AppleTV + NAS = :-(

Question

Level 1

8 points

AppleTV + NAS = :-(

Bought a DLINK DNS-323 NAS storage device (which claims to have a built-in iTunes & UPnP AV Server). AppleTV does not recognize the device on the network and it cannot be paired with AppleTV. (Just thoought I'd put that out there for the Google search enginge)

Also, just mounting the NAS drive/Volume on my Mac and trying to serve up movies through iTunes 7.4.x doesn't work. It comlains about not being able to read the file (which is most likely a misreported error due to excessive latency).

Basically, what I'm say to Apple is, put in a software upgrade so I can mount external NAS drives without having to hack the ATV. FYI. I don't care about voiding a warranty on a $300 piece of electronics that can barely be used at this point. I shouldn't have to bootup my computer every time I want to watch a movie.

Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Sep 18, 2007 11:40 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 18, 2007 2:51 PM in response to FLASH!!!

So if I understand you correctly, you've bought a piece of kit that  have repeatedly made everyone aware wont work because the tv needs itunes running on a mac/pc, but because the people who made the device have led you to believe otherwise, you think this is all 's fault.

I don't know what to say.

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Answer 2

FLASH!!! Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 18, 2007 10:01 PM in response to Winston Churchill

Actually, I'm saying more than that. Not only is appleTV unable to connect to a "mt-daap" or UPnP AV server, it can't even access files (through iTunes) which happen to be stored on a NAS device. It's a lame architecture that needs to be fixed. If they're going to offer "streaming" as an option, then accessing files off a NAS makes logical sense. It's not like the world needs another cell phone.

And don't be so defensive about the ATV, some of us don't spend 100 hours a week putting animations in apple forums. Maybe a $100 rebate [that I could spend on 1/2 an iPod] would make me feel better.

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Answer 3

Sep 19, 2007 6:07 AM in response to FLASH!!!

Are you saying ATV will not stream files from a NAS device connected to your network? That would sound like a serious issue. Can't you just MAP the NAS device to look like a drive on your PC with iTunes? I am in the process of purchasing a 1.0 GB NAS drive from Bufalo Tech -LinkStation and I assumed ATV would not have an issue streaming videos from the NAS device.

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Answer 4

Sep 19, 2007 8:00 AM in response to FLASH!!!

The AppleTV streams audio and video from my NAS beautifully (through iTunes running on my PC, of course). Many, many other users here are doing the same thing.

It sounds like you may have some networking issues to resolve.

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Answer 5

Sep 19, 2007 10:04 AM in response to FLASH!!!

Actually, I'm saying more than that.

 doesn't support what you are trying to do so far as your original intentions are concerned. If I was abrupt it is because you took the initial stance that this was something that  should support despite them saying they don't, just because you went ahead with your purchase despite their advice.

If you are having problems using your NAS in conjunction with a properly installed itunes, then this is another issue, but you are unlikely to get a much better response while you continue to make unsupported statements about lame software and abuse those that are trying to help you.

As confirmed by another poster NAS works perfectly well as a network drive for a library associated with itunes in a supported location, you clearly have other issues which are nothing to do with itunes or the tv, blaming something entirely unrelated just irritates most of us on these forums and tends to illustrate a lack of judgement when matters are put into perspective.

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Answer 6

FLASH!!! Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 19, 2007 1:03 PM in response to rodneygt3

I can stream the files off my NAS, if I want to watch movies on my computer. I'd rather watch them on a real TV however. Under the current network architecture network you have to have a Mac/PC running iTunes. Effectively, the network topology is NAS -> router -> Mac/PC -> router -> AppleTV.

Now it you're like me, the AppleTV is probably using a wifi connection (with some sort of encryption enabled) instead of a hardline, since not everybody has CAT 5e plummed into the walls of their house. I'm also using a wifi connection for the Mac/PC connection (its a laptop). There have also been reports of iTunes 7.4x having problems serving up movies under the above stated topology.

Either way, ATV's best form of use is to look at your digital photo album. Beyond that, don't expect too much out of something that costs only $300. You can't even access all the YouTube content that you can from a computer directly on the web. But I assume that would be YouTube's fault, right?

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Answer 7

Sep 19, 2007 2:04 PM in response to FLASH!!!

Effectively, the network topology is NAS -> router -> Mac/PC -> router -> AppleTV.

I haven't decided what route the information from a network drive takes yet, I don't discount your topology, but I haven't seen any hard evidence that this is the case.

What I believe that most forget is that whether a network drive is connected by wire or wifi, they are invariably going to struggle to get much more than 20 Mbps from it (not sure whether this might be different for NAS though) now whilst in theory this should be adequate and indeed many have successfully set up a network drive as an itunes library, some have had issues and I suspect it only needs a touch of flakiness on the network to compromise the set up.

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Answer 8

Allude

Level 1

55 points

Sep 19, 2007 4:48 PM in response to Winston Churchill

As for the youtube comment, it actually is related to youtube. They need to convert the files of the movies to be watched on the appletv. There working on it, but there are lots of movies.

your using 2 routers. do you need to forward any ports?

Appletv works perfectly fine. Ive synced many times to it.

Ultimately, If you can connect to one router and sync and stream, without having 2 routers and get it working. The appletv and Itunes is fine...

Its the perception of the user on what they think it "should" be doing and not what it can actually do.

It may and probably can do what you want it to do, but when you are working on 2 routers. you gotta make sure all the ports are open and nothing is hampering it.

Why not just sync the content instead of trying to stream?

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Answer 9

FLASH!!! Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 19, 2007 7:29 PM in response to Allude

I'm using 1 router. I know that the DLINK device has a build-in DHCP server, but it's disabled. The above describe topology was meant to illustrate network traffic to-from the same router. Text forums are not very condusive to describing network topologies.

I'm copying my entire DVD collection to onto my filesystem (God save MacTheRipper & Streamclip). Like a video jukebox, I want to be able to call up any movie, from any ATV.

I don't care so much if it syncs or not. I'd just like to get the computer out of the loop and be able to pull the information, rather than boot-up iTunes and push the information.

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Answer 10

Mike Kelley

Level 7

29,299 points

Sep 18, 2007 12:29 PM in response to FLASH!!!

Then you need to post this on the Apple TV feedback page, as no one from Apple reads these forums for this kind of content.

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Answer 11

FLASH!!! Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 19, 2007 7:31 PM in response to FLASH!!!

Oh. And I almost forgot. If you install Ethereal / Wireshark, you can view the network packets and protocols in/out of the Mac. You'll see a tone of NAS-traffic and a tone of iTunes-appletv traffic.

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