Home server/Networked HDD

[OverrRyde]

Hi guys, im in need of some guidance into achieving a good home network for streaming media, keeping in mind that the server would be streaming to several device such as PS3, Xbox 360 and a couple of laptops. Possibly in the future, the consoles might be replaced byt devices such as an appleTV or WD Live box.

There is 2 idea's i have in mind but not sure which is the best route. The first option is to outright build a pc for streaming the media. this pc would have to have a small form factor and be efficient (energy wise), quiet and able to run without keyboard/mouse (accessible via VNC). The second option is to have a networked attached hdd plugged directly into my router.

Now having said that, there is a couple of thing i want to clarify. If i were to go the networked hdd route, does that mean that i would have to convert files not natively supported on ps3/xbox 360? (for example, MKV files i believe are not supported by XBOX 360 and therefore i would have to convert to .avi) Im guessing this since the file would just be sitting on the hdd itself, not processed by anything other than either the consoles or the laptops.

Going the pc route however, i understand that using programs such as PS3MediaServer or TVersity, the files are beeing handled by the pc and then sent to the consoles/laptops for playback.

Am i right in the above 2 options? Which option would be better based on your experience?

Thanks alot for anyone's help!

[redwudz]

Not sure about TVersity or the PS3MediaServer.

I started my server system by using older PCs with a lot of hard drives. These were just hooked to my router in my office. My video projector is in the front room, along with the PC used to run the projector, but any of my PCs can play the videos.

Since I had the PCs, all I really needed to add was the hard drives. I use WOL (Wake On LAN) to turn them on when needed. And Ultra VNC to control them remotely. They are also set to go to standby after 30 minutes of inactivity, so fairly power efficient.

I also have a monitor, keyboard and mouse at the servers and use a four input KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) switch for selection. I finally replaced the PC cases with a regular server case a while back, which looks a lot better than a bunch of old PCs.

If you have access to working motherboards, this is one way to go. Since the older PC doesn't have to do much but run the HDDs, you can use about any PC. I do add a newer gigabit LAN adapter to my oldest MBs. But some of the newer network attached drives are interesting and worth looking into if you are starting with nothing. But there would be the problem of playback on your variety of devices.

For server purposes, I wouldn't really recommend a small format PC case, as cooling can be a problem if you have a lot of drives. I used these server cases, about $80US without a power supply. https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/316230-Server-case-upgrade-project?

[OverrRyde]

Hmm yeah that sound right. Also, i think having an actual pc server makes it easier if more hard drive space is needed, to just pop in a new hdd, vs a networked drive.

Am i right in saying that the video files are processed by the pc itself when transcoding to the consoles with no native support for a particular file? I asked this because i do have some hardware lying around at home and wondering what kind of specs i would have to be looking at in terms of performance to process these files. I understand that if for some reason we decide to stream a video file to a laptop, then the playback is processed by the laptop itself, and not the pc.

Sound right?

[edDV]

Need to progress in steps. Did you say you have a wired CAT6 Ethernet network?

Then the next layer of issues.

[OverrRyde]

Only the PS3 is hardwired to the router. the 360 and 2 laptop are wireless.

For now what i will be doing is testing out all the kinks using a laptop. Ill make sure that everything can be streamed using TVersity or PS3MediaServer. Ive been able to get the the PS3 to see and access TVersity folders and stream some avi files. MKV however i get a corrupt data error.

No such luck streaming to the 360 though, it can see the TVersity server but cannot access it.

[jman98]

Sound right?

It does "sound right" but I don't think it actually is right. Here's an example.

Here's how streaming media works:
Source of media -> sends file over some sort of network exactly as is -> media player plays file and sends it to display device.

Here's what you want to do:
Source of media -> Player of some type plays the file AND sends it out over the network in some sort of "universal format" -> media player simply relays the played file in this "universal format" to the display device.

See the difference?

The Xbox and PS3 have both long been surpassed for years now as media streaming players by a variety of much cheaper and smaller and better devices such as the various Western Digital players and others. I know many people don't like to hear that about their gaming systems but it's true.

[OverrRyde]

Sound right?

Here's what you want to do:
Source of media -> Player of some type plays the file AND sends it out over the network in some sort of "universal format" -> media player simply relays the played file in this "universal format" to the display device.

Actually, this is exactly how it's happening with PS3MediaServer. The file is beeing processed by my laptop and sent to my console. Are you saying this isnt a good thing? Obviously the laptop is getting pushed to it's limits using 60%-70% system resources, which leads me to believe that if i go this route, i need a pretty good computer to be able to process.

I realise consoles are maybe not the best media players out there, but for now i think it is doing what i want, which is to play file from one computer to another or a console. What advantage does using a dedicated media player such as WD LiveTV or eg: AppleTV (XBMC) have over just using a console have?

[OverrRyde]

Hmm a little research shows that you need a some power to be able to achieve this, which mean i probly won't be able to use my spare mobo laying aroudn, unless i simply buils a server to STRICKLY serve files "as is" and be process by the media player (ed: ps3, xbox, laptop, <insert other media player here>)

Now i understand why you say xbox and ps3 beeing outdated I see now the problem that i would incur by serving file such as MKV files to a PS3 since it does not natively support playback of that file, which means a) convert the file to a playable format by the console or b) aquire a dedicated media player for playback!

Wow, this makes alot more sense now reading what media player plays what!
Im starting to like this new "hobby"

[edDV]

A good media player reference is Veronica Belmont's networked set top box format spreadsheet, an ongoing project. Not sure if this is the latest version.
https://spreadsheets1.google.com/ccc?key=tjY1oj6WVMRfdgjpDyPbBSg&authkey=CMWSqM8P&hl=e...MWSqM8P#gid=28

[OverrRyde]

Wow, no faced with a new dillema! Im faced with a plethora of devices and options available!!

atv1 + xbmc seem good for price but need to get a seperate device for HD playback. atv2 + xbmc seem good also but i believe choppy 1080p playback of mkv files using xbmc? WD TVLive appears to be a good option but cannot use xbmc? Full out minipc but this involves more setting up...

it's an adventure!

[edDV]

There are far more than those listed. Many Blu-Ray players and HDTV sets also come with Ethernet input DLNA, etc. Then there are the MCE specialty players.

[OverrRyde]

ohh i did not know this... not really looking into either get a new hdtv or bluray player for that matter, since i own both an hdtv and my ps3 already. What are these "MCE specialty players" you speak of?

Gotta look into that. May be another option. I really like the idea of XBMC though, i wish WD TV could run XBMC. On the other hand, getting a nettop for XBMC may rack a couple hundred bucks vs. a WD TV i can get for just under 100$

[edDV]

Players like the HD Homerun family

http://www.silicondust.com/
http://experts.windows.com/frms/windows_entertainment_and_connected_home/f/14/p/38035/...00.aspx#160700
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkbO-50Hy3g

[OverrRyde]

Got it!

Not a big fan of Media Centre for some reason... never got to me.

[edDV]

Got it!

Not a big fan of Media Centre for some reason... never got to me.

Belmont's spreadsheet lists the major independent players but there are more each few months.

[OverrRyde]

Got it!

Not a big fan of Media Centre for some reason... never got to me.

Belmont's spreadsheet lists the major independent players but there are more each few months.

yeah i was checking that out earlier, and the more i think about it, there more i am beeing steered towards a full fledged pc running XBMC. Im trying no to but it seems to be the best option when you think about all the web content that is obtainable using plugins vs. wd tv live not having the possibility to do so.

That's where i am now..

[edDV]

Got it!

Not a big fan of Media Centre for some reason... never got to me.

Belmont's spreadsheet lists the major independent players but there are more each few months.

yeah i was checking that out earlier, and the more i think about it, there more i am beeing steered towards a full fledged pc running XBMC. Im trying no to but it seems to be the best option when you think about all the web content that is obtainable using plugins vs. wd tv live not having the possibility to do so.

That's where i am now..

I can do all that on my PC but for TV show watching, I prefer the networked media players. They can access the network or Netflix without all the computer issues (boot, noise, mouse, keyboard).

I just added a 3GB drive to my HP MediaSmart server.