You need to use it to look at media recordsdata on the machine, however you may want to make use of your cellphone as a distant.
Establishing a network-attached storage server is a good way to entry your recordsdata remotely with out paying cloud storage charges. Among the many hottest are Ugreen NAS items, which embody an HDMI port that some customers have discovered a bit baffling. For the reason that complete level of a NAS is to hook up with them by the web, it may appear somewhat unusual to set one up and uncover an HDMI port on the again, but it surely really serves a number of useful capabilities.
Whereas any NAS server with an HDMI port affords broadly the identical capabilities, the specifics for how you can use them is perhaps somewhat totally different. Ugreen NAS servers include a number of quirks of their very own that may make utilizing their HDMI ports a bit complicated, however they’re straightforward to navigate as soon as you realize what you are doing. Attending to know the tips for how you can use your NAS’ HDMI port earlier than you want them is a good suggestion as a result of it is helpful for extra than simply accessing your recordsdata.
Connecting the NAS to an exterior monitor
Essentially the most easy use of a Ugreen NAS’ HDMI port is to look at media recordsdata saved on the machine. It is extra widespread to stream from a NAS to a sensible TV or a tool like a Roku Streaming Stick, however utilizing the HDMI port means you will get by with out both of these choices, and even join the NAS to a PC monitor or projector. Sadly, it is not fairly as straightforward as connecting the NAS such as you would another machine.
Once you join a Ugreen NAS to your display by way of HDMI, it ought to show a discover telling you that it’s worthwhile to use the Ugreen cellphone app to truly play your media. On the app, you may see an choice to forged your media to the display utilizing the HDMI cable. At this level, you should use the app as a distant to manage playback. It is a bit of a problem to have to make use of an app if you’re already linked by way of HDMI, however since there is no bodily distant to your NAS, it is the one solution to really navigate and play out of your library.
Accessing the BIOS and terminal
The HDMI port additionally permits a number of extra superior options. When you have each a display and a keyboard linked, you can entry each the machine’s BIOS and a terminal. You may by no means need to mess with both of those choices, however they’re obligatory if you wish to substitute the server’s working system, troubleshoot boot points or change superior settings with out a distant SSH connection.
To entry the BIOS, boot up your NAS with a display linked. As quickly as startup begins, repeatedly press the Ctrl and F12 keys collectively and you need to enter the BIOS setup display. From right here, you may navigate the BIOS display utilizing the keyboard. For those who plan to vary BIOS settings, you need to begin by looking for an possibility below the Superior tab referred to as Watchdog Settings and disable Watch Canine Management. With this enabled, the NAS will reboot after a set period of time.
Whereas it is not formally documented, Ugreen NAS customers on-line have reported that it is doable to entry the server’s terminal by way of HDMI as nicely. With a display and keyboard linked, press Ctrl Alt F1, which ought to deliver up the terminal, although totally different fashions of NAS might use totally different operate keys. By default, the way in which to entry a Ugreen NAS terminal is thru an SSH shopper on one other laptop linked to your native community, so accessing the terminal straight from the NAS could be a less complicated possibility. Both method you entry it, you need to solely change settings within the terminal if you happen to’re certain you realize what you are doing, because the superior settings there may cause a whole lot of hard-to-fix issues if you happen to’re not cautious.
