SABnzbd

[uncola]

Hey guys, since this seems to be the official thread for sabnzbd on synology I thought I'd post a tip.

If you have a file being repaired with pars in sabnzbd and you get impatient and shut down sabnzbd(which you're not supposed to do) and the hard drive keeps grinding, the file might still be getting repaired, slowing down your NAS if you need to use it for something else. The way you stop the file from being repaired is by logging into your NAS via ssh, then killing the process. To do this use a program such as putty, then ssh into the IP of your NAS, don't login as admin, login as root, with the same password as your admin account. Then type top to see the programs using the most cpu. most likely one will be /blah/blah/sabnzbd/par2. note the PID # and then type "kill PID#" with the actual pid # where PID# is. if you have a hard time finding the PID number you can also type "killall par2" and that should stop it from running. then you can use your nas and copy files off it at full speed etc.

If you don't want that file to be repaired the next time you run sabnzbd, you can delete or move it out of the incomplete folder on the nas

[uncola]

another tip if you have a 1512+ or 1812+.. got this from someone who made a comment on the synoblog where the developer of this spk posts sabnzbd
edit: created my own step by step for this which might be easier for people to follow

I suggest you try installing the zebulon packages, his version of sabnzbd is up to date, the mertymade seem pretty old.

If you add the zebulon repository as an external source in package manager, I don't think those versions check for architecture, so that's one way around that problem.

To manually edit the package to enable compatibility for new cedarvew cpu based devices (the *12+ series) here's a step by step. You need the program 7zip to do this.

Download the spk file, for instance SABnzbd-x86-0.6.15-2.spk and then rename it to SABnzbd-x86-0.6.15-2.tar

Use 7zip to extract it to a folder. Inside the folder will be some files including one called INFO. open up INFO in wordpad and change the line that says arch="x86" and change it to arch="x86 cedarview" then save the file.

Highlight all the files in the SABnzbd-x86-0.6.15-2 folder and right click and choose 7zip - add to archive. 7zip will pop up. Change the archive format from 7zip to tar and it will create this file SABnzbd-x86-0.6.15-2.tar

Rename SABnzbd-x86-0.6.15-2.tar to SABnzbd-x86-0.6.15-2.spk and you can use that to install it. But again, I *think* if you go to package center, other sources, and add this url http://synopkg.superzebulon.org/spkrepo/packages the packages will show up in package center and those versions don't check for what cpu your nas has so they'll just install.

[sugewhite]

another tip if you have a 1512+ or 1812+..
But again, I *think* if you go to package center, other sources, and add this url http://synopkg.superzebulon.org/spkrepo/packages the packages will show up in package center and those versions don't check for what cpu your nas has so they'll just install.

Thanks for your tip. Forgive me but if i put in the above link what do i need to install besides SAB, SickBeard and couch? Is there a step method to do 1st 2nd then so on? I am very new to synology. I just got my 212+ yesterday. Waiting on hard drives so i havent even opened it. Do i set it up the same way i did my pc? Thanks.

[fender4645]

Thanks for your tip. Forgive me but if i put in the above link what do i need to install besides SAB, SickBeard and couch? Is there a step method to do 1st 2nd then so on? I am very new to synology. I just got my 212+ yesterday. Waiting on hard drives so i havent even opened it. Do i set it up the same way i did my pc? Thanks.

It doesn't matter what order you install those 3 in just so long as you install the necessary dependancies first for each package. When configuring, just follow the tutorial I linked to in an earlier post.

On a different note, has anyone else observed that SAB needs to repair files a lot more often on the Synology? I had SAB running for about a year on a PC and it maybe had to do a repair 3 or 4 times. Since I've moved it all over to the Synology, almost half the files I download need repairing. And with the dinky processor (I'm using a 212J) it can take over twice as long to repair than to download. It's getting to the point where I'm thinking of moving all this back to a standalone computer. Anyone else experiencing this?

[jokemeister]

Hi fender4645, I've noticed that a lot of the downloads need to go thru a repair but prior to SABnzb+ have not used Usenet so didn't know any better. One thing I did do was to set up SABnzb+ to pause downloads while post processing was active. Setting is under config - switches - queue, check "Pause downloading during post processing". This seemed to overcome 100% loading of CPU and kept the DS somewhat useable although it still causes me issues if I'm trying to stream a movie from the DS at the same time....I only have a 211J after all. I'm going to change my schedule so downloads only occur at times I'm not likely to want to stream content. If I find myself wanting a download immediately I can easily change the download rate when needed to override the schedule.

[fender4645]

I ended up just going back to a standalone server. I had all the parts lying around to build a fairly decent Linux box so it cost me nothing (other than the electricity). Everything was just too slow on the Synology (browsing the SAB/SB web interfaces, unrar, repairing, etc.) that it just didn't seem worth it. I have the Synology shares mounted on the Linux box via NFS -- the temp download location is local while the finished product gets copied to the Synology. So far it's been working great. Now I can finally upgrade to DSM 4.0.

[sugewhite]

I ended up just going back to a standalone server. I had all the parts lying around to build a fairly decent Linux box so it cost me nothing (other than the electricity). Everything was just too slow on the Synology (browsing the SAB/SB web interfaces, unrar, repairing, etc.) that it just didn't seem worth it. I have the Synology shares mounted on the Linux box via NFS -- the temp download location is local while the finished product gets copied to the Synology. So far it's been working great. Now I can finally upgrade to DSM 4.0.

I have the ds212+. I havent set it up yet. Was waiting on the hd's to come in. Will the 212+ be strong enough to run sab, couch and sickbeard? Should I upgrade to 4.0? I am planning on setting it up either this evening or saturday. Thx

[jokemeister]

The 212+ is certainly good enough to run SABnzbd but I don't have experience with Sickbeard or Couch but would be surprised if that presented any problem for a 212+ as I've only got a 211J which has a much slower CPU. Where I find the DS starts to struggle is when I want to stream media AND SABnzbd is doing post processing, ie. unrar etc. No problem while just downloading.

As for upgrading to DSM 4.0, personally I'd say yes but read the posts re DSM 4.0 and any particular apps you want to run in case there are particular bugs that might catch you out as you cant downgrade.

[sugewhite]

The 212+ is certainly good enough to run SABnzbd but I don't have experience with Sickbeard or Couch but would be surprised if that presented any problem for a 212+ as I've only got a 211J which has a much slower CPU. Where I find the DS starts to struggle is when I want to stream media AND SABnzbd is doing post processing, ie. unrar etc. No problem while just downloading.

I downloaded the packages here http://synoblog.superzebulon.org/manual ... ge-server/ and i am trying to set up sab but i am getting no connect errors. When i click the sab in the packages it opens to my address 192.xxx.xxx.x.xxx. The last four are different from my ds212+. I also noticed that python says not available. Any ideas?

[jokemeister]

From memory, Superzebulon's python package doesn't actually run in the normal sense. You install and it's a resource that gets called on by other apps. Superzebulons site says something about this. For whatever reason I couldn't get Superzebulons SABnzbd working either so tried Mertymades package and all went well straight up. As with my first post on this thread, this was my experience and since others are running Superzebulons package OK, it's likely something I've done wrong.

[piccioni]

Thanks for the guide. It really helped.

For some reason the mertymade sabnzb helper wouldn't work straight away. It decided to work after about 20 mins though.

Thought I'd mention it in case other found the same issue and think that's its not going to work. I have a Ds212j.

Hey

I have a DS212j and just as you, the helper wouldn't start right away. After 10 minutes it did, however. The installation (i went with merty's packages) went without a hitch though.

So, SABnzbd DOES work on a DS212j. However, it seems it cannot max out my download speed. All I can get is a mere average of 4.8MB/sec, and thas a lousy speed for my connection. The resources screen in DSM reports a CPU usage of almost 100% when SABnzbd is downloading nzb's though, that might be the problem; DS212j CPU just can't handle higher speeds than 5mb/s. Seems a bit odd though, since within the network i can transfer files to the NAS at 15mb/sec average, so its clearly capable of more than 5mb/sec. So the problem might sit with SABnzbd not using all my connections/servers from my Usenet provider(s)? But then again, why would that feature exist in the preferences if it was not capable of multiple connections?

A bit strange, but slow speeds or not; it DOES work on a DS212j.

[piccioni]

BTW, a little off topic, but what the heck does "throttling" mean? I've google'd it, but I cannot find a decent description anywhere. (Thought: maby "throtling" my connection/SABnzbd/whatever-needs-to-throttle can boost my download speed up to at least 15mb/sec (which my DS212j is capable of internally within the network), and would be a half-decent speed for my internet connection too!)

I'd also like to say, regarding my speeds, that I get 5 (dynamic) IP adresses from my ISP, and only have a simple 5-port gigabit switch (I always use cables to connect stuff, I WOULDN'T TOUCH wireless, not even the new n-standard) so every connection cable i put in it gets a new, external, IP (with no blocked ports) has the same speed, so it is not a "router/modem/port forwarding" issue. Any ideas?

Also a little off topic, but; can merty's and others packages be installed on ANY machine/NAS that can install Python? I have an old (very old) Iomega 2-bay NAS laying aroynd (I don't think I ever even tried to use it, but now I have a few 500gb HDDs thats just collecting dust), it would be very fun to set it up, not so much for the storage space (I think the max is 1TB anyway) as for learning.

Another thought: what about DOWNGRADING the version of SABnzbd? Maby earlier versions didn't use as much CPU?

Just a few thoughts from a NAS newbie (and happy DS212j owner).

[piccioni]

Oh, just me again.

I just tried the Download Station's NZB function in DSM (4.0-2219, latest DSM), and that integrated program, although it clearly lacks tons of features, was able to download a NZB file in 12mb/sec, way better than SABnzbd. Strange, since it doesn't even have settings for how many connections to use.

Any ideas why that could be? Is it a SABnzbd config problem?

Also, on Superzebulon's page (http://synopkg.superzebulon.org/spkrepo/packages), I found packages for Transmission, which is (I think) a Torrent client. I'll try and install that and see if I can get a torrent to run faster. I had some problems finding out my "Arch" (CPU version), its harder than on merty's site, but I think I now found that the CPU used in the DS212j (don't confuse it with DS212 or DS212+) is not only called "Marvell Kirkwood mv6281, 1.2Ghz ARM (Marvell ARMADA 300)", but also 88F6281, so now I know which Transmission package I should download.

Anyone else have Transmission installed on a Synology in the DS212-series and can comment?

I really really hope to get SABnzbd downloading at a higher speed than just a mere 5MB/sec!

[piccioni]

Me (I'm flooding the post for now, I hope noone minds!) again,

Just a not to the owners of the DS212-series, merty's package site isn't updated with the 212 models, so I used the DS211j packages when I installed SABnzbd, It seems to have worked out great.

Ok, I just found the "Edit post" function, so no more flooding. Just an update: successfully installed Transmission. I've never been a fan of bittorrent, I've almost never used it. Tried a torrent from piratebay.org with alot of seeders, but the download is going at 149k/sec, and now and again I get an error saying "Permission denied", and then I have to right-click on it an choose "Resume" to get it to start again.

BitTorrent really really sucks compared to FTP and Usenet. I can't understand why people use it, let alone other p2p-programs like eMonkey, Gnutella, DC++ and whatever there is out there...

[jokemeister]

Hi piccioni, throttling refers to setting your max download and/or upload speed with a view to leaving enough bandwidth for other internet activities, eg. browsing. Another use of throttling is in scheduling so you leave plenty of bandwidth during your peak browsing times and then allow the DS to use all the bandwidth it can get to download during offpeak times. Peak and offpeak referring to your upload/download usage, not usage by general public of the internet.

SABnzbd+ has scheduling and throttling capabilities which I use since I can only get ADSL where I live.

Re torrents downloading slow, yep, that's been known for a while. Plenty on that in these forums and one reason people are moving to Usenet. I dont have the bandwidth to push my DS so interesting to hear that you maxed out at around 5Mb/s using SABnzbd. That's about 5X faster than I can get with my connection maxed out so I'm finding it hard to feel sorry for you.

A key feature not supported by the Download Station is proxy's to allow anonymous downloads thru a BT proxy provider. Transmission doesn't support it either but speeds are rubbish anyway so dont waste your money on a BT proxy provider.

Anyway, enough on torrents. This thread wasn't really intended for those discussions but rather a place for everyone to get all they can eat on SABnzbd.

Re which package to download for your processor, it's pretty easy to find a list of DS vs CPU and yes it's been noted by a number of people that there is no package for the 212 but if you review the CPU list you'll find it uses the same CPU as 211, just at different clock speeds.

Re SABnzbd CPU usage, while downloading I find that the CPU usage isn't that high but as I stated earlier I dont have the bandwidth to push the DS. To check if it's really SABnzbd, can you perhaps go to the resource monitor and then click on the CPU chart to bring up a detailed CPU usage monitoring window which shows what processes and percentages are using CPU and report them back here for others so we get an idea of what limitations to expect. This will help others when deciding which model DS to purchase based on their expected usage requirements. BTW, a 212J is pretty bottom end when it comes to CPU's. The 212+ has a much higher CPU clock rate.