How to setup storage in the ZEN NG to be treated as a 'NAS backup' destination for a zenith mk3

[Kimb]

I have been advise to have the storage in the ZEN-NG treated as a 'NAS backup' destination, so after ripping some CDs on the Mk3, I need to run another backup to update the changes, and those new albums will get exported over into the ZEN NG.
But how do I set this up ?…
(using the import function from Ng, the mk3 is listed as an available NAS drive, but going forward here, its stated that folders are empty ??)

 

[Stephen Healy]

Backup To NAS Drive - Innuos - High-Fidelity Digital Music Servers and Streamers

You can back up your Sense library in two ways: either directly to an external USB drive using one of your device’s USB ports, or to a NAS (Network Attached

innuos.com

 

[Kimb]

Seen from the mk3
At step 4, setup a new shared folder/setup new backup, ensure the folder is empty => how do I create a folder at the ng
At step 5, my ng is found,
Step 6 and 7, is jumped
At step 8, i have no credentials
At step 9, choose nas folder its No show “empty”

 

[Stephen Healy]

You can create a new folder on the Next Gen via your PC, but you should be fine to just go ahead and choose either the music or unsorted folder and just carry on from there - the system will make its own new backup folder in the process.
There are credentials to get into any Innuos system now, which is 'guest' and 'innuos' for username and password respectively. When you enter this, step 9 should work correctly.

 

[Kimb]

Its started, the credentials were the trick
I have just ripped one new cd, and would like to only backup this one cd to the ng (not the total musicfrom the mk3, as this is in place at the ng, using restore from usb. Is the trick to use “existing backup, instead of new backup.

 

[Stephen Healy]

This approach is going to be very carefully managed. Unfortunately, you cannot perform backups of only single folders, it must backup the whole library. So you have a choice, use a computer to just copy and paste that one ripped CD over, or Clear Music Library on the Next-Gen and perform the Backup to NAS from the Mk3 (otherwise you will end up with duplicates of everything, if you do.
Alternatively, it might be easier to place the NG into Endpoint mode, and choose it as a receiving player whilst controlling from the ZENith Mk3.

 

[Kimb]

I have only kept the mk3 as a ripper and in the same have a backup,
So, I shouldn’t use restore backup to initial build the ng in the first place, but i should had used backup to nas NEW share from the mk3, to build the ng, and then after , use the backup to nas EXSISTING share, to add new ripped cd’s from mk3 to ng
If yes, any drawback in the two approaches restore vs backup, and how should i in best way erase the ng ( using a pc ?)

 

[Kimb]

And other idea; Can I continue using usb backup on mk3, existing, doing this will only add the new rips, and then move the usb memory to ng, and import from usb on the ng, will this methode only import the new rips, add them to the existing music on ng

 

[Stephen Healy]

The underlying issue here is that the ZENith Mk3 will have to be your 'active' library because that is the one you are still ripping music into. Using the Backup to NAS mechanism is intended to be a simple way to incrementally keeping moving those new CD rips over into the internal storage of the Next-Gen.
But in essence yes, the better approach would be to begin by having the ZENith Mk3 make a new backup to NAS and direct it at the Next-Gen, and then just leave it set up that way - it will stay the existing share by default.
You only need to go through the process of Configure Existing NAS Backup if you were having to set this up again through the ZENith Mk3, because you decided to make a different backup to USB for example.
If you did want to keep another USB backup running, I would say it would actually be easier to run that off of the Next-Gen, so that on the ZENith you are not constantly swapping backup modes between NAS and USB...

 

[Kimb]

So your general recommendation to use restore to build a new Innuos is for users not keeping both servers, as I do.
Is there any pitfalls in using backup to nas compared to the restore way, anyting I should be aware of or miss?.

 

[Stephen Healy]

So your general recommendation to use restore to build a new Innuos is for users not keeping both servers, as I do.
Is there any pitfalls in using backup to nas compared to the restore way, anyting I should be aware of or miss?.

The Backup Restore function is for a few reasons, primarily in case the hard drive has been changed and you simply need to re-upload your library exactly as it was. It also lends itself to when you are moving away from one Innuos server and moving up to a newer one - its a good way to migrate things over.
Your scenario is quite different though in that you are keeping two systems, and the one that you want to be the backup (the ZENith Mk3) is also the one doing newer CD Ripping - this means its library is doing a mix of both being an archive, but also actively being updated with new content. Thus, it makes the situation a bit confusing.
What i have advised previously is a way to try and make this setup work the best way it can. The mains points to keep in mind are:
- Have the ZENith Mk3 backup to NAS which is the Next-Gen...that way every time you update the backup, your newly ripped CDs will copy over.
- You should only do a Restore ONCE, and it should ONLY be for the Music Library Database information. Do not restore the music files themselves, because you will create duplicates of all the files from the NAS backup.

 

[Kimb]

as I have allready restored backup to ng, i will:
1. Use a pc, to create a backup folde => ng/ unsorted/backup
2. Do the nas backup, new, from mk3, to this folder (the innuos creates an “id folder” and all folders/content based on the mk3/ music folder (this is a very time consuming backup cross my network, right now it is 4% in 1 hour)
3 do a check based on size mk3/music vs ng/unsorted/ backup/music/…
4 if okay, delete content of ng/music leaving it empty, only leaving ng/unsorted/backup/music/….
5 next rip, do a existing nas backup from mk3 to ng/unsorted/backup, and hopefully only do a move of the new rips
6. Do the normal backup to usb from ng (can this be restored both to mk3 and ng if needed ???)

 

[Stephen Healy]

This sounds fine! This should achieve what you are looking for.
Yes, the USB backup should be able to restore into any Innuos product (that has storage inside it)

 

[Kimb]

Thanks for your dedikation in prompt answering my many mails, this is a big help for me in understanding Innuos