I am using Roon in 2 separate locations with one being the ‘mother’ (based on a NAS) and the other just for playback based on a Mac mini (ie I don’t add anything to it). The way I update them is that I use 2 drives: One is attached to the NAS, getting copies of any added music as well as Roon Database Backup file and the other sits on the playback Mac mini. I swap the HDs a couple of times a year to keep my 'playback Mac mini current with my latest additions.
I basically disable the Drive, unplug it, plug in the updated one, and point Roon to it. However, this does not carry my Database info (preferences, etc…) plus it scrambles the order of the albums on the display. For example, if I select ‘Sort by Date Added’, this does not reflect how I have added them on the original drive.
I could not find how to inform Roon where to look for the Database files. I think the problem is there. Roon probably does not see it, as it is in a different place or name it is expecting, and builds its own again, in a different fashion.
Any help on how to do this in future, and, if possible, fix the current setup on my playback mini would be great.
So in order to get this right (database as per old system), I should perform a Restore on the backup after plugging in the new drive ?
My main Roon installation was backing up on a folder called Roon Database Backup (on the root directory). If I click on the folder, I get a bunch of folders including ‘Roon’, ‘Roonbackups’, ‘latest’ , a couple of folders with weird names (series of numbers and letters) etc.
So which folder should I point the restore function to? The main Roon Database Backup folder?
When restoring the database, I get the album display as supposed to be (with last ones added really showing last ones added), but a day later, I lost everything except Tidal, ie everything except for Tidal disappeared from the album display. Poking around shows that the new drive is not ‘seen’ by Roon. So adding it on the list of Storage prompts the system to reload everything … which ends up in alphabetical order in the order of the folders on the drive (I have separate folders for hi-res, normal and mp3).
I thought maybe this is because some time elapsed. So re-installed the database one more time and as soon as it was done, I added the external HD as a storage. Again, same thing happened and it reloaded the files in alphabetical order.
I followed pretty much what the guide on the link says, but although I get everything back, my library is ordered in the order of the files on the USB drive.
I appreciate your help, but the ‘date added’ is the date (and order) Roon added them to its local system not the date (or order) in I have added them to the main system on the NAS. All titles show they were added on 28 June 2021, regardless when they were actually added.
and that doesn’t work - the drive was connected. However, when I do a restore from the old database, it doesn’t show up in Roon. It’s the backup of the NAS, which is not tagged as a storage folder on Roon in my main system
I have, this is a bit different.The patching is still as solved last time. It’s Roon ‘stopping’ to see the Nova suddenly - sometimes mid-play. The solution is to reboot the Nova (unplug/plug back). Annoying.
I think I need to change the core. It’s a 2012 Mac mini which is probably underpowered for iOS 10.16 - might go to a NUC this time.
Thanks so much for enagaging on the Roon community and working through keeping both of your Cores synchronized. I’m glad you’ve found a solution to that
A big thank you to all who helped
I was wondering if you could check your Naim Uniti Nova for a firmware update. If there is one available, can you please update it?
Thank you for coming back. My Nova has the latest firmware. It sits in a second location (holiday home) and I updated it when I got there, after a long absence.
I think part of my problem is the network setup - it’s a bit of a mess with a mix of wired and wifi networks (4 wifi !). Still doesn’t explain the loss of connection between the Naim and Roon as they are both connected via ethernet through the same box, but something is happening to lose that connection which needs to be reset by unplugging / replugging the Naim. It might be that my old Mac Mini is overloaded and ‘loses’ it briefly which ends up with Roon dropping the Nova.
I am unfortunately no longer in my holiday home, but my first task when I get back (in a couple of months, Covid permitting) is to clean up my network topology. I’ll probably need to replace the wifi hubs with a mesh system.
I’ll get back to this topic once I do that, either to report that all is fixed or to get some more advice. If I need to replace the Mac, I will probably go the NUC route.
If my Naim Atom dissapears then I know I have a network issue, quick reboot of my mesh network device master and all comes back. I’ve only had to switch the Atom on and off twice in its lifetime.
So your thoughts about it being a network issue make sense to me.
I appreciate your prompt reply. Thanks so much for confirming what steps you’ve taken and your concerns about the network connection. It does sound like sorting out the cables and wifi connections might improve this, just @ged_hickman1 has proved works for them (thanks for chiming in).
Whenever you get a chance to return, please, let us know
In the meantime, I hope you’re using Roon at your primary home
Thank you very much. I’ve got my Playback Mac mini looking just like my main rig one.
