Synology DS415play - too old to reliably run 1.23.4.4805-6000?

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
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Server Version#: 1.23.4.4805-6000?
Player Version#:

I have a Synology DS415play running Plex Media Server 1.23.4.4805-6000 which I upgraded to last week.

For the last 6 months (since last MS sw upgade) Plex MS has increasing been unreliable with the application freezing, timing out and constantly seemingly losing its network connection. This happens using Apps for Apple iPhone, iPad, Samsung Tvs and DVD players. Its very frustrating and now the system is unwatchable and even a DVD player that was running a 3yr old version of Plex player is unreliable.

I upgraded to the latest version of MS a few days ago to see if it would improve the situation but its made things worse.

According to the Plex Nas Compatibility spreadsheet the DS415play is classified as having “severe limitations”. Could this explain the problems Im experiencing?

Amazon Prime, Netflix and other apps running on the iPad,iPhone, Samsung devices run perfectly so its unlikely to be a network or “none nas” hardware issue. My Lan is 1gb.

Any advice etc would be appreciated as I dont want to buy a new Nas unless necessary.

Many thanks in advance

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That CPU is very old as you’re well aware.

Its 32 bit instruction set at 1.6 Ghz and memory limited.
The CPU itself is no longer listed on the Intel web site if that means anything.
It was either a custom chip or of such low volume it never made it to the charts.

Do you need a new NAS?

The answer depends:

  1. If you want to run Plex on the NAS – Yes.

  • The CPU performance min for Plex is 700 Passmarks. The closest I can estimate is the C330 CPU (32 bit) which registers 341 Passmarks (less than 1/2 min).

  • Memory is limited to 1 GB and not expandable. Normal now is 4 GB for Intel CPUs.

  1. If you are willing to run PMS elsewhere, you can take the Plex data and move it to a new machine.

If you do decide to upgrade, your hard drives can be installed in a new Synology NAS and DSM updated. All your data (including Plex install) remains.

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Hi ChuchPa,

Thanks for your prompt response.

I have a few “dumb” questions which I’ll ask as I dont want to assume things and make the wrong decision re upgrades etc. Bare with me…

  1. to view plex on my tvs, iPhones etc I need to run plex on a Nas or other server unit e.g. a windows PC. The plex player software on the iPhone, TVs etc will only “work” / play media etc if PMS is running on a suitable networked device / server? Accordingly I currently use the DS415play which its too old so I need to upgrade it.

  2. my current NAS is Synology. If I buy a new Synology NAS I should be able to copy across my Plex files etc?

in theory a simple process and means all the work and effort Ive made building my library will not be lost?

  1. If I bought a different brand NAS e.g. QNAP I would have to start from scratch and build a brand new library?

All existing files containing programme, track, foto (meta) data etc written to Synology’s operating system would be incompatible?

  1. Which Synology NAS’ would you say are best at running Plex at the moment ideally Id like to upgrade to 6-8 disks

Thanks again

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  1. You can stream from Plex.tv itself (Plex-hosted streams – video on demand) without a server. Viewing your content does require a running server to minimally download to the device that first time.

  2. If you buy another Synology NAS, the process is simple.
    – make a list of the installed Package Center apps so you can reinstall after NAS upgrade
    a. Shutdown normally.
    b. Physically move the drives into the new Synology NAS
    c. Download the Synology Assistant (in case it’s needed)
    d. Start the NAS
    e. Open http://ip.addr.of.syno
    f. Follow the prompts to install DSM.
    g. DSM will install but keep everything in your configuration UNLESS you tell it to erase everything
    h. You then reinstall the applications (The Plex data is kept safe… Most other apps do as well)
    i. Start using it

Reiterating – If you “migrate” (which is what Synology calls it), only the OS internals get updated. The configuration – the contents of the volume – are kept fully intact – including your Plex data.

Which NAS model?

that depends on the media you want to play. what are your plans?

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Hi ChuckPa,

Thanks for your reply on July 21st, I now have an update.

A few weeks ago I bought a DS920+, installed new hard discs and did a clean / fresh installation of DSM along with the apps I want to use including Plex.

I have copied across the “old” Plex directory along with the video / music media directories from the old NAS to the new DS920+.

Obviously the new Plex installation cannot access the old Plex meta files / library database and I dont want to recreate a new library from scratch.

My question is which folders and files do I need to copy from the “old Plex” directory into the new Plex directory? It might be an obvious question to ask but I’m unsure and wary of DSM 7 and apparent upgrade complications.

Thanks in advance.

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@Geoff_McGeoff

If you

  1. Make a ZIP file of the Library directory on the old machine.

  2. Make a shared folder named Plex on the new machine.

  3. Copy that ZIP file from the old to the new “Plex” shared folder

  4. Unzip it to create a “Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server” structure again

  5. Open File Station and give System Internal User “PlexMediaServer” Full Control (the Custom button) of Library (all sub-folders and files included),

  6. DSM 7 will import it just as if it had been there all along.

Given this is a “chicken vs egg” problem:

  1. Install DSM 7 app on the new NAS
  2. Immediately Uninstall + ERASE it.
  3. Now the NAS is setup internally for the above import when you Install again.
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