"My DAZ 3D Library" folder on a network hard drive (Mac version)
a_gus
Posts: 12
Hi,
I'm sorry if this question has already been posted but I didn't find the exact answer to my problem, or it did'nt work.
I have a huge folder "My DAZ 3D Library" on my computer (Mac) and I would like to move it on my Synology NAS.
So I have copied it and, following instructions I have read on this forum (or elsewhere) in changing directory folder in Content manager.
After that, I rebuilt the database and restarted software but :
- files are detected > database is rebuilt
- content panel shows white thumnails (oops)
- can't use it : missing files (!)
On a second time, I have tested the same protocol with another copy of this folder in another place, but on local folder (on my Mac).
That's work !
So, the problem seams to be the access to a network volume...
Any solution ?
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Comments
I tried the equivalent once but with MS SW and it's a similar problem. It's not worth the hassle and it doesn't quite work.
Just install the content to a modern fat32, or is it extFat? external USB 3 SSD and plug it in when needed. I'd advice downloading the content zip files in DIM to yet another external USB 3 SSD.
Daz Studio does not support network paths, if you use a local alias to map it to a local path (drive:/foiders) then it should work.
What you are trying to do should work - I install all my content onto my Synology Drive from my mac. I assume you are using it as a mapped folder under /Volumes (as Richard has mentioned)? Also, when you remapped the folder did you correctly specify the base folder (the one that contains runtime & data amongst others) under Daz Studio Formats and have ensured you do not have any libraries within libraries?
Perhaps posting some screenshots of your setup might help diagnose the issue?
I have a setup where I "replaced" the original DAZ My Network Library folder with a symlink to the appropriate directory on the NAS. It works both on Mac and Win10 PC, both machines accessing the same NAS storage. I did the same with the user specific content libraries.
For DS, the paths look like they are referencing a local directory. A note of caution: for MacOS, you need to connect to the NAS using the smb protocol. AFS is case sensitive and will break.
EDIT:
to use linking, you
a) mount the network drive (see note of caution above)
b) link the DAZ shared network library (you should rename the original one!). In the termial window, you execute the command:
ln -s "/Volumes/NAS DAZ Network Library" "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/My DAZ 3D Library"
c) you add the network drive icon to your Autostart Objects. This way, every time you log on, your network drives will be mounted.
However, the SmartContent files are kept locally. I am usually installing content via DIM on my Mac (only Windows-only products are installed directly on the Win10 box), so I need to re-import the metadata ever once in a while on the Win10 box. I have not found a solution yet for having a central Smart Content database.
After many attempts, I finally managed to get the application to correctly recognize the folder on the NAS.
The difference is that I accessed it via smb rather than afp (!!!).
It's still curious that the application makes such a difference (?).
So I achieved my initial goal.
However, access and loading in the application are slow, even though I have a very good wifi connection (I can transfer a 1 GB file in 12 seconds).
I am looking at using a NAZ setup as well. Has anyone had continued success with this?
I have had success using a NAS since the beginning. Providing I mount the drive before starting DazStudio or DIM then it has worked fine for me. There are performance issues of cource as the NAS will never be as fast as local drives - this means it compounds the "initial load" of the figures as it loads in all the morph files. Also, I would advise against storing the DIM manifest files on the NAS unless you don't mind the highly-extended startup time there.
If you are only using one machine and have the capacity to fill it with enough HD space then that is probably still the best way to go. Unfortunately, the PC I bought a while back is missing the cage/attachments to allow me to expand it's storage - either because It was never sent or I have since lost it during a house-move.
Disclaimer, I don't know about Mac but this is definitely untrue
when my Win7 PC worked, I definitely could add drives conneted to it to the content directory on my Win10 over my WiFi network
I didn't do anything fancy other than enable sharing on the drives
it was going the other way I couldn't because Win7 needed a Homegroup and that only ever worked a few times
due to incompatibility between Win7 & 10
Can you recall what the path looked like in the DS/DIM settings?
no, because I cannot boot up my Win7 PC as of last week
Any method you use to access a Network Attached Storage (NAS) will be dirt slow. And the standard SMB protocol is really really slow.
It just isn't worth it for regular daily use of Daz Studio even with some faster protocols.
It can be fine to have another machine render, in that you don't really care about the extremely slow load times.
My opinion. A huge content library is always a source for troubles, of various kinds from slow loading/saving to duplicate content to conflicting IDs. The best way is always to work with a fresh small library where you only install the assets you need for the current project. When you change the project you switch the library, smooth fast and clean.
IMO: Network storage is only worth it if you have multiple devices that can use Daz (e.g. a notebook and a PC) - render on one, design on the other (at the same time).
If you only have one Daz capable device and still need external storage there are many options: from caged, high capacity HDD that are not that much noticeably slower than SSD, and - if speed is your thing - you can get cages for multiple SSD attached via thunderbolt / usbC. Either setup can have a drive letter per disc and so a Daz library on each (all loadable and useable at the same time).
BTW: If you fancy the setup suggested by @Padone you can use Daz Deals (the free version) to whole library-scan and so assist (with pictures and info) in creating your mini-libraries. There is a similar product launched a couple of months ago that got some decent initial reviews and works in a somewhat similar way... if only I could find the forum topic to link it!