Cannot use eSATA on SynologyDS920+, have set drive description to RoonServer

Julian_Fricker · February 4, 2021, 11:02am

First of all thanks to @crieke for his work on this. I have been able to get Roon working using a USB connected SSD drive and it runs really well.

I would like to use eSATA instead but I can’t get this to work. I’ve tried 2 different eSata cables/enclosures and followed the instructions I’ve found.

This screenshot shows I changed the description to RoonServer but roon throws an error whenever I run it and then works again if I go back to USB. The screenshot shows an old roonserver I setup internally 1st.

Alfred_van_Hoorn · February 4, 2021, 3:15pm

The name of the eSata share should be: RoonServer. Then it will work.

crieke · February 4, 2021, 5:44pm

I will check it.
@Alfred_van_Hoorn: In general you are correct. eSata is an exception here, as the Synology Disk Station Manager unfortunately does not allow renaming eSata shares.

Alfred_van_Hoorn · February 4, 2021, 6:29pm

@crieke, you are right. That’s why I did not mentioned renaming.

I have used a eSata connection to my SSD (with the Roon database on it) for several years without any problem.

Julian_Fricker · March 18, 2021, 2:28pm

Hi @crieke sorry to chase up but I’d really like to get the hard disk onto eSata to free up the USB slot at the rear.

crieke · March 18, 2021, 4:47pm

Hi @Julian_Fricker,
I am really sorry, I got distracted with other things. I will check this on the weekend and let you know. I 'll receive a new esata adapter to test with until then.

Julian_Fricker · March 18, 2021, 4:49pm

Thank you and nothing to apologize for. I’m still using Roon on Synology thanks to your work.

Alfred_van_Hoorn · March 18, 2021, 6:13pm

@Julian_Fricker, maybe I can help you.

I have more than two years succesfully used a eSata port to connect my DS713+ to an SSD in combination with Roon Core on that same DiskStation.

Unfortunaltely it did not free up an USB port. I connected an SATA adapter on my SSD which end up with two cables: one to my DiskStation’s eSata port (for the data-exchange) and one to an DiskStation’s USB port (for power).

Julian_Fricker · March 18, 2021, 6:27pm

Thanks, I have another machine nearby that I’ll be using to get the USB power my eSATA cable needs.

So could you let me know how you configured your system to see the eSATA drive?
I’ve tried changing the description as shown in my screenshot, how is your setup different to that?

Alfred_van_Hoorn · March 18, 2021, 7:00pm

As far as I can remember you have to create a new shared folder on your satashare with the Name RoonServer. (I doesn’t work to change the satashare folder and give it the Description RoonServer).

crieke · March 21, 2021, 10:06pm

Hi @Julian_Fricker,
i was able to test the database on an esata connected harddisk today.
After changing the description of the satashare to “RoonServer” (and renaming the old internal RoonServer shared folder), it was picked up and used by the Roon Server app.

As this does not seem to work on your Diskstation, I am wondering about the following details:

Which version of the Roon Server app is installed in the package center? (Is it the latest 2021-03-08?)
What filesystem is used on the esata drive? (exFat, ext4,NTFS, HFS…).
This is how my drive is listed in the “External Devices” section of the DSM:

Have you tried to format the esatadrive on the diskstation? (!! Be aware, this will erase all data on the drive !!)

Kind regards
Chris

DDPS · January 5, 2022, 5:48pm

I followed the instructions today with a new eSATA drive on my DS918+ and cannot get Roon to recognize my drive, even though I have the description set to “RoonServer” as well. Permissions on the drive are set properly as well.

DDPS · January 11, 2022, 10:42pm

I’m still curious to try eSATA SSD, if only for hobby purposes with Roon. Has anyone else other than @crieke gotten this to work?

DDPS · February 18, 2022, 1:58am

The February 16, 2022 version brings back eSATA support on DSM 7! Thanks @crieke !

KMM · December 16, 2022, 1:11pm

Hello, similar issue with the esata port on my DS720+.
Configuration 1

SSD in icy box USB 3
power esata to USB 3 converter cable
Connected to power esata port

not even the light turns on

Configuration 2
SSD
power esata cable to SSD direct cable
Connected to power esata port

not even the light turns on

Do I have to activate the esata port somewhere somehow in the DSM settings? Can’t find a thing

Alfred_van_Hoorn · December 16, 2022, 1:33pm

I do not quiet understand what you are meaning with “power esata cabel to …” but probably you overlook the following.

The eSATA port does not have 5V power lines. So if you only connect an SSD to Synology’s eSATA port the SSD will not get power and will not work. In the past I used a cable which on one hand had an SATA connector (connecting to the SSD) and on the other hand had two connectors: one eSATA connector (connecting on Synology’s eSATA port) and one USB connector (connecting to a Synology USB port) for the 5V powering. This worked very well for years.

KMM · December 16, 2022, 7:30pm

Thank you for response. I think I got all ass backwards. Now I ordered a esata case for an SSD with external power supply and this should work. The esata port on the DS 720 looks like it has 5 V power leads but they are not active. That explains it.

Thanks a lot

KMM · December 21, 2022, 3:17am

Finally success with running the Roon database off the SSD attached to the esata port of the Synology 720+. Initially the DSM would not recognize the disk and I formatted ext4 using the DSM tool when connected via USB which solved it.
Finding a powered esata case wasn’t that easy. I found this on Amazon
‎FANTEC ‎DB-ALU3e Model1479 with USB 3.0 and esata port.

Thanks for the help again

Alfred_van_Hoorn · December 21, 2022, 3:42am

No thanks, you’re welcome.

Thank you for reporting back. Glad to hear that you solved the issue and that everything is working now.