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I am trying to decide between purchasing a NAS RNS202 and RN212. They seem to be very similar in lot of ways but one of the main differences I see on the netgear website is that the RN 212 has the capability to "HD 1080p streaming and real-time transcoding to any device, anywhere". What exactly does that mean? Can't another device that supports DLNA (eg. smart TV) read and play the appropriate format/resolution video file if it was stored on a network connect RN 202? Is 1080p streaming and real-time transcoding something different?
Is 1080p streaming and real-time transcoding something different?
real-time transcoding is a variation on normal streaming.
With traditional streaming, the original HD content (audio and video) is simply sent to the client. If the audio isn't something the client can play, then there is no audio. If the network can't carry the 1080p video, the video stutters and stalls.
Real-time transcoding is something plex does to resolve those issues. If the client can't play the audio in the file, then plex will convert the audio to something it can play. And if the video takes too much bandwidth, then plex will convert it to a lower resolution and quality level. Converting the video in real-time puts a significant load on the CPU. The RN212's ability to do real-time transcoding is spec'ed at converting one 1080p stream to SD - which is generally ok if you are watching on a tablet or phone while away from home.
Commercial streaming handles bandwidth issues a different way. Multiple quality levels are saved in the same file, with regular points where the engine can downshift to lower quality or upshift to higher quality. Of course that takes more disk space.
I am trying to decide between purchasing a NAS RNS202 and RN212.
Since streaming is your main interest, I'd go with the RN212. The RN202 has a dual-core processor, which is enough to give good performance as a file server. The RN212's quad-core processor is what lets it do the transcoding trick. Also look at the RN214, since it's likely that you will need to expand your media storage over time.
Another approach is that you can run plex on a PC, but keep the files on the ReadyNAS. Keeping the applications and the file storage separated costs a bit more (and requires that you keep both devices running), but gives you more flexibillity in upgrading components later. If you go that route, you can get an RN202 or RN204, since the NAS is simply acting as a file server.
Is 1080p streaming and real-time transcoding something different?
real-time transcoding is a variation on normal streaming.
With traditional streaming, the original HD content (audio and video) is simply sent to the client. If the audio isn't something the client can play, then there is no audio. If the network can't carry the 1080p video, the video stutters and stalls.
Real-time transcoding is something plex does to resolve those issues. If the client can't play the audio in the file, then plex will convert the audio to something it can play. And if the video takes too much bandwidth, then plex will convert it to a lower resolution and quality level. Converting the video in real-time puts a significant load on the CPU. The RN212's ability to do real-time transcoding is spec'ed at converting one 1080p stream to SD - which is generally ok if you are watching on a tablet or phone while away from home.
Commercial streaming handles bandwidth issues a different way. Multiple quality levels are saved in the same file, with regular points where the engine can downshift to lower quality or upshift to higher quality. Of course that takes more disk space.
I am trying to decide between purchasing a NAS RNS202 and RN212.
Since streaming is your main interest, I'd go with the RN212. The RN202 has a dual-core processor, which is enough to give good performance as a file server. The RN212's quad-core processor is what lets it do the transcoding trick. Also look at the RN214, since it's likely that you will need to expand your media storage over time.
Another approach is that you can run plex on a PC, but keep the files on the ReadyNAS. Keeping the applications and the file storage separated costs a bit more (and requires that you keep both devices running), but gives you more flexibillity in upgrading components later. If you go that route, you can get an RN202 or RN204, since the NAS is simply acting as a file server.
Thanks StephenB !! Thanks for the comprehensive answer. Definitely answered my question, and also gave me more info on the differences between the two NAS. I think I will go for the NAS212. (thanks also for providing some additional options/approaches)
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I use my ready NAS as a plex server. some of my blue-ray movies that I uplowded to the nas are not available for me to view. Every time I play one of these movies, plex gives me a message telling me my CPU is not powerful enough to transcode to content. Since I have a Gigabit network. Do I have to upgrade my NAS to refolve this problem?
I use my ready NAS as a plex server. some of my blue-ray movies that I uplowded to the nas are not available for me to view. Every time I play one of these movies, plex gives me a message telling me my CPU is not powerful enough to transcode to content. Since I have a Gigabit network. Do I have to upgrade my NAS to refolve this problem?
First, the gigabit network is not the problem. Full BluRay has a max transfer rate around 54 mbits, so you are far below the network limit. If you have wifi on the path to the player, that could create some delivery issues.
More likely the player doesn't support something in the BluRay - for instance, it might not support the audio format. If you downloaded the BluRay content, it is possible that the video encoding isn't compliant to the right profile/level, or that its an unusual video codec. There is a free tool called MediaInfo that can give you a lot of information on exactly what formats, etc are used by the file. Though be careful - there is adware in the install that you'd want to opt-out of.
Whatever it is, you have a few options
(a) convert the few bluray movies that won't play to a format that will. There are several tools available that can do this, and it is your cheapest option.
(b) if the player is the limitation, then upgrading the player is likely cheaper than upgrading the NAS.
(c) You can run plex on a PC, and still keep the media on the RN314. That requires the PC be turned on of course.
(d) You could upgrade the NAS to something that is spec'd to transcode HD - for instance the RN626X. That's your most expensive option.
Thank you for your help, I use amazon FireTV as the player the conectiong to the network is wired not wifi.
I used mkv to convert the BluRay movies. I don't want to spend $1800 on a new NAS RN626X. Runing Plex on a PC won't work for me. I guess my only uption at the time is to look for a different format to convert too.
I use MakeMKV tool to rip my BluRays on a Windows PC. regarles of the player (plex/FireTV, PC, iPad) it buffers for a long time to play the movie. Once it starts playing it is only for a few secons, and then it stops. That's when I get the message "the server is not powerful enough to convert the video to smooth play back" acording to plex support my CPU is not able to transcode the content and I need to upgrade it.
I use MakeMKV tool to rip my BluRays on a Windows PC. regarles of the player (plex/FireTV, PC, iPad) it buffers for a long time to play the movie. Once it starts playing it is only for a few secons, and then it stops. That's when I get the message "the server is not powerful enough to convert the video to smooth play back" acording to plex support my CPU is not able to transcode the content and I need to upgrade it.
Well, if you are converting the BluRays anyway, you should be able to adjust your conversion settings so that the files play on all your local devices. You shouldn't need to upgrade your server. It'd be different if you were trying to watch HD content while away from home.
Can you try installing mediainfo (opting out of any ad-ware) and get it's analysis of a file that doesn't play? I pick the "text" view, and then cut/paste the results. You can PM me if you prefer. https://mediaarea.net/nn/MediaInfo/Download
General ID : 0 (0x0) Complete name : V:\THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS.m2ts Format : BDAV Format/Info : Blu-ray Video File size : 22.6 GiB Duration : 2 h 9 min Overall bit rate mode : Variable Overall bit rate : 25.0 Mb/s Maximum Overall bit rate : 48.0 Mb/s
Video #1 ID : 4113 (0x1011) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : VC-1 Format profile : Advanced@L3 Codec ID : 234 Duration : 2 h 9 min Width : 1 920 pixels Height : 1 080 pixels Display aspect ratio : 16:9 Frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS Color space : YUV Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 Bit depth : 8 bits Scan type : Progressive Compression mode : Lossy
Video #2 ID : 6912 (0x1B00) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : VC-1 Format profile : Advanced@L2 Codec ID : 234 Duration : 2 h 9 min Width : 720 pixels Height : 480 pixels Display aspect ratio : 4:3 Frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS Color space : YUV Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 Bit depth : 8 bits Scan type : Progressive Compression mode : Lossy
Audio #1 ID : 4352 (0x1100) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : 129 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 640 kb/s Channel(s) : 6 channels Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf) Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 592 MiB (3%)
Audio #2 ID : 4353 (0x1101) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : TrueHD / AC-3 Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Muxing mode : Stream extension Codec ID : 131 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Variable / Constant Bit rate : 640 kb/s Maximum bit rate : 3 267 kb/s Channel(s) : 6 channels Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf) Bit depth : 16 bits Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 592 MiB (3%)
Audio #3 ID : 4354 (0x1102) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : 129 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 640 kb/s Channel(s) : 6 channels Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf) Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 592 MiB (3%)
Audio #4 ID : 4355 (0x1103) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : 129 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 640 kb/s Channel(s) : 6 channels Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf) Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 592 MiB (3%)
Audio #5 ID : 4356 (0x1104) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : 129 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 640 kb/s Channel(s) : 6 channels Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf) Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 592 MiB (3%)
Audio #6 ID : 4357 (0x1105) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Format profile : Dolby Digital Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : 129 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 192 kb/s Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf) Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 178 MiB (1%)
Audio #7 ID : 4358 (0x1106) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Format profile : Dolby Digital Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : 129 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 192 kb/s Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf) Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 178 MiB (1%)
Audio #8 ID : 4359 (0x1107) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Format profile : Dolby Digital Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : 129 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 192 kb/s Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf) Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 178 MiB (1%)
Audio #9 ID : 4360 (0x1108) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Format profile : Dolby Digital Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : 129 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 192 kb/s Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf) Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 178 MiB (1%)
Audio #10 ID : 6656 (0x1A00) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : E-AC-3 Format/Info : Enhanced Audio Coding 3 Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : 161 Duration : 2 h 9 min Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 224 kb/s Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 187.500 FPS (256 spf) Compression mode : Lossy Delay relative to video : -7 ms Stream size : 207 MiB (1%)
Text #1 ID : 4608 (0x1200) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144
Text #2 ID : 4609 (0x1201) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144
Text #3 ID : 4610 (0x1202) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144
Text #4 ID : 4611 (0x1203) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144
Text #5 ID : 4612 (0x1204) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144
Text #6 ID : 4613 (0x1205) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144
Text #7 ID : 4614 (0x1206) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144
Text #8 ID : 4615 (0x1207) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144
Text #9 ID : 4616 (0x1208) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 10 s 177 ms
Text #10 ID : 4617 (0x1209) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Delay relative to video : 6 s 631 ms
Text #11 ID : 4618 (0x120A) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144
Text #12 ID : 4619 (0x120B) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Delay relative to video : 9 s 843 ms
Text #13 ID : 4620 (0x120C) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 551 ms
Text #14 ID : 4621 (0x120D) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 634 ms
Text #15 ID : 4622 (0x120E) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 634 ms
Text #16 ID : 4623 (0x120F) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 634 ms
Text #17 ID : 4624 (0x1210) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 634 ms
Text #18 ID : 4625 (0x1211) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 634 ms
Text #19 ID : 4626 (0x1212) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Delay relative to video : 9 s 843 ms
Text #20 ID : 4627 (0x1213) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 634 ms
Text #21 ID : 4628 (0x1214) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 634 ms
Text #22 ID : 4629 (0x1215) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 634 ms
Text #23 ID : 4630 (0x1216) Menu ID : 1 (0x1) Format : PGS Codec ID : 144 Duration : 2 h 9 min Delay relative to video : 9 s 634 ms
Very helpful. It looks like whatever tool you used simply extracted the complete M2TS from the bluray disk. The video is VC-1, not the usual H.264/AVC. That's why it needs transcoding.
MakeMKV doesn't seem to be capable of transcoding. I put together a freeware toolkit which will transcode vc1 quite a long time ago - you can still download it from here: https://vid2eva.lefti.net/viewforum.php?f=6 It is rather ugly, and the install is manual - but it will trancode your m2ts into an MKV or even an MP4. I still do use it myself actually.
This will allow you to pretty compress the file down even more while keeping the quality of the audio and video good and to sit it up for a Resolution ect you want to use. So not only will the movie file use less space, but you can have it in a format where you can Direct Play the video without having to have it Transcoded. My Upgraded 516 NAS is powerful enough to transcode a couple 1080P streams just fine, so I don't worry so much about that, but I mainly use it to reduce file sizes. This can take some time. Much slower then MakeMKV ripping the disc. I would normally rip a number of Discs, and then setup Handbreak to process all those RIP Movies while I'm sleeping and at work.
DVD files really compress down as you're going from a MPEG2 format to a more modern compression format. Going from around 15 Gig's on a movie after MakeMKV down to around 10 Gig's is quite a bit of savings and it'll look just as good. With Hundreds of movies, that's a lot of space saved to have even more movies.
Handbrake is potentially another option (and there are a number of freeware and paid tools that can be used). I wasn't impressed when I tried Handbrake on Windows, but that was a while ago now.
@P-Dog wrote: Thank you JBDragon1. This very helpful. Now when you say "upgraded 516 NAS". What do you mean by that? Did you upgrade the CPU or just the RAM?
