Using Networked Movie Storage (NAS)

It is possible to render frames in DeltaServer from a network SMB (Server Message Block protocol) storage share, rather than the local movie storage volume. DeltaServer cannot currently be pointed directly at the \\share style path to that share though, and even if you letter-mount that SMB path and set that as the movie drive in Delta, DeltaServer will still not correctly render the frames off that remote storage. Please see below instructions for the only known method for making that work.

Please also note that this approach is generally intended for non-realtime frame rendering, such as step-through preview, programming, or using the standard ‘Record’ tool to produce carves or show recording. Playing back movies in realtime at the high bandwidths typically utilised in DeltaServer, would require a very powerful and carefully-tuned NAS or SAN to guarantee high enough and consistent enough throughput for successful buffering. Please contact us at info@7thsense.one if realtime playback from network storage seems like the best approach for your application, and we will be happy to discuss it.

Using a symbolic link for a NAS

Delta requires a physical drive reference – mapped network drives will not show up in DeltaGUI. Here is how to address the NAS using a symbolic link (symlink).

Create a symbolic directory link on the server C:\ drive via the command prompt (right-click and run as administrator):

mklink /D C:\movies \\[NAS IP\folder]

Example:

mklink /D C:\movies \\10.100.100.123\movies

meaning: ‘create a symbolic directory link between destination and target’ so that C:\movies becomes an advanced shortcut to the actual destination. For the NAS target path, use its IP (or host name) and the required folder.

The symbolic link acts as a redirect, so copying files and folders to C:\movies will place them instead on the NAS in the designated folder.

Note: The ‘mklink /d C:\Movies’ command will fail if a C:\Movies folder (or previously-created symbolic link) already exists at that ‘C:\Movies’ location. If so, before running mklink, you should delete that in Windows Explorer, or run this command to delete:

if exist "C:\Movies" rmdir "C:\Movies" /s /q

Protected SMB shares

If a NAS is password protected, the following command must be added:

net use [drive_letter]: \\[NAS IP\folder] /user:[username] [password] /persistent=yes

Page edited [d/m/y]: 23/02/2023