Sage TV question
- Thread starter TLCNORM
- Start date
The biggest advantage to WHS is the automatic backup process for all network computers. It is pretty cool IMHO and definitely something to look at. SageTV has a WHS version to really take advantage of the OS. It is a little difference in how you normally interact with it. It you build a WHS machine, you can obviously build it to be able to hook up a display and keyboard/mouse. But if you buy store bought, these items aren't always built into the machine since it is "designed" to be controlled from other computers on the network and not actually directly from the actual server.
If you don't care about the backup solution that WHS offers, there really isn't a reason buy get it over XP Pro IMHO. That being said, I would recommend WHS if you only plan on using Sage on it. I'm not sure how WHS would react to other software (specifically a CCTV DVR solution). I just haven't checked into it - it might work fine. But that would be something to make sure of before you buy if you plan on using the server to host a CCTV system as well.
If you don't care about the backup solution that WHS offers, there really isn't a reason buy get it over XP Pro IMHO. That being said, I would recommend WHS if you only plan on using Sage on it. I'm not sure how WHS would react to other software (specifically a CCTV DVR solution). I just haven't checked into it - it might work fine. But that would be something to make sure of before you buy if you plan on using the server to host a CCTV system as well.
tmbrown97
Senior Member
ok - I was more looking to get into larger drives, as XP doesn't like a single drive over 2TB (though there's a workaround)... I actually have one of the HP home servers and was considering consolidating that into a new sage box - I have way too many computers around the house that are always-on. Just for the two of us, we have my desktop, wife's desktop, livingroom PC, WHS, and yet we still do 90% of our computer-work on our laptops... I don't want to push my luck with Sage's reliability, but wouldn't necessarily mind ditching the livingroom PC and the WHS for a single machine who's primary goal is Sage.
I'm also having a hell of a time deciding on a case - but I think I'm putting too much into this. All the cases I see and like seem to be for 12x10 motherboards - I'm not sure how common those are or if they're often larger. For mobo, I was considering something like an Intel or an Asus (total lack of knowledge on home-built machines - I buy all corporate-type prebuilt machines/servers) - and probably a single quad-core processor and about 4GB of RAM... Hardware RAID, some half-way decent dual-head 256MB radeon video card (pref/ w/analog& dvi), gigabit ethernet, blue-ray reader, and the ability to add 6-8 drives - potentially hot-swap w/hardware RAID - and in a 4U rackmount configuration (so they can have bigger, quieter fans)...
First priority is Sage - second is other media storage, 3rd would be WHS-style home backups, and 4th would be the ability to use for web-based baby monitor or a quick internet browser on the big TV... 2,3 and 4 are nice-to-have's, with Sage being the requirement - and I wouldn't want to sacrifice stability in any way (I know enough to not get viruses, etc). Also, (5) would be nice to be able to rip and playback my DVD's straight from that machine, but that follows the same rules as 2-4. I think I'll order my case & hdhomerun today, and kick around the mobo part - I can always go to Fry's for those parts if necessary.
I'm also having a hell of a time deciding on a case - but I think I'm putting too much into this. All the cases I see and like seem to be for 12x10 motherboards - I'm not sure how common those are or if they're often larger. For mobo, I was considering something like an Intel or an Asus (total lack of knowledge on home-built machines - I buy all corporate-type prebuilt machines/servers) - and probably a single quad-core processor and about 4GB of RAM... Hardware RAID, some half-way decent dual-head 256MB radeon video card (pref/ w/analog& dvi), gigabit ethernet, blue-ray reader, and the ability to add 6-8 drives - potentially hot-swap w/hardware RAID - and in a 4U rackmount configuration (so they can have bigger, quieter fans)...
First priority is Sage - second is other media storage, 3rd would be WHS-style home backups, and 4th would be the ability to use for web-based baby monitor or a quick internet browser on the big TV... 2,3 and 4 are nice-to-have's, with Sage being the requirement - and I wouldn't want to sacrifice stability in any way (I know enough to not get viruses, etc). Also, (5) would be nice to be able to rip and playback my DVD's straight from that machine, but that follows the same rules as 2-4. I think I'll order my case & hdhomerun today, and kick around the mobo part - I can always go to Fry's for those parts if necessary.
Don't feel like you have to build some beast of a machine either. To simply record the broadcast streams takes very little CPU power. If you want to use some of the commercial skip programs out there, then that will take more power (especially with the new h.264 files). A quad core is more than enough for simply Sage use, but is going to be required for h.264 commerical skipping. So it might be smart to go that route. I'm not sure it really needs 4gb ram, but that isn't going to effect the price one way or another too much.
I'm not sure I'd worry about hot swapping hard drives etc either. It is extremely costly to do, and in reality no one ever really uses it. If you really need to swap out a drive, just turn the darn machine off IMHO. It isn't worth the $100 or more than a hot swap back plate it going to cost.
I'm not sure I'd worry about hot swapping hard drives etc either. It is extremely costly to do, and in reality no one ever really uses it. If you really need to swap out a drive, just turn the darn machine off IMHO. It isn't worth the $100 or more than a hot swap back plate it going to cost.
keepersg
Active Member
There's a nice plug in for WHS (My Movies) that rips DVD's into shared storage very effectively. Put the DVD in the drive and go on about your business.
Let us know how it turns out. I am very interested in this. Also, could you give a rough idea on pricing and where you bought your stuff?
Sacedog
Active Member
One nice thing to remember about Sage, and drive storage, is that everything does not have to be on a single spanned drive. For example, if you ripped all of your movies onto multiple drives, as long as the folder structure is the same across drives, Sage will merge them all together in the interface.
Drive 1:
What you will see in sage is:
I use multiple single drives in my system, and then keep a backup offsite of each drive. It's cheaper than setting up a RAID system, and the performance advantages of RAID are not needed for movie storage. Also, it makes upgrading a snap!
Drive 1:
- Action
- Die Hard
- 300
- Comedy
- Holy Grail
- Action
- Indiana Jones
- Comedy
- Dumb and Dumber
What you will see in sage is:
- Action
- Die Hard
- 300
- Indiana Jones
- Comedy
- Holy Grail
- Dumb and Dumber
I use multiple single drives in my system, and then keep a backup offsite of each drive. It's cheaper than setting up a RAID system, and the performance advantages of RAID are not needed for movie storage. Also, it makes upgrading a snap!
tmbrown97
Senior Member
Sacedog - good to know... I'll likely not RAID my movies share - I may even go external USB for that, since I have a buffalo 2TB USB drive I can load up with movies... I can generally recreate them if needed...
TLCNORM - Here's what I have so far:
I haven't really heard any good reasons not to do WHS, so I may do that just to have the better drive management options - although I don't like how WHS handles redundancy, so I'd likely handle my drives through hardware RAID.
Mobo has built in 8-channel audio with optical and digital out if I need it... gigabit lan, support for 8 SATA drives with all the RAID options, 8 USB ports on the back... another 4 internal it looks like... so it looks pretty good - and there was actually a combo where they took $15 off the above prices - I did the combo so I wouldn't have to figure out the different processor types and compatibility.
TLCNORM - Here's what I have so far:
- Panasonic (I Think) BluRay Burner - already had purchased for my LR PC. ~$165 I believe
- HDHomeRun $161 - NewEgg
- $260 - HTPC Silverstone Case - LC16B-M - NewEgg
- $120 - Gigabyte Mobo GA-EP45-UD3R NewEgg
- $185 - Intel Core2Quad 2.4G - NewEgg
- $80 (plus tax/shipping) 4GB RAM crucial.com
- $560 for 4 1.5TB Seagate drives - tigerdirect.com
I haven't really heard any good reasons not to do WHS, so I may do that just to have the better drive management options - although I don't like how WHS handles redundancy, so I'd likely handle my drives through hardware RAID.
Mobo has built in 8-channel audio with optical and digital out if I need it... gigabit lan, support for 8 SATA drives with all the RAID options, 8 USB ports on the back... another 4 internal it looks like... so it looks pretty good - and there was actually a combo where they took $15 off the above prices - I did the combo so I wouldn't have to figure out the different processor types and compatibility.
dont forget about the 2TB limit in Windows XP. that could present a problem if you want to view your drives are a single, large disk.
use one of the Server family if its going to be backend only, including WHS. Low End HP MediaSmart WHS Box, $500, $560 for 4 1.5TB drives makes it a wash cost wise.
use one of the Server family if its going to be backend only, including WHS. Low End HP MediaSmart WHS Box, $500, $560 for 4 1.5TB drives makes it a wash cost wise.
tmbrown97
Senior Member
Room to grow 
I plan to RAID, then carve up into 50GB or so for system drive and carve the rest up.. haven't completely decided how... but from what I read, you can get around the 2TB limit in XP if you take 2 or more logical drives and span them in XP (can't be the system drive).
Ultimately, I have all kinds of equipment laying around - 1tb external, 2tb external, 2TB HP WHS, external 750GB, my livingroom PC, etc... but I'd like to consolidate as much as I can reasonably so I don't need so much equipment running around the house. Note the mention of at least 2TB worth of .ISO movies, 60GB in digital photos, 120GB in MP3's. And I'm used to having 300 hours of SD tivo, so when I go to Sage, I want to have more than enough space that I don't have to worry - we have some shows that sit around for a year before we watch the season in a weekend - so I want to make sure I'm not limited. That, and RAID5 is a PITA to add to later and with only 3 drives, it's a lot of overhead - so I'm just planning ahead.
Once this thing is humming perfectly, I don't want to touch it again...
I plan to RAID, then carve up into 50GB or so for system drive and carve the rest up.. haven't completely decided how... but from what I read, you can get around the 2TB limit in XP if you take 2 or more logical drives and span them in XP (can't be the system drive).
Ultimately, I have all kinds of equipment laying around - 1tb external, 2tb external, 2TB HP WHS, external 750GB, my livingroom PC, etc... but I'd like to consolidate as much as I can reasonably so I don't need so much equipment running around the house. Note the mention of at least 2TB worth of .ISO movies, 60GB in digital photos, 120GB in MP3's. And I'm used to having 300 hours of SD tivo, so when I go to Sage, I want to have more than enough space that I don't have to worry - we have some shows that sit around for a year before we watch the season in a weekend - so I want to make sure I'm not limited. That, and RAID5 is a PITA to add to later and with only 3 drives, it's a lot of overhead - so I'm just planning ahead.
Once this thing is humming perfectly, I don't want to touch it again...
