I recently purchased a D-Link DNS-323 NAS with built-in UPnP server. I had it set up and running in no time and copied all my movies over to it. Enabled the UPnP server and went to my DSM-320 to try it out. Everything worked fine until I tried to play a Nero Recode MP4 and got a "this file is not compatible" error. All my MP3's, MPG's and AVI's(divx and Xvid) worked but the Nero Recode MP4's did not. I used the D-Link Media Server running on a PC to stream the files on the DNS-323 to ensure that the files were still good and this worked. I can't understand why the DNS-323 will not stream the MP4's to the DSM320 when it's the recommended format for the media lounge series of players. I've called D-Link tech support 5 times, twice getting to level 2 techs and still don't think I've talked to anyone there that has any idea what I'm talking about. I've got some choice words to say about there tech support but that belongs somewhere else. Has anyone been able to stream Nero Recode MP4's from a DNS-323 to a DSM320/520? I've tried firmware versions 1.00, 1.01 and 1.01b, all with the same results.

All my stuff is in nero too. I have plans to buy the dns-323, it sound like a high performance NAS with a media streamer. A couple of questions for you. 1. What settings did you use to make your mp4 with Recorder? 2. Does the built in Upnp server have a parental controls feature? I know what you mean about d-link support, but we have the Internet so who needs them??
Cheers,
-mw

All my Nero Recode MP4's are 1.5 or 2.0 Mbps using the standard Profile. I've used versions 2.2.6.17, 2.2.7.2, 2.2.7.6, 2.2.8.5, 2.3.0.8 and 2.3.1.8 and all 300 or so MP4's have worked flawlessly with D-link Media Server 1.08 and the DSM-320 Firmware ver (1.07ca).

The built in UPnP server does not have any Parental controls. It has two options: 1) on or off and 2) select the root directory. If you go to the D-Link product page for the DNS-323 and select "Emulator" under the "Support Resources" you can get a feel for the look and function of the firmware.

On another note if anyone is looking to get Nero Recode don't buy the Nero Digital Pro package (The lowest price package that includes Nero Recode) as it comes with version 2.2.6.17 only and there are no upgrades. Per Nero tech support:

The updates which you mentioned are only for Nero 7 users. NeroDigitalPro doesn't allow you to use this updates as this is product of the Nero 6 family.
Nero Recode version 2.2.6.17 works but some new features have been added in later versions including a volume boost which is pretty much required for every DVD to MP4 conversion.

I checked out the d-link emulator, thanks for the tip. I can't believe d-link won't fix the mp4 play back issue. I will wait a little longer to buy and if I hear of something better I will get that, maybe the Buffalo.

BTW, Recorde v2.3.0.0 is available now. I've been Recording with the Standard profile, with the high-volume and manual adjust the resize to 720x480 and select 2.87 bitrate for most of my TV shows, but recently I've start using 4k bit rate and they also play on the dsm-320 but while its smooth it may be dropping something, because the detail looks more pixilated at the higher bitrate. I also have a DSM-520 with is much nicer than the DSM-320, it hi-def content very nicely.
-mw

I just read on the dsm-600 thread that the Nero files will play if they are under 2GB. Have you tried this?
-mw

Yup, I tried that. I've been testing with a 20 meg file since the beginning. I've also confirmed that a 2.7 gig mpeg2 (SVCD) file plays in it's entirety with no issues.

As hard as it is to belive, well maybe it's not so hard to belive, looks like D-link has released a product touted on their own web page to be compatible with the media lounge series of players that does not support Nero Recode MP4 files. :eek:

I just hope that someone at D-link that does comprehend this issue finds out about it and passes it on to product engineers as after a 6th call to D-link tech support I've totally given up on them.

Tried to return it to the store where I bought it, but as it was special order no returns. I hope D-link comes up with a firmware update to take care of the product soon.

My ultimate goal for this unit was to connect it directly to my DSM-320 via a cross-connect cable for a portable media solution with large capacity. I've equipped the DNS-323 with two Western Digital RE2 500 gig drives in raid 0.

Have you tried the new 1.9 firmware for the DSM-320?

Where do you see DSM-320 firmware ver 1.9? ftp-dlink-com has 1.08 (US version) and hqftp-dlink-com-tw has version 1.07 (all other countries other than the US) (please excuse the improper web address. The board would not let me post a URL).

I've also encountered another problem with the DNS-323 unit. It get's stuck in some kind of
CPU intensive process that reduces the disk drive access to about 5% of normal. The maintenance log in screen will be displayed but you can't log in. The power button does not work no matter how long you hold. The only out is to pull the plug and plug it back in. This happens every 7 days.

I've pulled the drives and put them in one of my servers and put the DNS-323 back in the box and it's sitting under the desk. I've registered a complaint with the BBB and hope to get my money back via this route.

Update:

Installed the new version 1.02 firmware that was released on the 18th. Still does not stream Nero Recode MP4's with the built in UPnP server to a DSM-320. Not going to bother seing if the weekly lockup still occurs as there is no point when the UPnP server does not work. Putting the drives back in the server and using the PC based UPnP server software.

One other thing I noticed is they changed the volume naming form HDD_1, HDD_2 to Volume_1, Volume_2 thus breaking any drive mappings that might have existed.

I think this info may be usefull. I have a DSM-320 and a DSM-520. I installed Microsoft Media Player 11 the other day which features its own version of UPnP server software (I would like to use this as a media server one day as it has parental controls). Anyway, same as the DNS-323, MMP11 would not stream Nero media files (mp4) to the DSM-320 for what ever reason. However, the DMS-520 takes the stream. The point is that Nero files could stream from the DNS-323 to a DMS-520. I hope this is helpfull. Anyway, I still have not tried the 1.09 firmware for the DSM-320, I still play to purchase a DNS-323. I will test DNS-323 with both my DSM-320 and DSM-520 when I get one and advise.
-mw

Just as another note... if I try playing a Nero MP4 file from the DNS-323 using Nero Showtime, Showtime hangs. But if I play the file from anywhere else I have no problems. The DNS-323 must be doing something to the MP4s as it serves them to make both Showtime and the DSM-320 think there's something wrong with the files.

Have you tried the new DNS-323 firmware version 1.02b, it was relase Feb 6th, 2007?
-mw

Well I just tried firmware v1.03 and MP4s still won't stream from the DNS-323, mpeg2s are jumpy and the UPnP server keeps crashing on me. The internal clock still goes fast on me. I've reverted back to v1.02b and am awaiting the next release where they hopefully will have those issues resolved.

Go figure. Release 1.03 specifically states that it has added support for MP4's (D-Link's recommended file format) and it still doesn't work. Well it took almost 2 years to get the DSM-320 working more or less properly. Bet it takes the knuckleheads as long to get the DNS-323 working.

I got so fed up with D-link that I returned my DNS-323 (with the help of the BBB) and sold both my DSM-320's.

Will certainly never buy a D-Link product again.