External GPU: Asustor NAS

[Enquiries]

Hi,
Your YT channel helped me purchase my first NAS, thanks. I got the Asustor AS5402T. Following your guides, I was able to install TrueNas Scale...thanks again. Now, after reading your post:
https://nascompares.com/answer/qnap-tvs-672xt-external-gpu-via-m-2-slot-and-adapter/

I want to add an external GPU. The intel CPU is transcoding ok, but I wan to provide access to my media remotely for quite a few family members, so I might need simultaneous transcoding.

I plan to replicate your setup using the same m.2 adapter and Nvidia card. Could you please just offer some guidance as to how to address the software/driver config? I do not mind reverting the OS back to ADM if necessary.

Thanks again for all the free information you provide, it helps a lot of people like me. Maybe a video on this very subject of external GPU?))

Sincerely,
Joe

[ed]

Thanks for reaching out, and I'm glad to hear that my videos helped you get started with your Asustor AS5402T and TrueNAS Scale setup! I’m also thrilled that you’re considering adding an external GPU for transcoding.

Here's a breakdown of how to proceed with setting up an external GPU on your NAS:

1. Revert to ADM or Keep TrueNAS Scale?
ADM (Asustor’s OS): If you're comfortable with ADM, it’s worth considering as it’s optimized for use with Asustor hardware. ADM might offer better out-of-the-box GPU support, and you might not need to deal with as many manual configurations.
TrueNAS Scale: While TrueNAS Scale can work with external GPUs, the setup may require more configuration, and not all features (like hardware transcoding) are always as seamless as in ADM.
2. Using the M.2 Adapter and External GPU (NVIDIA):
For TrueNAS Scale, ensure that you have the necessary drivers installed for your NVIDIA card. You'll need the nvidia-driver plugin, which can be installed directly through the TrueNAS Scale web interface.
To do this, go to the Apps section in TrueNAS Scale, find and install the NVIDIA GPU Driver package.
In ADM, the external GPU setup is generally easier to handle as ADM has built-in support for GPUs. After connecting your GPU via the M.2 slot and the appropriate adapter, you should be able to configure it directly in the Control Panel under the External Devices section.
3. Transcoding Software:
Plex and Emby are your best bets for managing simultaneous transcoding with the GPU. Make sure to enable hardware transcoding in their settings.
In Plex, you’ll need to enable Hardware Acceleration under Settings > Transcoder.
For Emby, go to Settings > Transcoding > Hardware Acceleration and select your GPU.
4. Monitor GPU Performance:
You can use nvidia-smi in the command line to monitor GPU usage and ensure that it’s being utilized during transcoding. This can help ensure that the external GPU is indeed being recognized and used by the system.
Keep an eye on system performance to ensure you're not bottlenecked by other resources (e.g., CPU or RAM).
5. Driver Issues:
If you encounter any issues with the drivers or transcoding performance, I’d recommend checking the TrueNAS Scale forums or Asustor’s support resources. External GPU configurations can sometimes require custom driver tweaks depending on the GPU and OS.

[josephstewartp@gmail.com]

Thanks for such a detailed explanation, you saved me hours of research, frustration and possibly failure. So coffee is on me for a week

Is the simultaneous transcoding limited by the media software or by the GPU? I read somewhere Nvidia limits that to 3?

I also plan to use Caddy instead of puncturing holes on my network, and that is the reason why Jellyfin was more appealing than Plex, and being open source.

I do not mean to abuse your free advise, but this is a beta project to offer a streaming option in my country. If successful, I plan to expand with new equipment and if possible, I would love to hire your consulting service. 

Many thanks,
Joseph Stewart