Ethernet to USB into ROCK Nuc?

Roon Software Discussion ROCK
1

Hello. I just built a ROCK NUC (Nuc11PAHi7)
The NUC is connected to my network via the ethernet port.
The NUC has a single ethernet port.

I’d like to try feeding my DAC via ethernet.
Would an ethernet to USB adapter work to connect the NUC to my network, thus allowing me to use the ethernet port for my DAC?

Is there a better configuration?

Thanks
Kelly

2

If your DAC has an ethernet port, it probably includes a streamer. If so, no need to connect your NUC by USB to the DAC. Simply let Roon stream by ethernet to your DAC. More simple and efficient.

3

Connect the DAC to your network switch using its ethernet port. Provided that it is set to use DHCP it will pick up an IP address and will be visible in Roon settings. You can then enable it and play to it.

4

There is no SQ benefit gained by a direct ethernet connection. But, if you wanted to try it would depend on your DAC. ROCK does not have a DHCP server built in, so you would need to be able to set a static IP directly on your DAC and many DAC manufacturer’s don’t provide that as they assume there will be a DHCP server.

And, yes a USB/Ethernet adapter might work. You would have to try it and see. ROCK doesn’t let you load drivers, so, if the dongle needs a specialized network driver it won’t work with ROCK.

imho, if you are serious about doing this, I’d really suggest you drop ROCK and go with Linux running RoonServer. Then you could setup your own DHCP server to serve the direct connected DAC, as well as load any network drivers such an adapter might require

5

The right Ethernet USB adaptor will work.
As stated, ROCK in its present form will not expose a second Ethernet connection to DHCP. This means the IP issued will be on a different subnet and Roon doesn’t work to different subnets. I put a feature request in for this functionality, the rationale being to feed a Streaming DAC direct off a Nucleus or ROCK powered machine. It hasn’t happened yet but it would be nice if it were considered as a Roon OS 2.0 capability.
Advantages.
A single Ethernet connection for Roon, no switches required in room.
Exposure of streamer to DHCP for management, updates and remote access.
Plug and play simplicity.
Disadvantages.
A fear it makes ROCK more complex than it needs to be adding to the support burden.
A number of ROCK users have been vocally opposed to the idea.

6

We have :grin::grin:

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Thanks everyone.
My Dac is the Gustard R26 and it does have a built in streamer.
Most reports suggest that the sound quality is best when it’s fed ethernet from Roon/rock. Roon also recognizes it without drivers in this config. All in all this is what I want to do.

With only one ethernet port on the Rock/nuc what to do lol.

So it looks like I may have 2 options?

  1. An ethernet to usb dongle to the Rock/nuc might work. Thus freeing up the ethernet port to the dac. However if this has been done, knowing which one would work without drivers is ideal.

  2. Get a switch. Feed it the internet via ethernet. Then plug both the nuc and dac directly into the switch. That would be cool too. I just wasn’t sure if the dac needs a direct connection from the nuc. I’m a networking noob lol.

Do I have these options right?
Thanks so much everyone

8

Go for option 2. Job done.

PS - get a cheap unmanaged switch.

For reference:

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