DLNA media server has to be disabled to achieve acceptable performance

My Cloud OS 3 Personal & Network Attached Storage My Cloud
1

I have found that the only way for my WdMyCloud NAS device to behave properly is by disabling media streaming via the DLNA media server. Otherwise, the dashboard web interface is unaccepatably and cripplingly slow. As such, it is unfit for purpose. This issue should be addressed in the next firmware update.

It seems that this issue has rumbled on for too long. Please get it fixed.

2

What firmware version is your My Cloud running?

Have you performed any other changes/modifications via SSH to the My Cloud? Like to try and fix or deal with the sleep issue.

Some don’t seem to have a problem with the Twonky Media Server embedded within the My Cloud while others do. Currently, under the latest 4.x firmware I don’t see that much of a performance issue or problem when Twonky is running. The Dashboard appears to load up fairly quick (under 30 seconds). For what ever reason there has always been a slight pause when the Dashboard loads on my device to populate the various settings and information fields.

3

How slow is ‘cripplingly slow’?

Like Bennor, mine does take some time to update the status fields, but not so long that it makes it unusable. The Dashboard is a control interface, and, once the device is running as required, the Dashboard isn’t needed much. So I imagine it’s given a low priority to ensure that file server tasks are not unduly delayed.

I have Twonky DLNA media server running. Once it has finished scanning media, it has little effect on the speed of the device.

BTW, we can’t fix this; we don’t work for WD… If you want to talk to WD, you’'ll have to do it by contacting WD Support; this is a user forum.

4

Having re-started the media server, the sluggishness problem seems to have gone away. I am not sure what the media server does anyway, since I can stream music, photos and videos as I want with it turned off.

I was also having a problem with the NAS backup never completing.It now does, but I will still keep an eye on it.

I was impressed that WD support picked up on this thread, and contacted me. Hopefully the cause of the problems that I was having will be apparent in the logs I sent them.

5

Chapter 11 Playing/Streaming Videos, Photos & Music in the My Cloud User Manual (http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/?id=439&type=25) gives a basic explanation (see below) of what a Media Server is and its use on the My Cloud. There are two basic ways to stream media on the local network from the My Cloud. One is to access the My Cloud using file manger (type) access like Windows File Manager or Mac Finder or through “mapping” the Share. The other is via DLNA/iTunes. Certain media devices use DLNA or iTunes to stream content from the local network.

Media Servers
The My Cloud device is designed to serve as your home’s media server. It enables you to
stream photos, music, and videos to your DLNA-compatible devices and music to your
iTunes-compatible devices.

Both DLNA-compatible and iTunes-compatible devices search for media stored in any
public or private share that has media serving enabled. When the My Cloud device is new,
only the Public share defaults to DLNA on. WD SmartWare, Time Machine, and new shares
default to DLNA off.

If you do not want DLNA to display specific media files, place them in a private share that is
set to disable media sharing. (See “Making a Share Private” on page 46.) Both the DLNA
and iTunes servers are pre-set, so you can just transfer your multimedia content to the
Public share on your My Cloud device, and you are ready to stream and view content on
your home entertainment center, game consoles (for example, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3),
WD TV Live HD media player, DLNA 1.5 Digital Media players, and other PCs on your home
network. Visit http://www.dlna.org for further information on DLNA.

TwonkyMedia Overview
The My Cloud device uses TwonkyMedia as its DLNA media server. It streams your music,
photos and videos to compatible devices in your home. Playing media on a compatible
device is easy.

The TwonkyMedia server searches for all the media stored in the Public share on the My
Cloud device connected to your home network. The server is pre-set, so you can just
transfer your multimedia content to the Public share on your My Cloud device, and you are
ready to stream and view content on your home entertainment center, game consoles (for
example, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3), WD TV HD Live media player, or DLNA 1.5 Digital
Media Adapters), and other PCs on your home network. Visit
http://www.twonkymedia.com for further information about TwonkyMedia.

iTunes Overview
You or anyone connected to the My Cloud device can use iTunes to play stored music files.
iTunes creates a virtual music library on the device and treats it as an iTunes repository,
making it possible to stream music files from the My Cloud device to Windows or Mac
computers running iTunes.

iTunes scans any shares that have the Media Serving setting enabled, including the Public
share by default.