, wait for resync, and then hot-insert the second.

But newer NAS (even the RN100 series) are significantly faster than the duo. Plex also gives you another streaming option. So if you have enough space now, perhaps upgrade the NAS first.

As mdgm points out, you will need to backup data/rebuild the array on the new NAS. So I'd also suggest getting new disks and a new NAS, and use the duo as part of your backup.

Thanks for the advice. I haven't yet tried running iTunes with the database files (.itl, .xml etc) on the iMac internal drive, with only the media files on the NAS. Will this work? Is it advisable?
I'll also look at upgrading to an RN102 / WD Red setup as suggested. Are the WD Red drives the most cost-effective / performance way to go? Or are others using better drives?
Presumably then the Duo can go to Time Machine backup duties?

I'm not a mac user, but you can certainly put the iTunes database on a PC with Windows. Browsing might be slower, so try it in parallel with what you are doing first.

I personally like the Reds - they run cool, are pretty competitive on price, and have good warranties. I've found them to be quite reliable. There are of course a lot of other options.

I think I've fixed this problem. I moved the iTunes library files (.itl, .xml etc) to the internal drive on my iMac, leaving the media files on the NAS. I then renamed the .xml file and moved it to another location, launch iTunes, create a new playlist (blank), quit and relaunch. iTunes rebuilds the xml file and the whole thing starts working again with no stuttering or stopping. Still the occasional second or two of beachball when accessing a new album or playlist, but playback is seamless and continuous. However I lost all my artwork... tried copying over the artwork file but to no avail - no art. Still I can live with that now I at least have reliable music streaming.
I don't think this issue is with the NAS / disks / firmware but is something iTunes 12 'broke'. Last night I watched a hi-res movie ripped from a BluRay on the highest profile HandBrake conversion settings, on a WDTV, and the NAS streamed it perfectly. Bit rates would be far in excess of that required for iTunes.