Okay, I am totally confused on how I could go about changing my Roon setup to a network-based server configuration.
Currently, I have a five-year old Windows 10 PC that I run Roon on, along with HQPlayer. I have a large library of music files (over 16tb) and use HQPlayer for DSD 256 over ethernet into a Topping D90. Roon runs pretty good on it, with some skipping.
I would like to move to a different system. Rather than buying a different PC, I am exploring how to move to a network-based system like a NAS, NUC, or Roon Nucleus ( I don’t know what these are, I have just heard the terms). I have NO idea on how to start and am NOT a network expert (to say the least). Ideally, I would like to keep the total cost at under 2k. I am also curious if my music files would play okay from a USB drive, rather than internal. Any suggestions?
If your PC is connected to your network then it already IS a network based configuration. The RoonServer you are running on that PC currently can be controlled via Roon Remote, or, via Roon installed on any other PC.
Currently your Roon Server runs on the Windows machine as an all-in-one solution. It can also run on a separate computer, including a Nucleus, ROCK, and some NAS configurations.
The Nucleus is Roon‘s turn-key appliance. This is the best bet for you. The new Nucleus One will become available in June.
Edit: Or, as @Jim_F writes below, the new Nucleus Titan. It depends on the number of tracks in your library and how much DSP you want to perform on your DSD files.
ROCK is like a Nucleus, but do-it-yourself. You need a NUC (a mini computer by Intel, or now Asus) and you install Roon OS yourself.
A NAS is predominantly Network Attached Storage, i.e., a server that provides storage capacity on the network. Some of these devices have enough computing power to run Roon Server, too.
In the case of Nucleus and ROCK, you can use external USB disks for the music without a problem. You can also install an internal hard drive.
In the case of the NAS, it has the storage built in-anyway. You could, however, also use a NAS to provide storage for a separate Nucleus or ROCK over the network.
Edit: Note that neither a Nucleus nor ROCK can run HQ Player by themselves. And a NAS probably lacks power. You would need to run HQP on a separate computer, then the Roon Server on the Nucleus/ROCK/ NAS can access it.
In all cases, you can migrate your current Roon database from Windows to the new machine by following these guides:
I would strongly recommend to leave your Roon server as is, and buy a second system (PC) to run HQPlayer.
That will give the Roon server all the power it needs, except maybe the necessarry RAM to handle your large library (you did not mention neither your CPY, nor availble RAM) and you will be able to get rid of the skipping.