Hi,
my Ultra Ex2 is getting full with only 120GB left of 2x2TB (RAID1).
I thought to add another Ultra Ex2 and split Foto Storage and normal files.
The idea is to run DIGIKAM on the foto NAS via phpMyAdmin with access for the 3 family members. Unfortunately the actual NAS seems to have a corrupt phpMyAdmin Database (to be used with digikam) and I am trying since ~1 year to get database access, but the WD support nor this community could help.
Has anyone DIGIKAM running on a WDMyCloud Ex2 Ultra or a higher ranked NAS by WD?
The price difference to Synology is quite remarkable, but if nobody could run digikam on a WD product, it might be worth some extrra money ad start with Synology.
What would be your recommendation on how to proceed?
Regards
Joerg
PS: I had contact to WD Support - no solution for my WD Ex2 Ultra, I had community help mainly from CERBERUS, but he deleted all his help posts approx 1 year ago and stopped his support, I - of course - deinstalled and reinstalled the phpMyAdmin App , but that does not allow me to login either.
Cerberus was quite the character. . . . . . helpful but not helpful at the same time.
I have faced the WD / “Brand S” dilemma. Yes, “Brand S” boxes are more expensive. You get what you pay for. Internet access to a WD NAS on OS/5 is pretty . . . .basic. For basic “I need a home file server”, the WD is fine - - - but for any more serious applications. . . “Brand S” is really a better solution. ALthough I am biased. . . .if you are buying LARGE drives. . .the cost delta of the box isn’t quite as meaningful as when using 2TB drives.
Is your “WDMyCloud Ex2 Ultra” really a “My Cloud Mirror EX2 Ultra”, a WD “My Cloud EX2 Ultra” or something else?
Is it running OS5?
If it does support OS5, you would find the option in the Admin GUI in “Settings > Network” and look for the option “Network Database” in the Network Services category (right under Dynamic DNS).
Assuming Network Database is a feature on your “WDMyCloud Ex2 Ultra”, then select “ON with remote access”.
That will start an older version of MariaDB (an open-source MySQL).
Be aware that the database folder that OS5 creates for the MariaDB will be on a partition that is not part of your RAID group and is limited to 1GB. If you get this far, there is a work-around to move the database folder to the RAID group for larger databases.
If you don’t have that feature on the “WDMyCloud Ex2 Ultra”, then you need to start thinking about some other way to host a MariaDB server in your network.
The 3rd Party app “phpMyAdmin” is not a database server. It is used to manage a MySQL database server. When you install phpMyAdmin as a 3rd Party app on the NAS, if there is a MySQL (MariaDB) server running on the NAS, it will automatically connect to the MariaDB instance. If there is no MySQL / MariaDB server on the NAS (or it died), then you get that error message.
Otherwise, it looks like this:
I use the Network Database on my PR4100 with OS5 5.30.103 and manage it with the 3rd Party app phpMyAdmin as the backend for my digiKam client system on my network (some Windows, a Mac and a Linux PC).
We are sharing a library of 700k images and videos with digiKam as a simple CMS.
It works fine once you understand how digiKam interfaces with the “remote” MySQL server.
Personally, I stopped using my My Cloud EX4 and bought two used PR4100 from eBay and swapped the drives straight over.
I would bet you could get a PR4100 with four 4TB disks for around $350 on eBay and then copy all the data off the EX2 and then enable the Network Database.
Keep the “WDMyCloud Ex2 Ultra” as a backup.
Since you’ve struggled with phpMyAdmin on the WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra for over a year without a solution from WD support or the community, sticking with WD doesn’t seem practical. Adding another EX2 Ultra would give you more storage but wouldn’t fix the database issue. Synology is a better choice, as it supports MySQL/MariaDB properly, has a more reliable DSM platform, and includes a working phpMyAdmin app, making it a solid option for running DigiKam. While Synology costs more upfront, it’s more stable, expandable, and easier to manage in the long run. QNAP is another option with good hardware, but it has a steeper learning curve. The best approach is to back up your data, choose a Synology model like the DS224+, DS423+, or DS923+, or a QNAP alternative like the TS-464 or TS-453D, migrate your files, and set up DigiKam with MariaDB/MySQL. Given your needs, Synology is likely the most reliable and hassle-free option.
