Wow Sean, you just crossed 2000 posts.

Congrats.

Now, you should feel responsible to get my build thread as popular. :D

Thank you Smak. I figured it out. I was able to (slowly) go into services and manually start "Volume Shadow Copy" and then try restore and it worked. The problem was if I opened control panel, it would stall and would take like 10 mins to open it. It was like that for anything I did on it. As I was researching it last night, I came across some article that said "Windows Complete PC Backup" is better to use than system restore. Is that true?


Backup software is tricky. I heard some people having good luck with true image home, http://www.acronis.com/

as far as the windows complete backup, I have not messed with it at all, but a guy at my work has always said the built in backuo in windows is always junk, but I never tried it...

But lets talk about this SP2 thing. So you are saying it messed up your entire system? If so, something sounds very buggy. Maybe something went wrong with the install. I have to do some work at 4 today, but when I am done I will have to install SP2 to see what happens. I know my one buddy was running the beta of it and he never said anything bad, therefore I assume your troubles are isolated. This is the trouble of buy computers...They pack them full of junk you will never use and then things like this happen too. Depending on how far into your whole archiving you were, I would recommend a clean install from the ground up with none of the extras crapping up the system, but judging by what I read, I dont think you are ready to do such a thing. In your setup, do you have your HP and then you have alll the storage separate? If so it would be easy, but you would have to reconfigure yamj with your library. I mean, you have SP1 so it isnt too bad, but down the road you would certainly want to get SP2 working, thats why I recommend now rather than later. Although if you were really daring, you could go with Windows 7, it is still beta, but it is awesome. Plus I read they actually added the ability to upgrade from the beta to gold code when it is released...I guess all of this depends on how adventurous you are feeling. At least you have yourself back up and running.

On a side note, I love the way popcorn hour looks with yamj but I wish i could get something similar on the PS3. It functions as my media player and I just cant justify adding the PCH as well. I know you can install Linux on the PS3, if only someone would make some software like the PCH that can run on there...now that would be sweet. I mean how hard could it be. Just port the PCH code to PS3/Linux...

This is the trouble of buy computers...They pack them full of junk you will never use and then things like this happen too. Depending on how far into your whole archiving you were, I would recommend a clean install from the ground up with none of the extras crapping up the system,


nothing, NOTHING is as bad as IBM is with their Lenovo Laptops. Fill an already slower system with junk. A CLEAN reload of their restore partition has 77 processes running!! WinXP on my home built PC has 26. thats 50 running junk programs.

I prefer to slipstream a service pack rather then try an upgrade.

oooorrrrr.. you can buy one of these and catalouge your BluRay's on SATA drives and plug and play as needed.


http://img.ncix.com/images/28316_l.jpg


they connnect via USB2.0 or eSATA (which you could easily convert the PCHA110 to).

Actually, that's what I'm using. I just called it a USB drive for simplicity's sake.

CJ

shawn, you said earlier that the pch rips pq and s1 are identical to the oppo. do you still feel this way and is that for blu-ray rips or sd rips? reason i ask is because i was never able to make my htpc pq be identical to the oppo 983 sd player so im wondering if perhaps the sim2 scaler is responsible for the pq. thanks.

Wow Sean, you just crossed 2000 posts.

Congrats.

Now, you should feel responsible to get my build thread as popular. :D

Hey look at that:D Thanks :) Ok I'll try - just paint your door 50 thousand times like me:p

Backup software is tricky. I heard some people having good luck with true image home, http://www.acronis.com/

as far as the windows complete backup, I have not messed with it at all, but a guy at my work has always said the built in backuo in windows is always junk, but I never tried it...

But lets talk about this SP2 thing. So you are saying it messed up your entire system? If so, something sounds very buggy. Maybe something went wrong with the install. I have to do some work at 4 today, but when I am done I will have to install SP2 to see what happens. I know my one buddy was running the beta of it and he never said anything bad, therefore I assume your troubles are isolated. This is the trouble of buy computers...They pack them full of junk you will never use and then things like this happen too. Depending on how far into your whole archiving you were, I would recommend a clean install from the ground up with none of the extras crapping up the system, but judging by what I read, I dont think you are ready to do such a thing. In your setup, do you have your HP and then you have alll the storage separate? If so it would be easy, but you would have to reconfigure yamj with your library. I mean, you have SP1 so it isnt too bad, but down the road you would certainly want to get SP2 working, thats why I recommend now rather than later. Although if you were really daring, you could go with Windows 7, it is still beta, but it is awesome. Plus I read they actually added the ability to upgrade from the beta to gold code when it is released...I guess all of this depends on how adventurous you are feeling. At least you have yourself back up and running.

On a side note, I love the way popcorn hour looks with yamj but I wish i could get something similar on the PS3. It functions as my media player and I just cant justify adding the PCH as well. I know you can install Linux on the PS3, if only someone would make some software like the PCH that can run on there...now that would be sweet. I mean how hard could it be. Just port the PCH code to PS3/Linux...

Thanks Smak. All my storage is in external drives. I don't have anything to lose on my computers hard disc except for software that I can always reinstall. I'm curious though why you feel I should have sp2, if sp1 works fine? Just wondering.

Also I took a look at the running processes and the programs set to start at startup like you mentioned and there were quite a few that didn't need to be on. So I turned all those off and it's even quicker now :)

shawn, you said earlier that the pch rips pq and s1 are identical to the oppo. do you still feel this way and is that for blu-ray rips or sd rips? reason i ask is because i was never able to make my htpc pq be identical to the oppo 983 sd player so im wondering if perhaps the sim2 scaler is responsible for the pq. thanks.

Well, if it helps any - I can play the m2ts files on my computer too, output to the sim2, with the software that came with the bd drive (except for decoding hd audio formats) and the PQ is nothing like the oppo or the popcorn hour. Then again my video card in my PC is nothing special.

Anyway I think of the popcorn hour as a blu ray player, just plays the digital file on hard disc instead of a blu ray disc. I also don't resize or reformat the movie at all. On the blu ray disc, the file is a m2ts file and that's exactly what I play. And I'm only talking blu rays, because I'm sure the PCH would not upscale nearly as well (if any), as the oppo.

But yes, the video is going through my Anthem and then to my Sim2, so they may be playing a part in it. However, I have found that the Sim2 is actually so revealing that even though it makes great quality content look stunning, it also makes crappy content look horrible (example - "the shield" is almost unwatchable).

One really cool thing about the popcorn hour is the ability to "resume" the movies. (In addition of course to hitting play and the movie is on the screen in a couple seconds without even getting up!) I can stop any bd in my collection, come back and watch it next week and it starts up about 10 seconds prior to where I left off (I guess to refresh my memory).

That was such a huge pet peeve of mine with actual bds in the player. Because I stop/pause a movie pretty often because of some work problems, or the wife, or whatever. So my method before this was to text message myself with the time into the movie, so that when I started it up again I could get to it right away. That was one of the reasons I hated the pioneer, because that process was like 5 minutes lol. The oppo is great for that, but the resume of the pch is even better.

There is only one negative so far that I have found about the PCH and that is if I set the output on the PCH to 1080p24 (on blu ray 24fps content), every now and then I get some minor stutter/judder. But if I set it to 1080p60 it's fine. So I'm gonna have to research it some more to see the cause. It may just be because the external hard drive that the movies are stored on is connected to my PC. So the popcorn hour is going through my pc to the drive, which may be causing it. It's very minor and probably unnoticeable to some people, but it's something I think I can figure out.

I'm probably going to be getting this HP Media Server: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16859105420 and loading it with 4x 1.5TB or 2TB drives (man this theater is gonna six figures by the time I'm done!:eek::D). This may also fix this stutter issue too since it won't be going through the computer to an external drive anymore. I guess we'll see!

I guess I went rambling:p, to answer your question, I'm not sure if the PCH really is as good as the oppo, but if it not as good it is extremely close. I played the two face scene from dark knight in my Oppo on pause and put the same scene on the PCH and just changed the inputs on the anthem and the screens looked identical to me. Whether they really are or not, the convenience of the pch for instant movie watching is pretty cool :)

FWIW - I've been running WHS for about three months and haven't had any issues with it's built in backup client on the four machines connected to it. I have all my media on it, and then pull it in from other clients (Vista WMP/iTunes, XP WMP/iTunes, XBMC, etc.). Runs great for me.

Thanks Smak. All my storage is in external drives. I don't have anything to lose on my computers hard disc except for software that I can always reinstall. I'm curious though why you feel I should have sp2, if sp1 works fine? Just wondering.


SP2 will be a roll up of all updates, but often they improve some functionality and security, like SP1 greatly improved file transfer speeds.

"SP2 will include Windows Search 4.0, the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack, the ability to record data on Blu-ray media natively, Windows Connect Now (to simplify Wi-Fi configuration), and other security and optimization-minded upgrades."

Do you need it? I guess maybe not, but I do recommend it sooner or later.

As far as WHS, I just started running this myself and it is awesome. I had wanted one since it was released only by HP but didnt have the cash for it at the time. However, now you can buy just the software and build the system yourself. I will certainly be cheaper I think than the HP version, plus you have full control over expanding. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116550

You can build a good cheap system, or even use your current one (i dont know what your plan are for it) and then add your own storage and expand at will. It does not require a lot of power so you can use like the $50 AMD processor, $50 mobo, $50 RAM, cheap case, and storage which you already have and you are pretty much set.

and as mentioned the backuo function of it is great, to back up your other networked computers, but I believe you said you are mostly a Mac shop so you are not going to use the client backup as much.

Thanks very much guys. I bought the HP MSS 485 and 4x1.5TB drives to go inside. Along with the 2TB external drives I have now and my internal computer, I'll be up to about 9 Terabytes!:)

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/59-105-420-18.jpg

SP2 will be a roll up of all updates, but often they improve some functionality and security, like SP1 greatly improved file transfer speeds.

"SP2 will include Windows Search 4.0, the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack, the ability to record data on Blu-ray media natively, Windows Connect Now (to simplify Wi-Fi configuration), and other security and optimization-minded upgrades."

Do you need it? I guess maybe not, but I do recommend it sooner or later.

As far as WHS, I just started running this myself and it is awesome. I had wanted one since it was released only by HP but didnt have the cash for it at the time. However, now you can buy just the software and build the system yourself. I will certainly be cheaper I think than the HP version, plus you have full control over expanding. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116550

You can build a good cheap system, or even use your current one (i dont know what your plan are for it) and then add your own storage and expand at will. It does not require a lot of power so you can use like the $50 AMD processor, $50 mobo, $50 RAM, cheap case, and storage which you already have and you are pretty much set.

and as mentioned the backuo function of it is great, to back up your other networked computers, but I believe you said you are mostly a Mac shop so you are not going to use the client backup as much.

Thanks Smak. I think I'm gonna keep sp1 for now. It works great so far. As for WHS, glad you like it too! I hope it's not hard to set up :) As for building my own - I don't know how. I'm sure with time I could learn how to do it, but this way is easier lol.

Thanks very much guys. I bought the HP MSS 485 and 4x1.5TB drives to go inside. Along with the 2TB external drives I have now and my internal computer, I'll be up to about 9 Terabytes!:)



I guess I was a tad late...or I assume you didnt want to mess with DIY. You will be happy with this unit. I love home server, it really makes things easy.

9 TB, thats nuts, it will take you a while to fill that...or so I would think, at 10 Gb per BD on average lets say, thats 10 BD per 100 GB and 900 BD for 9 TB. Unless of course you are keeping all the other content on the discs too, but my average is around 10 GB +/- about 4GB

I guess I was a tad late...or I assume you didnt want to mess with DIY. You will be happy with this unit. I love home server, it really makes things easy.

9 TB, thats nuts, it will take you a while to fill that...or so I would think, at 10 Gb per BD on average lets say, thats 10 BD per 100 GB and 900 BD for 9 TB. Unless of course you are keeping all the other content on the discs too, but my average is around 10 GB +/- about 4GB

How are you getting 10G per rip?

CD

I guess I was a tad late...or I assume you didnt want to mess with DIY. You will be happy with this unit. I love home server, it really makes things easy.

9 TB, thats nuts, it will take you a while to fill that...or so I would think, at 10 Gb per BD on average lets say, thats 10 BD per 100 GB and 900 BD for 9 TB. Unless of course you are keeping all the other content on the discs too, but my average is around 10 GB +/- about 4GB

Thanks, heard nothing but good things about them. As for the rips - how are you getting 10gigs? The only way I could get that is if I reformated the file and made into a lossy format. Lossless video and audio on the ones I've done so far are like 18-40gigs. I have been experimenting with eliminating all other language audio tracks, commentary etc - basically everything except for the core master audio.

Shawn, by any chance were you and the Lambo out in Indiana on Friday?

How are you getting 10G per rip?

CD

H.264/handbrake ... but now that I look your are taking the raw video file

Went to see Dane Cook stand up yesterday and snapped a pic of the stage with the gigantic speakers. Wonder what a system like this would cost?:D

http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/dc1.jpg

Shawn, by any chance were you and the Lambo out in Indiana on Friday?

Not I! :)

H.264/handbrake ... but now that I look your are taking the raw video file

What does that do? Make it smaller?

Went to see Dane Cook stand up yesterday and snapped a pic of the stage with the gigantic speakers. Wonder what a system like this would cost?:D


it would cost you half (yes, of everything) due to the divorce! Plus you'd have to pay monthly payments for um, maybe ever.

it would cost you half (yes, of everything) due to the divorce!

Hah ain't that the truth:D

Not I! :)




I only asked because my nephew show me a pic of an orange lambo at a restaraunt in Indiana and I immediately thought....hmmmm, who do I know has an orange lambo?

I only asked because my nephew show me a pic of an orange lambo at a restaraunt in Indiana and I immediately thought....hmmmm, who do I know has an orange lambo?

Couldn't have been mine. Between you and me (and everyone reading this;)), I sold my lambo a little bit ago. He lives in Texas! I have a new hobby now;)

But seriously, the new hobby aside, I loved the car, but in Chicago, what do we get 3 months out of the year of nice weather. And those three months are road construction! The theater is open 365 days a year:D

Couldn't have been mine. Between you and me (and everyone reading this;)), I sold my lambo a little bit ago. He lives in Texas! I have a new hobby now;)

But seriously, the new hobby aside, I loved the car, but in Chicago, what do we get 3 months out of the year of nice weather. And those three months are road construction! The theater is open 365 days a year:D

You sold the Lambo to finance the theater! haha ;)

Are you in IT? I am in IT, but I dont have what you have...what did/am I doing wrong! :o

You sold the Lambo to finance the theater! haha ;)


At the rate I'm spending that's gonna become a reality:p


Are you in IT? I am in IT, but I dont have what you have...what did/am I doing wrong! :o

No, not in IT, but I do work with computers/online from home. You're not doing anything wrong!!

Oh, I only now just realized it's gone from your avatar! You'll have to put a pic of the SIM2 in its place ;).

What does that do? Make it smaller?

yes, you take the video file and it compresses it and puts it in a container like MP3 did for audio wav files...

I'm envious in the best possible way!

Oh, I only now just realized it's gone from your avatar! You'll have to put a pic of the SIM2 in its place ;).
Hah ok:D

yes, you take the video file and it compresses it and puts it in a container like MP3 did for audio wav files...
Ah I gotcha thanks.

I'm envious in the best possible way!

Thank you!! :)

Tomorrow my HP Media Server is coming along with the 1.5TB drives to go inside it. Assuming it all installs easily, I'll try and get those screenshots comparing the panny vs the oppo for sd (sorry for the delay Queen:o)

I'm also gonna try and edit the html/xml in YAMJ files to put something like Walters Cinema or something on the movie jukebox screen. Not sure if I like Walters Cinema though:p

Tomorrow my HP Media Server is coming along with the 1.5TB drives to go inside it. Assuming it all installs easily, I'll try and get those screenshots comparing the panny vs the oppo for sd (sorry for the delay Queen:o)

I'm also gonna try and edit the html/xml in YAMJ files to put something like Walters Cinema or something on the movie jukebox screen. Not sure if I like Walters Cinema though:p

Talk about jumping in with both feet! :D

I used to be rather computer savvy...at a time when Windows 3.11 was all the rage and networking was horrific.

I'm really not up to date on all of these things, unfortunately.

Do you mind explaining exactly how you are doing everything? PCH = popcorn hour. The server is to store ripped copies of DVDs/BDs? What do you use to rip them? Any special software to transfer to PCH?

I would say to treat me like an idiot but I'm sure that it would come to haunt me later on!

Talk about jumping in with both feet! :D

I used to be rather computer savvy...at a time when Windows 3.11 was all the rage and networking was horrific.

I'm really not up to date on all of these things, unfortunately.

Do you mind explaining exactly how you are doing everything? PCH = popcorn hour. The server is to store ripped copies of DVDs/BDs? What do you use to rip them? Any special software to transfer to PCH?

I would say to treat me like an idiot but I'm sure that it would come to haunt me later on!

John (and everyone else who may be interested), CJ has approached me about a joint-venture, in writing a soup-to-nuts, plain-english (as plain as it can get anyway), how-to guide on this whole ripping/streaming thing. I think it would be great, because I've probably written a book on the subject, 5 times over, in helping many people through PM; I think if we were to collaborate on a fairly comprehensive manual, it would save he and I (and probably Shawn now) a lot of PM time. :D

I've already suggested to CJ we treat it like a Wiki, where we have different people contribute their experience, for the sake of completion, and I think Shawn's input, as a newcomer, who grabbed the reins and ran with it, would be very welcome. You know, whenever each of us finds the time away from working on the HT.

CD

John (and everyone else who may be interested), CJ has approached me about a joint-venture, in writing a soup-to-nuts, plain-english (as plain as it can get anyway), how-to guide on this whole ripping/streaming thing. I think it would be great, because I've probably written a book on the subject, 5 times over, in helping many people through PM; I think if we were to collaborate on a fairly comprehensive manual, it would save he and I (and probably Shawn now) a lot of PM time. :D

I've already suggested to CJ we treat it like a Wiki, where we have different people contribute their experience, for the sake of completion, and I think Shawn's input, as a newcomer, who grabbed the reins and ran with it, would be very welcome. You know, whenever each of us finds the time away from working on the HT.

CD

That sounds like it would be great!

Talk about jumping in with both feet! :D

I used to be rather computer savvy...at a time when Windows 3.11 was all the rage and networking was horrific.

I'm really not up to date on all of these things, unfortunately.

Do you mind explaining exactly how you are doing everything? PCH = popcorn hour. The server is to store ripped copies of DVDs/BDs? What do you use to rip them? Any special software to transfer to PCH?

I would say to treat me like an idiot but I'm sure that it would come to haunt me later on!

Ok here's my quick guide on how-to-rip-your-bds-(that-you-own!)-so-you-can-play-them-in-a-PCH!:)

John (and everyone else who may be interested), CJ has approached me about a joint-venture, in writing a soup-to-nuts, plain-english (as plain as it can get anyway), how-to guide on this whole ripping/streaming thing. I think it would be great, because I've probably written a book on the subject, 5 times over, in helping many people through PM; I think if we were to collaborate on a fairly comprehensive manual, it would save he and I (and probably Shawn now) a lot of PM time. :D

I've already suggested to CJ we treat it like a Wiki, where we have different people contribute their experience, for the sake of completion, and I think Shawn's input, as a newcomer, who grabbed the reins and ran with it, would be very welcome. You know, whenever each of us finds the time away from working on the HT.

CD

Doh! I should have read this first dammit:D

Doh! I should have read this first dammit:D

Actually, that was very very helpful!

Sounds way cool, but also sounds like a lot of work! You are definitely on a mission Shawn.

I'm going to jump on it,,I need to purchase PCH:D
it looks so cool

Doh! I should have read this first dammit:D

That's alright Shawn; your explanation, while straight-ahead and encompassing, assumed everyone was as tech literate as you (which I have discovered, even in a "tech" forum like this, is not even remotely the case. Good with audio and video does not always mean good with PCs :D). So unless you want a slew of PMs, where you try to explain...for example...why the SATA BD drive they bought won't "easily" hook up to their 10 year-old, IDE motherboard...I suspect some "fill in the blanks" will be necessary...lol.

CD

Sounds way cool, but also sounds like a lot of work! You are definitely on a mission Shawn.

Its not so bad once you do it a few times, actually kind of easy. But getting the first one done and setting it all up is the hard part! Your husband is a computer guy right..make him do the work :D

I'm going to jump on it,,I need to purchase PCH:D
it looks so cool

STALKER!!:D

That's alright Shawn; your explanation, while straight-ahead and encompassing, assumed everyone was as tech literate as you (which I have discovered, even in a "tech" forum like this, is not even remotely the case. Good with audio and video does not always mean good with PCs :D). So unless you want a slew of PMs, where you try to explain...for example...why the SATA BD drive they bought won't "easily" hook up to their 10 year-old, IDE motherboard...I suspect some "fill in the blanks" will be necessary...lol.

CD

Ah good point. I was meaning to type something up anyway for the pms I've gotten since I've posted the YAMJ screens. Now I can just copy and paste!

Oh and if you plan on installing a blu ray drive in your Commodore 64 PM CD not me:D:D

John (and everyone else who may be interested), CJ has approached me about a joint-venture, in writing a soup-to-nuts, plain-english (as plain as it can get anyway), how-to guide on this whole ripping/streaming thing. I think it would be great, because I've probably written a book on the subject, 5 times over, in helping many people through PM; I think if we were to collaborate on a fairly comprehensive manual, it would save he and I (and probably Shawn now) a lot of PM time. :D

I've already suggested to CJ we treat it like a Wiki, where we have different people contribute their experience, for the sake of completion, and I think Shawn's input, as a newcomer, who grabbed the reins and ran with it, would be very welcome. You know, whenever each of us finds the time away from working on the HT.

CD

That would be totally awesome. I have a PCH and home built NAS project in my future, so I anxiously await the wiki.

Doh! I should have read this first dammit:D

That's a great start! Also, anyone see that they are going to be releasing a new Popcorn Hour, the C200? http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=23731&page=1

CJ

Yeah, a wiki would be good as this approach is nice, but while quality is compromised a bit I am sure people will want to explore shrinking the file sizes at the same time. Storage is cheap and 40 BD is a lot, but still, imagine cutting the movie size down just a few GB even...this should be fun...now tell us about your damn WHS. did you manage to get it running?

That's a great start! Also, anyone see that they are going to be releasing a new Popcorn Hour, the C200? http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=23731&page=1

CJ

Thanks. Looks pretty neat. Every time I buy something, a better version of it pops up ;) I'm happy with mine though! :)

Yeah, a wiki would be good as this approach is nice, but while quality is compromised a bit I am sure people will want to explore shrinking the file sizes at the same time. Storage is cheap and 40 BD is a lot, but still, imagine cutting the movie size down just a few GB even...this should be fun...now tell us about your damn WHS. did you manage to get it running?

My server is coming tomorrow! Going to set it up asap and start transferring my ~45 movies ripped so far over to it! :)

STALKER!!:D[/QUOTE]

True;):D

Thanks. Looks pretty neat. Every time I buy something, a better version of it pops up ;) I'm happy with mine though! :)



My server is coming tomorrow! Going to set it up asap and start transferring my ~45 movies ripped so far over to it! :)

Don't expect that to be zippy; ever had to "transfer" a T before? :D

CD

Just because I am a little it confused...what actually makes this?
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/yamj1.jpg
Is it yamj that generates this page, or is this the PCH?

I am thinking it is the yamj software, but I have learned never to assume. Can the page be modified, layout changed? or is it all pretty much default, not that i would change it or anything because it looks sweet.

CD/CJ PLEASE work on that info thread! :D

Don't expect that to be zippy; ever had to "transfer" a T before? :D

CD

Yeah that will be a process I start at bedtime:D

Just because I am a little it confused...what actually makes this?
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/yamj1.jpg
Is it yamj that generates this page, or is this the PCH?

I am thinking it is the yamj software, but I have learned never to assume. Can the page be modified, layout changed? or is it all pretty much default, not that i would change it or anything because it looks sweet.

That's the YAMJ. The factory GUI is nowhere near that nice. Yes you can edit it if you know html, xml. There's also a config file that you can change simple things like font color. And there's a lot of other skins out there. Another one I found yesterday:

http://www.treasure-cove.net/moviejukebox.htm

http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/treasurecove/nmt2.jpg

CD/CJ PLEASE work on that info thread! :D

Well John, Shawn gave you a good start. I would say the first thing to consider is whether your current PC is up to the task. It doesn't need to be super-new, or super-powerful, because presumably all you're going to do is rip with it. Even if you use it to store and feed the PCH your digital BD files (which will be short-lived at best, because you'll need more space), it doesn't need to be particularly fast to do that; your network is what will need to be nice and speedy.

However, what I was trying to say earlier, was...not to state the obvious...but you'll need a BD drive to do this ripping (BTW, ripping is just the term for "getting the information off the disc"); not a BD burner, just a drive or reader. ALL the BD drives these days are going to be SATA (which is the connection type to the motherboard inside your computer)...and it's possible, if your computer is a few years old, or was really, really cheap (:D) that it might not support adding a SATA device.

If in doubt, best to check before you drop your ~$100 on the drive, and get all excited about YAMJ up on your big screen.

CD

You'll also of course need a blu ray drive in your computer. I personally have this LG blu ray drive: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9182706&type=product&id=1218048303870 . But others can be had for less money. But I chose the LG based upon reviews of it being able to play every movie thrown at it and it's speed.

I was just double-checking Shawn's drive, and noticed for the first time it is a BD burner; which means it'll record onto blank BDs, if you so choose (which you likely wouldn't). Not trying to call Shawn out...just wanted to reiterate, for anyone looking to get into the game, this is absolutely unnecessary; all you need is a BD reader, which can be had for ~$100.

CD

Look what came today, it's Christmas time again:D

http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/mss2.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/mss3.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/mss4.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/mss5.jpg

Setting it up now! I have 3 more 1.5TB drives coming tomorrow :)

I was just double-checking Shawn's drive, and noticed for the first time it is a BD burner; which means it'll record onto blank BDs, if you so choose (which you likely wouldn't). Not trying to call Shawn out...just wanted to reiterate, for anyone looking to get into the game, this is absolutely unnecessary; all you need is a BD reader, which can be had for ~$100.

CD

You're right, mine is a burner too. I figured it would be a good future proofing tool if BD discs ever got down super cheap :) And not $5/each!:eek: lol

Look what came today, it's Christmas time again:D

http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/mss1.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/mss2.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/mss3.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/mss4.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/mss5.jpg

Setting it up now! I have 3 more 1.5TB drives coming tomorrow :)

Isn't it boot-iful. :D You know, not to blow your mind, but once you have it set up, there is an app that will make the 4 Drive Indicator lights do a little light-show for ya. :cool:

So, did you decide to just leave the 750G System drive in place?

CD

That's the YAMJ. The factory GUI is nowhere near that nice. Yes you can edit it if you know html, xml. There's also a config file that you can change simple things like font color. And there's a lot of other skins out there. Another one I found yesterday:

http://www.treasure-cove.net/moviejukebox.htm


OK, so this treasure cove is different software all together right? Same concept as yamj, just completely different. Or, does it skin over yamj?

OK, so this treasure cove is different software all together right? Same concept as yamj, just completely different. Or, does it skin over yamj?

Just skins over the YAMJ.

CD

Isn't it boot-iful. :D You know, not to blow your mind, but once you have it set up, there is an app that will make the 4 Drive Indicator lights do a little light-show for ya. :cool:

So, did you decide to just leave the 750G System drive in place?

CD

I already got it set up whohoo:D Easy peasy lemon squeezy:D

This thing is awesome!! Adding a 1.5TB drive just involves sliding it in the slot and clicking add! Already added the share in PCH, it found it right away.:)

Yeah I'm gonna keep the 750gig for the system drive and just add 3 additional 1.5TB drives in the machine. And then add another 1.5TB drive in the external dock via the eSATA cable. The only variable right now, which I won't find out until I get the other drives tomorrow is whether it treats that external drive as an external drive or not, or more importantly if PCH sees it as one. But maybe since it's a server, maybe I can map it!

I already got it set up whohoo:D Easy peasy lemon squeezy:D

This thing is awesome!! Adding a 1.5TB drive just involves sliding it in the slot and clicking add! Already added the share in PCH, it found it right away.:)

Yeah I'm gonna keep the 750gig for the system drive and just add 3 additional 1.5TB drives in the machine. And then add another 1.5TB drive in the external dock via the eSATA cable. The only variable right now, which I won't find out until I get the other drives tomorrow is whether it treats that external drive as an external drive or not, or more importantly if PCH sees it as one. But maybe since it's a server, maybe I can map it!


if you add it to the storage pool, PCH shouldnt care, it will just look at the shared media as though it is internal. I dont believe it will see it any differently, although I dont have a PCH so I dont know 100%

if you add it to the storage pool, PCH shouldnt care, it will just look at the shared media as though it is internal. I dont believe it will see it any differently, although I dont have a PCH so I dont know 100%

I hope you're right!

I'm hoping that once I add an external usb drive to the MSS I can go in and add it like I did the internal drive. If so, it would consider it the same and then I'd be really happy cause then I could have 10's of terabytes:D But I gotta transfer my files to the MSS first because it makes you format a new drive to add it. Don't wanna format my movies!!:p

Don't expect that to be zippy; ever had to "transfer" a T before? :D

CD

I started the transfers.....man...you weren't kidding!! It's gonna be days not hours!!

I hope you're right!

I'm hoping that once I add an external usb drive to the MSS I can go in and add it like I did the internal drive. If so, it would consider it the same and then I'd be really happy cause then I could have 10's of terabytes:D But I gotta transfer my files to the MSS first because it makes you format a new drive to add it. Don't wanna format my movies!!:p

Shawn, there shouldn't be any problem adding USB drives to the pool. Interestingly enough, I discovered (RTFM) that USB port-multipliers...which are cheap...are "neither recommended not supported", according to said FM. However, you (meaning MSS owners) can do an SATA to eSATA port-multiplier. It's much more expensive, as it looks like this

4-bay http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816111048

5-bay http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816111049

or 8-bay! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816111051

but that could keep the 20-drive beast at bay for a while. Of course, I'm not sure about transfer speeds, but eSATA should be as fast as SATA I would think. FYI

CD

I started the transfers.....man...you weren't kidding!! It's gonna be days not hours!!

how are you doing the transfer? is it across the network? whats the speed, also what OS are you uploading with? are you using the share upload, or did you map a drive to the WHS and are doing it like that?

Vista file transfers are a bit sluggish, it was supposed to be better with SP1 (yes 1) but I still dont think it competes with xp, or even windows 7

I hope you're right!

I'm hoping that once I add an external usb drive to the MSS I can go in and add it like I did the internal drive. If so, it would consider it the same and then I'd be really happy cause then I could have 10's of terabytes:D But I gotta transfer my files to the MSS first because it makes you format a new drive to add it. Don't wanna format my movies!!:p

I'm happy to report the external USB drive is counted just like an internal drive...sweet!!!! I added it and it instantly upped my storage by a TB! Thank you very much CD for selling me on this HP from the get go! It's gonna be awesome having hundreds of movies all on one YAMJ library to peruse :)

Shawn, there shouldn't be any problem adding USB drives to the pool. Interestingly enough, I discovered (RTFM) that USB port-multipliers...which are cheap...are "neither recommended not supported", according to said FM. However, you (meaning MSS owners) can do an SATA to eSATA port-multiplier. It's much more expensive, as it looks like this

4-bay http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816111048

5-bay http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816111049

or 8-bay! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816111051

but that could keep the 20-drive beast at bay for a while. Of course, I'm not sure about transfer speeds, but eSATA should be as fast as SATA I would think. FYI

CD

Those look really cool, especially that 8 bay'er ;)

Currently, I have 4x1.5TB in 3.5" drives, 1x750Gig that came installed and 2 x 1TB external drives. So now I have about 8.5TB worth of storage! I guess with movies averaging about 25 gigs a piece, that'll net me about 340 movies:D

I'll start out with that and when I start getting her filled up I'll look into the 8 bay expansion! Hopefully 2TB drives will come down in price by then.:) I guess I should start thinking about backups too. It never ends..

"RTFM" - I had to look that one up LOL :D

how are you doing the transfer? is it across the network? whats the speed, also what OS are you uploading with? are you using the share upload, or did you map a drive to the WHS and are doing it like that?

Vista file transfers are a bit sluggish, it was supposed to be better with SP1 (yes 1) but I still dont think it competes with xp, or even windows 7

Thanks Smak. I'm transferring them from an external usb 2.0 drive on my htpc to the hp server. My server is networked via ethernet @ \\HpServer\. Just dragging and dropping them. When I first did it, it said 3 days 4 hours:eek: But now it's about half way done and says 1 day 2 hours. So I guess it's not as bad as I thought. It says transfer speed is ~9.74 MB/sec. Guess it doesn't help that I'm also ripping bds at the same time:p

Those look really cool, especially that 8 bay'er ;)

Currently, I have 4x1.5TB in 3.5" drives, 1x750Gig that came installed and 2 x 1TB external drives. So now I have about 8.5TB worth of storage! I guess with movies averaging about 25 gigs a piece, that'll net me about 340 movies:D

I'll start out with that and when I start getting her filled up I'll look into the 8 bay expansion! Hopefully 2TB drives will come down in price by then.:) I guess I should start thinking about backups too. It never ends..

"RTFM" - I had to look that one up LOL :D

Yeah, I'm with you; 8.5T/340 BD rips should be plenty to "tide you over". You might start to get a little more selective about what's really rip worthy, and might start cycling out something old with something new. In the meantime, 2T drives will come down, and it's not like your 1.5Ts will go straight to the round-file; with the eSATA docking station, you could always hold on to them and use them to swap out for "sets" of movies. Keep in mind, that'll work a little different than adding them to the volume pool.

With drives in a pool, when you store something on them, that file will likely be spread across several drives; a little here and a little there. So it's not like you can pull a drive out and it'll have 35, intact rips on it; it'll likely have parts of like 100 rips on it. So, let's say the time comes to replace a 1.5 with a 2 (oh happy day); when you replace a drive in the MSS, you have to first remove it from the pool...which means you have to copy all the data off of it, onto the other, remaining drives, before you put your new drive in (you should note...you have to leave yourself enough room to do this. For example, let's say right now you have 3x1.5 plus 750 plus 2x1...which you do...for ~8.5T. When it comes time to replace a 1.5 with a 2, you need to have 1.5T left free in the volume pool, so you can temporarily copy the info from that 1.5T drive to the remaining drives...and then put your new 2T drive in. Make sense? You can't wait to make that switch when you only have 500G left, because then there isn't enough room to copy the 1.5T worth of data from the drive you're removing, to replace.) And what I was getting to is this: once that 1.5 is out, it's free and clear of data...but like I said, you won't have to chuck it. Drop it in your eSATA docking station and you'll get that 1.5T. Not 1.5T to add to the volume pool...because again, that would add bits and pieces of information to it. No, I would set these up as separate volumes...and then specifically copy this movie and that to it. Then, you can file that drive away and you know that drive represents the 30-35 movies you were able to get on it. Replace another 1.5 with 2, that'll be another 30-35 movie drive that you can swap in and out when you want to see those movies.

Of course, beyond that, if you really think the desire to have 1,000 BD rips will stick, there is always the SATA to eSATA expanders...and I'm actually looking into seeing if there is a way to turn that 20-drive case into a simple (at least more simple than a full-blown Server) SATA to eSATA port-multiplier, and hang that off my MSS. That would give me the potential for 24x2 or 48T :eek: although I think the MSS motherboard only support up to 19T or something...right now. :D

CD

Shawn, why dont you just hook the USB drive directly to the WHS? In my experience you have to tell WHS to add the drive to the pool, therefore, if you dont add it to the pool it will remain an unmanaged disk. Is this the same with your WHS? Then simply RDP to the WHS, this will get you into the behind the scenes win2k3 server desktop which WHS runs on. At which point you should still have access to your shares and the USB drive and then I believe you can copy directly, which should move MUCH faster. Also, 9.5MB/s sounds slow, I think when I am copying across the network it is like 35-45 (I think) [10GB in 3-5 minutes roughly in my experience I think if I recall correctly as I just recently moved to WHS myself from unRAID]

The only difference is I do not know how much HP has their WHS locked down, since mine is on a home built machine, so I have monitor/console access to the actual OS.

I hope that makes sense, let me know if you need clarification on anything.

That 8 bay is for wimps, you need one of these guys: Real Man's Drive enclosure (http://www.cwol.com/serial-ata/12-drive-enclosure-t12-sr5.htm)

If your gonna encourage him to go big you might as well break out the big guns :D

http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_port_multipliers/sc-pm20rm.asp

If your gonna encourage him to go big you might as well break out the big guns :D

http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_port_multipliers/sc-pm20rm.asp

I did...only I'm going to try DIYing this :D

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219033

CD

Shawn, why dont you just hook the USB drive directly to the WHS? In my experience you have to tell WHS to add the drive to the pool, therefore, if you dont add it to the pool it will remain an unmanaged disk. Is this the same with your WHS? Then simply RDP to the WHS, this will get you into the behind the scenes win2k3 server desktop which WHS runs on. At which point you should still have access to your shares and the USB drive and then I believe you can copy directly, which should move MUCH faster. Also, 9.5MB/s sounds slow, I think when I am copying across the network it is like 35-45 (I think) [10GB in 3-5 minutes roughly in my experience I think if I recall correctly as I just recently moved to WHS myself from unRAID]

The only difference is I do not know how much HP has their WHS locked down, since mine is on a home built machine, so I have monitor/console access to the actual OS.

I hope that makes sense, let me know if you need clarification on anything.

That 8 bay is for wimps, you need one of these guys: Real Man's Drive enclosure (http://www.cwol.com/serial-ata/12-drive-enclosure-t12-sr5.htm)

Thanks Smak. I guess I should have tried this before I transferred them. I had about 1.5TB of movies spread across two different drives. I copied all of it at the same time and transferred. Last night there was just under TB left to transfer and this morning I checked and there is like 700gigs still! It also slowed down to like 6MB/sec. It's back to to days. It is going down, but just very slowly. I wonder if it's a windows vista thing. Any idea how to speed it up? I disabled Remote Differential Compression but that didn't seem to make a difference. What about TCP Auto tuning?

Anyway, I guess I shouldn't cancel the process to try the direct hookup.

If your gonna encourage him to go big you might as well break out the big guns :D

http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_port_multipliers/sc-pm20rm.asp

I did...only I'm going to try DIYing this :D

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219033

CD

You guys are crazy:D

Yeah, I'm with you; 8.5T/340 BD rips should be plenty to "tide you over". You might start to get a little more selective about what's really rip worthy, and might start cycling out something old with something new. In the meantime, 2T drives will come down, and it's not like your 1.5Ts will go straight to the round-file; with the eSATA docking station, you could always hold on to them and use them to swap out for "sets" of movies. Keep in mind, that'll work a little different than adding them to the volume pool.

With drives in a pool, when you store something on them, that file will likely be spread across several drives; a little here and a little there. So it's not like you can pull a drive out and it'll have 35, intact rips on it; it'll likely have parts of like 100 rips on it. So, let's say the time comes to replace a 1.5 with a 2 (oh happy day); when you replace a drive in the MSS, you have to first remove it from the pool...which means you have to copy all the data off of it, onto the other, remaining drives, before you put your new drive in (you should note...you have to leave yourself enough room to do this. For example, let's say right now you have 3x1.5 plus 750 plus 2x1...which you do...for ~8.5T. When it comes time to replace a 1.5 with a 2, you need to have 1.5T left free in the volume pool, so you can temporarily copy the info from that 1.5T drive to the remaining drives...and then put your new 2T drive in. Make sense? You can't wait to make that switch when you only have 500G left, because then there isn't enough room to copy the 1.5T worth of data from the drive you're removing, to replace.) And what I was getting to is this: once that 1.5 is out, it's free and clear of data...but like I said, you won't have to chuck it. Drop it in your eSATA docking station and you'll get that 1.5T. Not 1.5T to add to the volume pool...because again, that would add bits and pieces of information to it. No, I would set these up as separate volumes...and then specifically copy this movie and that to it. Then, you can file that drive away and you know that drive represents the 30-35 movies you were able to get on it. Replace another 1.5 with 2, that'll be another 30-35 movie drive that you can swap in and out when you want to see those movies.

Of course, beyond that, if you really think the desire to have 1,000 BD rips will stick, there is always the SATA to eSATA expanders...and I'm actually looking into seeing if there is a way to turn that 20-drive case into a simple (at least more simple than a full-blown Server) SATA to eSATA port-multiplier, and hang that off my MSS. That would give me the potential for 24x2 or 48T :eek: although I think the MSS motherboard only support up to 19T or something...right now. :D

CD

Thanks CD. Yeah I read somewhere the MSS will hold up to 23 drives I think, so I guess 4 of those are the internal ones. My goal was 10TB and I can actually get that right now from just adding 2 more external usb drives! But I gotta figure out if I need to worry about backups, but I'm not going to try and tackle too much at once. Otherwise I'll get so far ahead of myself, I'll end up having to get a liquid nitrogen cooling system for all the equipment:D

Cycling the movies could work too, I've got about 10 bds that I bought when the theater was under construction that I laugh at myself for buying lol. I guess if I start running out of space though I'll get the esata expander!

Thanks Smak. I guess I should have tried this before I transferred them. I had about 1.5TB of movies spread across two different drives. I copied all of it at the same time and transferred. Last night there was just under TB left to transfer and this morning I checked and there is like 700gigs still! It also slowed down to like 6MB/sec. It's back to to days. It is going down, but just very slowly. I wonder if it's a windows vista thing. Any idea how to speed it up? I disabled Remote Differential Compression but that didn't seem to make a difference. What about TCP Auto tuning?

Anyway, I guess I shouldn't cancel the process to try the direct hookup.

well, Vista certainly has transfer issues in the base release but SP1 corrected a lot of that...seeing those speeds, are you going across wireless?

I would certainly recommend direct, I mean to go from days to hours, who cares if you delete the files and start over to ensure everything is in tact. Also, are you turning off duplication for your videos share?

you can try it with a spare drive first to test, before subjecting your drive to data loss...like I said I am not familiar with the HP WHS, just how it works with my own...but I would assume they would all function in similar fashion. But you should know actually because you have already seen how it acts when you add a new usb drive...

well, Vista certainly has transfer issues in the base release but SP1 corrected a lot of that...seeing those speeds, are you going across wireless?

I would certainly recommend direct, I mean to go from days to hours, who cares if you delete the files and start over to ensure everything is in tact. Also, are you turning off duplication for your videos share?

you can try it with a spare drive first to test, before subjecting your drive to data loss...like I said I am not familiar with the HP WHS, just how it works with my own...but I would assume they would all function in similar fashion. But you should know actually because you have already seen how it acts when you add a new usb drive...

Smak, I respectfully disagree. At this point, since the MSS and WHS are new to Shawn, I'd advise him to just let his current transfer play out. Sure, it'll take him a little longer, maybe even than if he just deleted everything and completely started over the "faster" way, but I would say better safe than sorry; I'd hate for him to lose all those rips. You're certainly not wrong in your advice, I just think better for Shawn to learn that lesson from this point forward.

Speaking of losing data...Shawn, it's around this point that you definitely should start thinking about backup. It sucks, no 2 ways about it, losing all that space; it takes your ~8T of glorious, movie-storing space and reduces it to ~4T of storage...and ~4T of backup...but think of the alternative. The phrase "an ounce of prevention..." comes to mind.

One of the things I happen to like about WHS is the selective backup (as opposed to a RAID configuration). As you have seen by now, the MSS comes pre-loaded with shares, and what Smak was talking about is there is the option to turn on what's called duplication (backup) for each share. Now, let's just say for example that you start to break your rips into 2 shares: we'll call them "replaceable" and "non-replaceable". You could choose to backup the non-replaceable, for obvious reasons, but maybe to save some space by not backing-up the replaceable rips that you've made. The only downside to that approach, is I think you won't be able to maintain the "one place" for PCH to look for all your rips, and I know how much you cherish that.

Trust me when I tell you, as a guy in IT, backup strategies always involve compromises, and usually need to be planned out well in advance...before you get too far into a project and you've ended up limiting your choices. That's why I say now...that you have enough rips to be worried about, but not so many you've boxed yourself into a corner...is a great time to start thinking about a plan.

CD

You have every right to disagree, as you make a valid point. Being in IT myself I look at things differently and maybe as easy for myself, but you are right, let him learn, and going forward he will now know there are other options available.

Well I tried to mess with some settings on the LAN ethernet card and the file transfers canceled themselves. So I'm gonna have to do this other batch over again. I ejected the drive and attached the drive via usb to the media server and remote desktop'ed in. It wouldn't let me navigate to that drive. It kept saying this drive isn't formatted, would you like to format it now, which of course I said no.

So while I was in there I also changed the settings on the media server's LAN ethernet card to match the changes I made to Vistas. After, I thought I'd try a single file (25gigs) instead of the whole lot and it's transferring now at 11-12mb/sec! Based upon searches online, that's pretty average for windows vista it seems - so I don't know if I could get any faster without going to xp or windows 7? Maybe there's some other stuff I could tweak?

The good news is my other drives came in today and I installed them no problem, now I have lots-o-storage!:)

Smak, I respectfully disagree. At this point, since the MSS and WHS are new to Shawn, I'd advise him to just let his current transfer play out. Sure, it'll take him a little longer, maybe even than if he just deleted everything and completely started over the "faster" way, but I would say better safe than sorry; I'd hate for him to lose all those rips. You're certainly not wrong in your advice, I just think better for Shawn to learn that lesson from this point forward.

Speaking of losing data...Shawn, it's around this point that you definitely should start thinking about backup. It sucks, no 2 ways about it, losing all that space; it takes your ~8T of glorious, movie-storing space and reduces it to ~4T of storage...and ~4T of backup...but think of the alternative. The phrase "an ounce of prevention..." comes to mind.

One of the things I happen to like about WHS is the selective backup (as opposed to a RAID configuration). As you have seen by now, the MSS comes pre-loaded with shares, and what Smak was talking about is there is the option to turn on what's called duplication (backup) for each share. Now, let's just say for example that you start to break your rips into 2 shares: we'll call them "replaceable" and "non-replaceable". You could choose to backup the non-replaceable, for obvious reasons, but maybe to save some space not backup the replaceable rips that you've made. The only downside to that approach, is I think you won't be able to maintain the "one place" for PCH to look for all your rips, and I know how much you cherish that.

Trust me when I tell, as a guy in IT, backup strategies always involve compromises, and usually need to be planned out well in advance...before you get too far into a project and you've ended up limiting your choices. That's why I say now...that you have enough rips to be worried about, but not so many you've boxed yourself into a corner...is a great time to start thinking about a plan.

CD

Thanks Cd. Ahhhh man, I guess I should get some backups in the works. I may as well get that 8 bay'er! :eek:

well, Vista certainly has transfer issues in the base release but SP1 corrected a lot of that...seeing those speeds, are you going across wireless?


Everything is hard wired via ethernet (not wireless)!

Everything is hard wired via ethernet (not wireless)!

gigabit or 100Mbit?

gigabit or 100Mbit?

That's a good question. My router is the Belkin N+: http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=459640 and my lan cards say 10/100/1000. But I think my Ethernet cables are just normal cat 5s. Should I be using Cat6? Is my router junk?

I downloaded Tera copy and am trying that.

That's a good question. My router is the Belkin N+: http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=459640 and my lan cards say 10/100/1000. But I think my Ethernet cables are just normal cat 5s. Should I be using Cat6? Is my router junk?

I downloaded Tera copy and am trying that.

Nah, you're giga-good, all the way around Shawn. How are you doing the transfer again?

CD

Nah, you're giga-good, all the way around Shawn. How are you doing the transfer again?

CD

Ok thanks CD. Well now with Tera Copy installed, I set it as default copy paste. So I selected all my videos in my external drive, copied them and then pasted them into the hpserver's video folder (I checked and duplication is off). Then tera copy opens and it only copies one file at a time, which I like. So far in the past half hour it's copied 2 movies. Seems to be going pretty good. Still says 12 MB/s.

Shawn.. if you hold the mouse cursor over the network icons in the task bar it should say "Speed: 1000 Mbps". this will confirm they are using gig-e.

what u want to look for when u get some transfers done is a setting called Jumboframes (or frame size).

google it and have a read.. it might help with file transfer speeds. just make sure all connected devices have the same jumboframe settings.


BTW liquid nitrogen cooling isn't all that bad.. think of how quiet it will be!!! :D

Thanks Mike! I think something is wrong cause 12mb/s seems to be the max for 100mbps and I'm getting exactly 12mb/s. So I'll look at this when I get home. Thanks.

I was doing some thinking on the wiki and such. I hate to be that guy, but it might be a giant waste of time...I mean yes we can have it in one spot here at AVS and yes everyone can add, but I just discovered this tutorial over in the NMT forums titled "How to Rip a DVD for your Networked Media Tank" I mean if we wanted to we could, but why re-invent the wheel. Maybe we just generate a list of good links...just thinking. It just seem like over kill to do this, although the wiki method sounds cool, I think it will never satisfy every one. Ah, who know, maybe we want one here at AVS, but my thought is that if some info already exists at a site that is dedicated to a NMT we might as well use that, as it might have more complete information, no?

If your in-wall cable is Cat5e, check the terminations - they may not follow the Cat5e pattern. Also check your patch cables. You can get Gigabit speeds with Cat5e.

Shawn.. if you hold the mouse cursor over the network icons in the task bar it should say "Speed: 1000 Mbps". this will confirm they are using gig-e.

what u want to look for when u get some transfers done is a setting called Jumboframes (or frame size).

google it and have a read.. it might help with file transfer speeds. just make sure all connected devices have the same jumboframe settings.


BTW liquid nitrogen cooling isn't all that bad.. think of how quiet it will be!!! :D

Ok both the htpc and server are set to 9kn mtu jumbo frames, but server is set at 1gigs and the htpc is 100mbps. How do I make it do 1gigs instead?

Added - it's not the cable either, I tried the cat5e cable going to the server to the htpc and it still says 100mbps. I also have Full duplex forced on the NIC, but it still is only at 100mbps?

I just tried my old mac laptop with windows xp on it via bootcamp hooked up via ethernet. Instantly it said 1Gbps connection speed:mad:

I think it's Vista. I may try to back up all my stuff and install xp instead. Will XP work with the MSS and such?

Thanks:o

I was doing some thinking on the wiki and such. I hate to be that guy, but it might be a giant waste of time...I mean yes we can have it in one spot here at AVS and yes everyone can add, but I just discovered this tutorial over in the NMT forums titled "How to Rip a DVD for your Networked Media Tank" I mean if we wanted to we could, but why re-invent the wheel. Maybe we just generate a list of good links...just thinking. It just seem like over kill to do this, although the wiki method sounds cool, I think it will never satisfy every one. Ah, who know, maybe we want one here at AVS, but my thought is that if some info already exists at a site that is dedicated to a NMT we might as well use that, as it might have more complete information, no?

Well Smak, you're not wrong that it's documented MANY different places, including much more appropriately here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=39, in the Digital Media Servers & Content Streamers forum of AVS. And anyone who's interested, and knows how to Google, can certainly find a WEALTH of information for themselves...at the NMT, and MSS forums...or places like WeGotServed, etc.

Here's my feeling: 1) It seems that with a few exceptions (and I'm busy in both areas), builders and streamers don't run in the same circles. I think CJ was one of the first ones, if not the first one, to kind of shed light about this process to the guys in this forum. I'm sure it generated interest, which he probably handled through bombardment of PM, but he said he always planned to write a comprehensive how-to, that he could post to the followers of his thread...and since my experience has been similar (through my involvement in the DMS), when he asked for my help, I agreed, and am happy to oblige.

2) When I say "wiki" style, I only mean in the sense of "collaboration" between the involved parties; each person adding his/her bit, like Wiki. I agree it's all been written before, but I hope we can bring a sense of plain-language, for the maybe not-so-technical set, and also cater the advice to HT enthusiasts, since that's where we'll be posting (for example, I think file-compression and re-encoding lossless audio plays a lot different on a 20 year-olds' 42" flatscreen and AVR, than it does in a theater with a 150" scope screen and $5,000 Processor).

AFAIC it's CJ's baby; he should post it in his thread, because he could have written it without our help. I just figured we'd pitch in (and I'd like to able to point at something I consider to be well-written and clear on the subject...because I participated :D...for when I get bombarded with PMs).

CD

will xp work with the mss and such?

Thanks:o

indeed!

Cd

Thanks I'm gonna try sp2 again first. See if it works. If it doesn't I'm giving up on Vista and installing xp. How can an operating system suck so badly?!

I've tried so many things it's not even funny any more. I downloaded the newest drivers from realtek, forced 1gbps, changed cables, rebooted computer, router, etc etc and I'm still getting 100mbps connection speed.

Well I started installing XP from a copy I had from my mac. And then I realized I would have to uninstall my BD drive, and then I started worrying that I might be opening up a whole new can of worms. Like maybe under xp the hdmi out might not work with my projector etc. So I guess I'm gonna live with the slow transfer connection since the only real time I need to transfer files is right now and as they're being ripped.

Unless someone can figure out why under Vista it's only getting a 100mbps connection! If you can figure it out, I'll make you some GOM frames:p

Oh btw, Vista sp2 worked fine this time. How weird is that?! It didn't fix the 100mbps problem though.

Well I started installing XP from a copy I had from my mac. And then I realized I would have to uninstall my BD drive, and then I started worrying that I might be opening up a whole new can of worms. Like maybe under xp the hdmi out might not work with my projector etc. So I guess I'm gonna live with the slow transfer connection since the only real time I need to transfer files is right now and as they're being ripped.

Unless someone can figure out why under Vista it's only getting a 100mbps connection! If you can figure it out, I'll make you some GOM frames:p

Oh btw, Vista sp2 worked fine this time. How weird is that?! It didn't fix the 100mbps problem though.

OK, are you sure that the NIC card in the vista machine is a gig card? I mean you have mentioned gig, gig, gig and I just want to be sure, so you go into the NIC card properties, and configuration and under speed and duplex what are you options? Is there one there for 1000Mbps? For instance, on mine I dont have a choice, but if I set to auto negotiate, I get 1000Mbps...However, we want to be certain it is a gig card, I mean most made in the last bunch of years are most gig cards, but you never know.

Second, when testing on the Mac did you use the same cable from your PC? This will ensure that we are on the same cable and port and that it is not a port issue. Sometimes switches/routers have ports that support gig and others that dont, but looking at your router I think they are all gig so this is a matter of ensuring the use of the same port.

What is the NIC card in the PC? You can always test with another NIC card, they are cheap, try to grab one just for testing purposes. Is you current card on board or is it an add-in?

Did you try transferring from the Mac pc to the network share? I mean if it is connected faster, you should still be able to just use that for the time being to upload the files.

I just now noticxed you mention having full duplex forced. what does that mean? do you only have the choice half and full, or is there a speed listed there as well? try the auto...(fingers crossed, I need some frames)

---

CD, in response, I see what you mean, but I know what can happen to such a write-up on this forum, just look at threads like the acoustic treatments or the grafik eye. They become super long. A wiki with manuals would be cool with clickies on a page, but that cant happen on a forum. So, I would suggest almost a dedicated forum. I feel that there is so much information that could be had on this topic, that a single sub-forum would not do it the right justice. With a dedicated forum, I would think you could split up into various sub-forums to talk about ripping, streaming, converting....I think you get the idea...

---

Shawn, my very last suggestion ... PM sent

Thanks Smak. Yes I am sure it's a gig card. It is Realtek RTL8169C. I downloaded a diagnostic tool from their site and ran it and it says the cable speed is 100. I wonder if Vista is just over sensitive to cables? Tomorrow I'll pick up a cat 6 cable, but the one I'm using now is a cat5e, wonder if it would help.

Yes I can go to speed under properties and there is a list and 1000Mbps is there. I select that and it restarts the card or whatever, but the speed is still at 100mbps. I also tried auto and that too just does 100mbps.

When I tried the laptop yes, I used the same port/same cable etc. I even tried to remove all other cables from the router, restart both router and pc and still only 100mbps.

The point about the mac transferring the 1TB of movies to the network share - doh!! Great idea, thanks:D

The point about the mac transferring the 1TB of movies to the network share - doh!! Great idea, thanks:D

would that still qualify for the GOM frames?

very strange that the tool is telling you it is only 100mbps capable. do you have another completely different cat5e cable? I dont see the cat6 being the solution...

do you have another completely different cat5e cable? I dont see the cat6 being the solution...

Agreed.

would that still qualify for the GOM frames?

very strange that the tool is telling you it is only 100mbps capable. do you have another completely different cat5e cable? I dont see the cat6 being the solution...
cat5e is old news, i have not installed that stuff in years. whats wrong with installing cat6, cat6a or even cat 7?

cat5e is old news, i have not installed that stuff in years. whats wrong with installing cat6, cat6a or even cat 7?

I never said there was anything wrong with it, I simply stated that cat5e would be fine. I mean depending on cost and availability locally, I am sure cat5e is easier to find. I just want to try a completely different cable, but a far as wrong, there is nothing wrong with the other cables other than the fact that he wont use the added bandwidth, but I dont really think that is a real issue...

CD, in response, I see what you mean, but I know what can happen to such a write-up on this forum, just look at threads like the acoustic treatments or the grafik eye. They become super long. A wiki with manuals would be cool with clickies on a page, but that cant happen on a forum. So, I would suggest almost a dedicated forum. I feel that there is so much information that could be had on this topic, that a single sub-forum would not do it the right justice. With a dedicated forum, I would think you could split up into various sub-forums to talk about ripping, streaming, converting....I think you get the idea...

No Smak, I agree it's a slippery slope. As I've said before, there are so many variables and ways to accomplish the same thing, it would be nearly impossible to write an all-encompassing manual. I think the idea is to explain the basics, as we know them, to give people a starting point. Trust me, I didn't write everything out for Shawn; a lot of my "help" was pointing him at what I consider to be the right sites for certain subjects; I mean, speaking of Wiki's...the PCH Wiki is the best starting point for anyone interested in PCH.

But as you've seen, a lot people see this machine and are vexed; "that box looks cool, but how does it work" or "I'd like to have all those movie-covers up on my big screen...how do I do it?" Sometimes, some of those sites, while clear to you and me, still leave people scratching their head about the process.

I don't want to turn this into a 100-page thread, like the Acoustics Treatment post. I agree that would be just re-hashing what has already been said, and perhaps more completely, elsewhere. I think CJ's idea is when people see his set-up (or Shawn's now...my theather isn't done yet :(), they like it; who wouldn't. And they have questions...and have more questions...and more questions. I think we wanted to just answer most of those questions in one fell swoop. Any document we put together will just be a "how we did it", made better by the fact that it involves more than just one users experience. But there will be other ways, and people are welcome to roll up their sleeves and seek out that info for themselves. For example, I'm not going to suggest MKV because I don't know it, and don't use it, and don't use it for what I feel are good reasons. If you're researching ripping/streaming (you meaning a new user), and you come across MKV...take a look and you can decide for yourself.

I'm starting to rethink this whole thing. I don't have time for the defense, much less the guide.

CD

You guys lost me at I hooked my projector up to my computer.

I have for years put off the idea. Know that I've finally gotten into BR and Netflix I can see the advantage of the "rip now watch later return and repeat" strategy.

You guys lost me at I hooked my projector up to my computer.

I have for years put off the idea. Know that I've finally gotten into BR and Netflix I can see the advantage of the "rip now watch later return and repeat" strategy.

And there ya go BIG...you don't hook your PJ to the computer. :D

CD

But as you've seen, a lot people see this machine and are vexed; "that box looks cool, but how does it work" or "I'd like to have all those movie-covers up on my big screen...how do I do it?" Sometimes, some of those sites, while clear to you and me, still leave people scratching their head about the process.

CD

I'm with BIG on this one. I do love the GUI with all the cool movie covers and the idea of being able to choose a movie that way, however, all these posts of late make my head spin :confused:.

I'm with BIG on this one. I do love the GUI with all the cool movie covers and the idea of being able to choose a movie that way, however, all these posts of late make my head spin :confused:.

HAHA, I love this stuff. even if I dont have the time to deal with it all right now, or the desire to build a new system with lots-o-storage because money. I still love talking about it and trying to learn some new things for when I am ready. But I could understand where a non-computer technical person would stand. It could be very confusing for sure. But then again, all the talk of a door earlier made my head spin too...

Im kin'da in between, I love this stuff and have a basic understanding of it and probably most importantly not afraid to jump in and give it whirl. Unfortunately it's something that I don't see in the foreseeable future just because the funds aren't there for it right now. Eventually I will get there, the good thing about not being at the forefront of it is that the technology gets cheaper and cheaper and all the kinks tend to get worked out.

would that still qualify for the GOM frames?

very strange that the tool is telling you it is only 100mbps capable. do you have another completely different cat5e cable? I dont see the cat6 being the solution...

Thanks Smak. Maybe a few panels ;)

I transferred 1TB of movies last night and it's almost done. It's going 37MB/sec from my mac laptop with an ordinary cat 5 cable!

I'll still try the cat 6 cable and if that fails, I may try a new NIC card or just live with it.

I'm with BIG on this one. I do love the GUI with all the cool movie covers and the idea of being able to choose a movie that way, however, all these posts of late make my head spin :confused:.

Heh:) A lot of the issues I'm having are more related to my PC itself or probably Vista operating system. But I agree, there's lots of headaches!

Well you guys were right, I tried the cat 6, no dice, no difference. So I picked up a PCI gigabit lan card, opened my pc up and doh! I only have PCI express slots! So I gotta return that one and order a pci-e online. Good news is though all the files are transferred to the Server and PCH sees them all:D

Im kin'da in between, I love this stuff and have a basic understanding of it and probably most importantly not afraid to jump in and give it whirl. Unfortunately it's something that I don't see in the foreseeable future just because the funds aren't there for it right now. Eventually I will get there, the good thing about not being at the forefront of it is that the technology gets cheaper and cheaper and all the kinks tend to get worked out.

I have to join the Big/Queen/Oman mindset on this as well.
The finished product and features seem really slick!!

However being from the crossover generation (crossed over to computers but still ever challenged) >> I will wait until prices drop and the technologies become more user-friendly. That said; I hope you guys start some sort of all inclusive thread for those of us that are technically challenged to be able to learn more

I got it, finally!!:D

My wife was complaining that her wireless internet upstairs (2 floors from the router in the basement) was going too slow. That combined with my 100mbps problem on my htpc, I figured I would move the modem and router back upstairs. And then I would get a switch of some kind tied in by a wireless access point or gaming adapter.

So I went to Best Buy and got these two things to set up in the basement:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6040713&st=netgear+switch&lp=5&type=product&cp=2&id=1188561461949

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9010241&st=linksys&lp=42&type=product&cp=1&id=1218008374585

It literally took me like 2 minutes to set up. Plugged it all in and checked the status of my HTPC LAN speed and it said 1Gbps!! I started some transfers of some files I ripped yesterday and it was transferring to my server at 60MB/sec:D I was only getting 12 before! And wife doesn't complain anymore about hers either;)

It must have been something to do with the Belkin router. Anyway, thanks for everyone's help on that. :)

I have to join the Big/Queen/Oman mindset on this as well.
The finished product and features seem really slick!!

However being from the crossover generation (crossed over to computers but still ever challenged) >> I will wait until prices drop and the technologies become more user-friendly. That said; I hope you guys start some sort of all inclusive thread for those of us that are technically challenged to be able to learn more

It's really cool. Yesterday I was browsing through about 75% of my collection on screen and started playing a few movies and went back and forth between different ones and when I started them back up it was exactly where I left off. It's a really cool gadget for the theater!

The main thing that is expensive I guess is the storage, especially if you factor in backups. But I think those will come down in price as the technology gets better. I wonder if in 5 years we'll have 100 Terabyte 3.5" drives :D

I got it, finally!!:D

My wife was complaining that her wireless internet upstairs (2 floors from the router in the basement) was going too slow. That combined with my 100mbps problem on my htpc, I figured I would move the modem and router back upstairs. And then I would get a switch of some kind tied in by a wireless access point or gaming adapter.

So I went to Best Buy and got these two things to set up in the basement:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6040713&st=netgear+switch&lp=5&type=product&cp=2&id=1188561461949

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9010241&st=linksys&lp=42&type=product&cp=1&id=1218008374585

It literally took me like 2 minutes to set up. Plugged it all in and checked the status of my HTPC LAN speed and it said 1Gbps!! I started some transfers of some files I ripped yesterday and it was transferring to my server at 60MB/sec:D I was only getting 12 before! And wife doesn't complain anymore about hers either;)

It must have been something to do with the Belkin router. Anyway, thanks for everyone's help on that. :)

Glad you got it workin'!!!
I am sure I am preaching to the choir on this but, don't forget to encrypt that sucker...After someone hijacked my wireless in Dec/Jan and downloaded over 750 gb in one month and then 1TB in the next month, CON-Cast suspended me for a year w/o any appeal:mad: Since then I have been beating the encryption drum to everyone I know...:D

Garen

Glad you got it workin'!!!
I am sure I am preaching to the choir on this but, don't forget to encrypt that sucker...After someone hijacked my wireless in Dec/Jan and downloaded over 750 gb in one month and then 1TB in the next month, CON-Cast suspended me for a year w/o any appeal:mad: Since then I have been beating the encryption drum to everyone I know...:D

Garen

That's a great point. I can't believe they downloaded 1TB! Good thing it wasn't like illegal music downloads or something!

My network is definitely encrypted, but I don't know how much I really need it. When I'm outside my house in the driveway I can't get a signal, and my nearest neighbor is about 6 acres away:) But you never know, maybe the hackers have high gain antennas or something!:D

That's a great point. I can't believe they downloaded 1TB! Good thing it wasn't like illegal music downloads or something!

My network is definitely encrypted, but I don't know how much I really need it. When I'm outside my house in the driveway I can't get a signal, and my nearest neighbor is about 6 acres away:) But you never know, maybe the hackers have high gain antennas or something!:D

This is actually an interesting subject as I recall reading an article about someone beating the RIAA in court because their wireless was unsecure...They made a claim that it was not them and they got off. So I guess in some cases there is a reason for unsecure wireless...:cool:

As far as the powerline Ethernet solution, see if you cant get a wire run if at all possible. They can often have some issues, although I have no experience. I just know Maximum PC never rates them very well.

So, I guess it was something with your wireless router after-all, but still it makes no sense why some devices liked it and other did not. Go figure, stupid computers

It's really cool. Yesterday I was browsing through about 75% of my collection on screen and started playing a few movies and went back and forth between different ones and when I started them back up it was exactly where I left off. It's a really cool gadget for the theater!

I think this really goes to the heart of streaming Shawn. Recently, over in the Digital Media forum, a guy asked why he should go the digital streaming route, as opposed to a new 400-disc BD changer that's coming out from Sony. One of the issues that the digital streaming crowd laid on him was the likely l o n g load times from a changer like that. I mean, not only are changers notoriously slow, but add to it the potential load times of BDs in general, and IMO you have a recipe for a very long wait.

Well, a bit of an argument (imagine that) developed about why load times are even a big deal. His position was he puts in a movie, goes and gets some popcorn (popcorn hour Shawn :p), and when he comes back the movie is ready; no big deal. My response, because again it is my personal position, is not everyone watches a movie like that. Sure, there are times when it's a first-run movie, and I'm in for the long haul. But other times, like Shawn said, I want to browse around; maybe catch my favorite scene here, 20 minutes of this film there, etc. Maybe I'm watching TV-on-DVD, which certainly necessitates lots of jumping around. This is really where digital streaming excels. Having to get up, take one disc out, put another disc in...wait for the load, etc., is just a momentum killer. I'm even worse with music, which is how I got into streaming in the first place. Once you're in that chair, and have all of your media at your fingertips without having to get and change this CD, that DVD, this BD...it'll be one of those things you wondered how you ever lived without. YMMV. :D

CD

I think this really goes to the heart of streaming Shawn. Recently, over in the Digital Media forum, a guy asked why he should go the digital streaming route, as opposed to a new 400-disc BD changer that's coming out from Sony. One of the issues that the digital streaming crowd laid on him was the likely l o n g load times from a changer like that. I mean, not only are changers notoriously slow, but add to it the potential load times of BDs in general, and IMO you have a recipe for a very long wait.

Well, a bit of an argument (imagine that) developed about why load times are even a big deal. His position was he puts in a movie, goes and gets some popcorn (popcorn hour Shawn :p), and when he comes back the movie is ready; no big deal. My response, because again it is my personal position, is not everyone watches a movie like that. Sure, there are times when it's a first-run movie, and I'm in for the long haul. But other times, like Shawn said, I want to browse around; maybe catch my favorite scene here, 20 minutes of this film there, etc. Maybe I'm watching TV-on-DVD, which certainly necessitates lots of jumping around. This is really where digital streaming excels. Having to get up, take one disc out, put another disc in...wait for the load, etc., is just a momentum killer. I'm even worse with music, which is how I got into streaming in the first place. Once you're in that chair, and have all of your media at your fingertips without having to get and change this CD, that DVD, this BD...it'll be one of those things you wondered how you ever lived without. YMMV. :D

CD

Speaking of music, we now know one solution that is pretty popular for movies (yamj and PCH) but what about music...? Any programs that give the slick eye candy like they do for movies, or should I just stick to the I-pod or PS3 to play/stream audio?

Speaking of music, we now know one solution that is pretty popular for movies (yamj and PCH) but what about music...? Any programs that give the slick eye candy like they do for movies, or should I just stick to the I-pod or PS3 to play/stream audio?

Smak, there are similar jukebox GUIs for music with these all-in-one streamers, but IMO nothing beats Squeezebox or Sonos for serious audio streaming. The big issue being navigation; who wants to have a TV or display on everytime you want to browse around for a song? Again, I guess this goes to, like the movie issue above, just how you listen to music. When I'd advocated against all-in-one's or NMT's in the past, because of the navigation, I've had people tell me "oh, I usually just pick a stream and let it run in the background". And if that's the way you listen to music, an NMT with a jukebox might be OK. But I tend to use ALL of Rhapsody, Internet Radio, as well as my own ~4,000 ripped CDs, so having a TV or display on wouldn't work for me at all.

Plus, if you're serious about the sound, I would stake the build-quality and output of the SB and Sonos against these all-in-ones (which IMO are really made for movies, and music is an after-thought) in a heartbeat.

CD

It's really cool. Yesterday I was browsing through about 75% of my collection on screen and started playing a few movies and went back and forth between different ones and when I started them back up it was exactly where I left off. It's a really cool gadget for the theater!


Dangle that cool factor long enough and someone is going to bite ;).

I think Queen is right... cuz I am all ready to take that leap now .. Hearing all this stuff from Shawn and everyone here I have already ordered my first few HDD's from new egg. I have started ripping the BD's. I am actually making them into MKV and it comes out to 18-20GB instead of the whole 40-50gb..Now I was waiting for making a choice between C200 or 110-A but hearing all this I am thinking I cant wait for C200 I need to jump into this bandwagon right now when its moving and kicking !!!!! ordereing my 110-A now :-)

I think Queen is right... cuz I am all ready to take that leap now .. Hearing all this stuff from Shawn and everyone here I have already ordered my first few HDD's from new egg. I have started ripping the BD's. I am actually making them into MKV and it comes out to 18-20GB instead of the whole 40-50gb..Now I was waiting for making a choice between C200 or 110-A but hearing all this I am thinking I cant wait for C200 I need to jump into this bandwagon right now when its moving and kicking !!!!! ordereing my 110-A now :-)

Well, I've been trying to stay busy getting the HT ready, but I'm hoping tonight I'll have some time to start that guide CJ and I have been promising. Not that the world can't spin without it, but it seems like a few have a great deal of interest.

CD

This is actually an interesting subject as I recall reading an article about someone beating the RIAA in court because their wireless was unsecure...They made a claim that it was not them and they got off. So I guess in some cases there is a reason for unsecure wireless...:cool:

As far as the powerline Ethernet solution, see if you cant get a wire run if at all possible. They can often have some issues, although I have no experience. I just know Maximum PC never rates them very well.

So, I guess it was something with your wireless router after-all, but still it makes no sense why some devices liked it and other did not. Go figure, stupid computers

Yeah I can't get a wire to it without a lot of headaches. The powerline will only be used for my internet. Which so far I've only used to browse the internet, download updates etc. But if I ever move into watching online shows like from hulu etc, I may want to give the wife the powerline and steal back the modem and router:p I did watch about 5 minutes of Lost on hulu last night in HD mode with the powerline to see if there was any lag, stuttering etc and I didn't see any.

I think this really goes to the heart of streaming Shawn. Recently, over in the Digital Media forum, a guy asked why he should go the digital streaming route, as opposed to a new 400-disc BD changer that's coming out from Sony. One of the issues that the digital streaming crowd laid on him was the likely l o n g load times from a changer like that. I mean, not only are changers notoriously slow, but add to it the potential load times of BDs in general, and IMO you have a recipe for a very long wait.

Well, a bit of an argument (imagine that) developed about why load times are even a big deal. His position was he puts in a movie, goes and gets some popcorn (popcorn hour Shawn :p), and when he comes back the movie is ready; no big deal. My response, because again it is my personal position, is not everyone watches a movie like that. Sure, there are times when it's a first-run movie, and I'm in for the long haul. But other times, like Shawn said, I want to browse around; maybe catch my favorite scene here, 20 minutes of this film there, etc. Maybe I'm watching TV-on-DVD, which certainly necessitates lots of jumping around. This is really where digital streaming excels. Having to get up, take one disc out, put another disc in...wait for the load, etc., is just a momentum killer. I'm even worse with music, which is how I got into streaming in the first place. Once you're in that chair, and have all of your media at your fingertips without having to get and change this CD, that DVD, this BD...it'll be one of those things you wondered how you ever lived without. YMMV. :D

CD


That's a really good point. I'm happy with it!

Another cool thing would be the 'demo factor'. I could find a really good reference scene in a movie and stop it there. Then the next day or whenever I show someone the theater I fire up the movie jukebox (another wow factor;)) and then start the movie and boom, we're right into the reference material:D

Dangle that cool factor long enough and someone is going to bite ;).

Heh :) I got my entire collection in there now!!:D Come on, you can even have a kids folder for all those Pixar films you have!! Speaking of which - I remember doing screens for Ratatouille and there is literally like a 2 minute wait between hitting play and actually getting to the film because of all the insane amount of previews. Now the with pch, instant access:p

I think Queen is right... cuz I am all ready to take that leap now .. Hearing all this stuff from Shawn and everyone here I have already ordered my first few HDD's from new egg. I have started ripping the BD's. I am actually making them into MKV and it comes out to 18-20GB instead of the whole 40-50gb..Now I was waiting for making a choice between C200 or 110-A but hearing all this I am thinking I cant wait for C200 I need to jump into this bandwagon right now when its moving and kicking !!!!! ordereing my 110-A now :-)

Awesome! You'll like it. It'll be a good fathers day present ;)

Happy fathers day to all the pops out there.

Heh :) I got my entire collection in there now!!:D Come on, you can even have a kids folder for all those Pixar films you have!! Speaking of which - I remember doing screens for Ratatouille and there is literally like a 2 minute wait between hitting play and actually getting to the film because of all the insane amount of previews. Now the with pch, instant access:p



Oh I remember that lag all too well every time we play that DVD. So tell me this, once you get the PCH all set up do you even need the Oppo anymore? What does the PCH connect to? What is the total $ investment to get something like this going?

Oh I remember that lag all too well every time we play that DVD. So tell me this, once you get the PCH all set up do you even need the Oppo anymore? What does the PCH connect to? What is the total $ investment to get something like this going?

Queen, that's a tough question to answer, because there a lot of variables. Not to sound like a broken record, but it sounds like CJ and I can't get to this write-up soon enough, because a lot of these types of questions would get answerd. But, the quick and dirty answer is...at a minimum, you'll need:

- a fairly, recently purchased PC that you can put a BD drive in to rip on; BD drives go for ~$100

- a copy of AnyDVD HD to decrypt the BD, before you can rip it; that's ~$150 with the lifetime updates (although less than lifetime updates are less expensive, I wouldn't really recommend it)

- the Popcorn Hour unit; ~$215 for the A-110, ~$300 for the new C-200

That's what you need at the most basic. However, you then need to think about networking, and how you're going to connect everything (and if you don't already have a Home Network in place, that might cost some money)...and storage. These files are big, and while you can put a drive in the PCH itself (a 1T drive costs ~$130), or use the drive in your PC or external USB drives, if you want a really big library, you'll need to eventually look into a really big storage solution, like an NAS or HP MSS Server...and those are where some of the bigger costs come in to play.

But, one of the nice things is you can start off small, and decide how big you want to grow, and how much you want to spend. But Queen...and I swear I am not trying to talk you or anyone else out of it...it is also some work. How much work, or hard it will be, will depend from individual to individual. Shawn made it look easy, and makes it sound easy...and that's one of those very relative terms...but it doesn't come so quickly to others. OTOH, you've got lots of friends to help you through, should you or anyone else decide you want to get on board. Again, I'm going to try and PM CJ tonight, and get us started on that how-to.

CD

CD, Manny or CJ,
What are your feelings on using the NetGear Ready Nas NV+?

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Storage/ReadyNASNVPlus.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sD3BjhOjq8&feature=related

Seems that many find this extremely reliable and leads it's class in performance. Does this unit perform better than the HP Unit? if not what are the benefits of going with the HP unit?

Thanks for your help.

CD, Manny or CJ,
What are your feelings on using the NetGear Ready Nas NV+?

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Storage/ReadyNASNVPlus.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sD3BjhOjq8&feature=related

Seems that many find this extremely reliable and leads it's class in performance. Does this unit perform better than the HP Unit? if not what are the benefits of going with the HP unit?

Thanks for your help.

CLM, I had a Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ (back when it was still owned by the company that developed it, Infrant) before my MSS. It's a fine, fine machine. I switched because, at the time, the promise of the MSS, and the WHS (Windows Home Server) that was loaded on it, was that it was going to be the first box to bring digital media into the mainstream home; in other words, digital media for everyone! How did it intend to do that? Well, for one, it was a company everyone knows, HP, as opposed to the other Servers or NAS out there, which were mostly only known by the geeks (again, it was Infrant before Netgear bought it). Two, WHS is Windows, so it's got a familiar interface, and it makes digital streaming easy by simply turning it on and off. Also, built into either the WHS or MSS are home-friendly features like photo-sharing on the Web, and back-up of all the PCs on your Home Network (if you have a Home Network).

Now, as I said, the Netgear is a fine machine...and the hardcore Server geeks tend to dog the MSS because it's a little too "cute" and user-friendly for them; they like to hack, and do Apps, and they're hardcore RAID (as a means to back-up the information) guys, and it's not powerful enough, and Bill Gates is the Devil, and so on. But, you're looking at the 2 best options, IMO, and either one would suit you just fine. It's just a matter of which kind of user are you; looking for something with the familiar Windows interface and user-friendly, or do you plan to become a hardcore, Server geek who'll outgrow the MSS?

BTW, if you have the money, the Pro model is even better than the NV+

CD

I was going to mention the Pro model but I thought the NV+ was more apple to apples in comparison. The Pro is quite a bit more and thought that the NV+ would get me by for the next 6-12 months.

If you had to make a decision today which unit would you choose to rip & store your music and video?

If you are using the YAMJ does that by pass the Windows Media Player GUI? I don't even know if that made perfect sense or not. Or do you still need YAMJ even when using the WMP? I hope you can make sense of what I am trying to ask.
Thanks

I was going to mention the Pro model but I thought the NV+ was more apple to apples in comparison. The Pro is quite a bit more and thought that the NV+ would get me by for the next 6-12 months.

If you had to make a decision today which unit would you choose to rip & store your music and video?

If you are using the YAMJ does that by pass the Windows Media Player GUI? I don't even know if that made perfect sense or not. Or do you still need YAMJ even when using the WMP? I hope you can make sense of what I am trying to ask.
Thanks

YAMJ is for the PCH, not the Server or NAS; so the PCH doesn't see the WHS GUI, and YAMJ doesn't override what's on the MSS.

If I were picking today, I'd advise you to do what I advised Shawn to do...get the MSS. The only people I might advise the NAS to are people who wouldn't need to ask my opinion in the first place. :D In other words, experienced users. Hope that helps.

CD

Oh I remember that lag all too well every time we play that DVD. So tell me this, once you get the PCH all set up do you even need the Oppo anymore? What does the PCH connect to? What is the total $ investment to get something like this going?

Its funny you mention that about the Oppo. Honestly, I barely even use the Oppo anymore except for SD dvds. Like I just finished watching The Shield on it. But usually most of the movies I watch are on Blu Ray and I watch them on the PCH now that I have it all set up. It makes things so much easier.

And to top it off, once I get a nice collection of movies, I'm gonna transform my phone jacks throughout the house to ethernet jacks so I can access my movie library from any tv in the house. But realistically since I would need a PCH also at that location it would probably only be the master bedroom for now since that's the only other place we ever watch tv. But my wife would be a happy camper if she could lay down in bed and watch one of her favorite movies without getting up :)

It's really not terribly hard to set up. I'm not an IT professional, and I had it all up in running within a few hours (with CD's training beforehand of course!). If your husband is a computer geek he should be able to set it up for you no problem. But with that said, the install and setup is certainly not plug and play like a blu ray player is!

Anyway, my cost so far:

AnyDVD HD - $150
HTPC - $800 -
Blu Ray Reader/Writer - $220 - I chose to get a writer too, a reader can be had for less $$.
Popcorn Hour - $290
Storage - $1250 - that includes my HP media server and about 8.5 Terabytes of storage

That's all I spent to get it set up. The only money I would need to spend in the future is for additional storage. A big chunk of that could be saved by using a PC you already have at home. I didn't have one and I figured if I was gonna get one why not get one with an hdmi out, memory, processor etc so I could use it to browse the web, watch online content etc. And you probably wouldn't need 8.5 TB of storage right off the bat:D. And the BD writer isn't even necessary either, I may never even use it, but I thought it would be cool.

So assuming you have a pc at home and wanted say 1TB of storage for now (about 35 movies at full PQ & AQ), all it would cost is:

$150 for AnyDVD HD, $125 for blu ray drive, $125 for external 1TB drive, $225 for PCH, so $625. Just a couple bucks more than the oppo:D

As for connections, the audio/video out connect via hdmi to your pre-pro, just like a blu ray player. But it would need a ethernet cable or something to connect it to your computer to get the files you ripped. You could get a cheap gigabit lan switch for like $30 and plug your computer in and your pch in via ethernet.

And another benefit, that I am preparing to use,;) that I don't remember seeing in this thread, is that you can also send your audio out as 7 ch. analog from the sound card into your discrete pre-outs and for people like me who have great but older receiver w/o the lossless audio, you get a two for one!!!:D A server and lossless audio w/o buying a new receiver or prepro!!:D

Garen

Garen, are you talking about an HTPC? You mention a sound card, so I wasn't sure...and I just want to keep people clear about the difference between a Popcorn Hour (what we've mostly been talking about in here) and HTPC.

CD

I guess HTPC, but if you are using a current computer to rip and store the movies, couldn't you send the audio out that way and just bypass the PCH for audio? If not I apologize and we can delete these to keep things on track...

Well, sure...but then why not use the HTPC for audio and video? See, I think this is where people keep getting confused; they keep hearing about HTPC, and I guess they think a PC in the HT is an HTPC. Again, HTPC is a PC built to play audio and video, instead of a DVD or BD player. It requires special audio cards, video cards, software, drivers, and a LOT of tweaking to get just right. You can't really just take your Dell, hook it up to your PJ, and expect to have an HTPC.

OTOH, the Popcorn Hour crowd simply uses a PC to rip, and possibly store, the files...and then the PCH to play them. Why a 2-box approach when 1, the HTPC, will do? As I said...HTPC is very technical and hard. PCH is easy.

EDIT- Garen has removed his OPs, and I told him he shouldn't have. I hope I didn't sound as if I was chastising anyone for not following; quite the contrary. I know it can be hard to follow if you're not used to it, or even particularly good with computers. That's why I wish Garen had left his posts up; it's a common misunderstanding, and I just wanted everyone...who's interested that is...to be able to learn from it. While we're at it, I'm not so sure how Shawn feels about us treating his build thread like the Popcorn Hour research center. :p Shawn, just say the word, or you know...buy something new, and we can put an end to this. I wonder if the Mods would frown on a BD ripping/streaming for HT Dummies thread in here? Maybe that's where CJ and I (and others) should share this info?

CD

Sorry!:o Actually I just wanted to make it look like CD was talking to himself:D

I guess I wasn't fully understanding the PCH thing either. I guess like BIG, Queen, cuzed and others I am still sorting this out.

I started building a, what I am hoping will be, a simplified media server, and not really a HTPC. I got a huge case that I put the same LG BR drive in, and then a motherbrd, sound card, video card, and processor. It will hold 6 1.5tb drives and with the analog outs on the sound card will get me lossless audio without having to get rid of my Denon receiver that I love...

I was planning on just running the free GUI called MediaPortal. It has as a sweet look to it, and will manage your music, tv shows, give you the weather. etc...

I am really hoping the integration is as smooth as I am planning on, and my IT guy(my cousin) has his running (and without to much effort or issues), and it reads the files that the ToNMT creates, but we shall see, I may be regretting this whole endeavor in a month, but I had already started down this road when the whole PCH thing came up and I was already committed:rolleyes:

Garen

CD, Manny or CJ,
What are your feelings on using the NetGear Ready Nas NV+?

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Storage/ReadyNASNVPlus.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sD3BjhOjq8&feature=related

Seems that many find this extremely reliable and leads it's class in performance. Does this unit perform better than the HP Unit? if not what are the benefits of going with the HP unit?

Thanks for your help.

I think they are stupid expensive...when it was still Infarant it was great, the price was like 300 something. Now that Netgear owns it, it is a waste of money in my mind. I have seen it open boxed on newegg for 350, but that the only way I would buy it. Still, WHS can be built in an old computer, so really I think at this point that is the best route, IMO.

I did it:D

Here's mine so far with the few movies I have in there!!

http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/yamj1.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/yamj2.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/yamj3.jpg

I didn't even know it provided descriptions of the movie too! This is so awesome:D And it was free! :)
THAT'S just the default interface for the popcorn hour?


I already have a Windows Home Server Setup with a few terabytes in it, and I already have a PC upstairs that can rip and transcode like a champ.


Interesting.


I kind of wanted the HTPC, but cheap and simple commands a premium. It'd be nice to be able to surf on my projector, but having a TiVo to connect with my 1T Series 3 in the den and the Popcorn Hour for connecting with my WHS would sure be dead simple.

Interesting.

I just saw something interesting in those screenshots. How the heck do you get 8.1 or 7.2 on a 5 star scale?

I just saw something interesting in those screenshots. How the heck do you get 8.1 or 7.2 on a 5 star scale?

LOL...the 5 stars are a visual element, designed by the YAMJ author; the actual info comes from IMDB, which has an out of 10 rating (which you see in parenthesis...8.1/10 for TCCOBB).

CD

THAT'S just the default interface for the popcorn hour?

That's not the default interface for the NMT, but it isn't too hard to make it look like that.

CD- I'm going to be busy tonight modifying my riser, but I should be up to working on the wiki Tuesday and Wednesday night.

CJ

So CD has me thinking about backups. I've thought of four different ways of doing it. My ultimate goal is to have as many movies as I can in the server and not limit my space by needing half of it for storage. So my ideas...

1) Get 3.5" 1.5TB drives and slide them into this docking station:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413%2BiNvLk8L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

and copy all my files over to these, probably like 40 or so movies per drive. Then store the drives and hope I never need to use them. Then keep one in there and each new rip gets copied to this and the server. The negative of this method is that it's a manual and not an automated process, but it's also the cheapest.

2) Do the same thing as number 1 except use external hard drives like this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Ga98t4j4L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

I'm not sure if there is any benefit to using these over the 3.5" TB drives. Are these more stable than the other drives because of the case?

3) Get this 5 bay enclosure:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fqp6W6ZCL._AA280_.jpg

and attach it to the server and enable folder duplication. I looked at the 8 bay version, but it needs two esata ports on the pc and the server only has one. The negative of this method is I am limited to ~10TB of actual movie storage.

4) Get this 8 bay enclosure:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41LHTMjp37L._AA280_.jpg

and attach it to the htpc by instsalling the pcie card that comes with it. Then copy all files from server onto this and then each new one gets copied here and on server.

Thoughts? Advice? :)

THAT'S just the default interface for the popcorn hour?


I already have a Windows Home Server Setup with a few terabytes in it, and I already have a PC upstairs that can rip and transcode like a champ.


Interesting.


I kind of wanted the HTPC, but cheap and simple commands a premium. It'd be nice to be able to surf on my projector, but having a TiVo to connect with my 1T Series 3 in the den and the Popcorn Hour for connecting with my WHS would sure be dead simple.

Interesting.

That's the YAMJ, this is the default interface, much more plain!

http://www.popcornhour.es/images/galeria/big/pop%20corn%20hour_13.jpg

I just saw something interesting in those screenshots. How the heck do you get 8.1 or 7.2 on a 5 star scale?

The 5150 skin I'm using now actually uses 10 stars. Not sure why the default only shows 5.

another option would be to take an old system and build an unRaid server which has its own parity built in and store backups on there. in the event one of those drives fails you still have your parity to rebuild a drive. Plus, storing drives with data makes me nervous as you dont know if it will work when you finally need it, but if you are always backing up then the drives are in use and you know they work.

Also, right now slick deals has an offer for 2 1TB drive for a crazy low price...

Thanks Smak. How would it work? And would I use an old pc or build one?

I just read my hp ex485 won't support an esata expander:mad:

Apparently the older 470 model does, but not the newer one How stupid is that!

Supposedly it will support usb enclosures, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Sans-Digital-TowerRAID-TR8U-Enclosure/dp/B001LF40PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245695269&sr=8-2

Here's one guys setup with a 8 bay usb enclosure:

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3904

I just read my hp ex485 won't support an esata expander:mad:

Apparently the older 470 model does, but not the newer one How stupid is that!

Supposedly it will support usb enclosures, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Sans-Digital-TowerRAID-TR8U-Enclosure/dp/B001LF40PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245695269&sr=8-2

Here's one guys setup with a 8 bay usb enclosure:

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3904

I guess this is where a home built WHS is a good option, with things like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112144
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103022

get everything inside one box...

..or this one....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219021

Room for 20 drives, and it's rack mountable!

CJ

I guess this is where a home built WHS is a good option, with things like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112144
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103022

get everything inside one box...

..or this one....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219021

Room for 20 drives, and it's rack mountable!

CJ

Yikes, probably a little too advanced for me!:p

I guess I'm gonna get this 8 bay usb enclosure

http://www.amazon.com/Sans-Digital-TowerRAID-TR8U-Enclosure/dp/B001LF40PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245695269&sr=8-2

and 8 1.5TB drives to fill it, run it in JBOD mode and then turn on folder duplication.

That should give me about 10TB worth of movies and 10TB for backups. So like 400 movies or so. And If I need more I can always add another usb enclosure! The MSS/WHS supposedly supports 31 drives:D

I just read my hp ex485 won't support an esata expander:mad:

Apparently the older 470 model does, but not the newer one How stupid is that!

Supposedly it will support usb enclosures, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Sans-Digital-TowerRAID-TR8U-Enclosure/dp/B001LF40PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245695269&sr=8-2

Here's one guys setup with a 8 bay usb enclosure:

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3904

Woo hoo; score one for the early adopters...lol. Shawn, have you looked into installing another eSATA card?

CD

..or this one....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219021

Room for 20 drives, and it's rack mountable!

CJ

Nah, go for the next-gen 4220 CJ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219033. A little more, but Norco learned some things on the 4020.

CD

Woo hoo; score one for the early adopters...lol. Shawn, have you looked into installing another eSATA card?

CD

I haven't, not into the MSS no. I guess that would be a benefit of building your own server like Smak said. You could load it with double eSATA PCIe cards!

One thing I found though, is even the older 470/475 models only support a 4 bay eSATA, so from my understanding even a 5 bay enclosure wouldn't work (unless it had an empty slot lol).

Strange that it supports up to 28 USB drives, but only 1 (or 4 for the older models) eSATA drives.

Yeah, things can get pretty crazy pretty quick. The USB solution should hold you over for the time being.

As far as the unRaid goes, it would sit in an old PC, does not require much, just usb and lots of storage. the OS runs on a usb stick/drive and all it does is storage. you add drives, 2 data 1 parity in the free version and it essentially shares your data on the network. you would then map to it from any computer, in my case it was my main system and then stream to your PCH from the computer connected to it.

I used it for a short while and really liked it because of how simple it was, but wanted to get away from having to have my desktop do the streaming. I figure the move to WHS was easy. copy off the data and re-build. I actually want to build a new system for WHS before I go real crazy. Just trying to wait a little to make sure the funds are right as I want to upgrade my desktop and then move my old system FX64 to to be the WHS. At which point I can build out nicely. Only issue is I have a shuttle SN27P2 that I would want to get rid of in the process so i dont waste it. This way I can have WHS stream to the PS3 and then when the PS3 is not happy, I can stream Tversity. Every so often the PS3 barks at me with unsupported media.

Then maybe one day get a PCH just for how cool it looks.

But for you, there would be an add-on app for WHS that lets you copy backups off to other media, such as the unRaid, if you backup your home systems to it. But the rest of your media you would just copy over to it I guess to have a backup like that. unRaid has SMART capabilities built in, so it monitors your storage and you can see if any drives are ill.

but with your 8 bat usb, I guess you have it under control. did you make it over to slick deals today for more storage?

Queen, that's a tough question to answer, because there a lot of variables. Not to sound like a broken record, but it sounds like CJ and I can't get to this write-up soon enough, because a lot of these types of questions would get answerd.... Again, I'm going to try and PM CJ tonight, and get us started on that how-to.

CD

Yes please! I want this, but will need big time help! Thanks in advance for your willingness to pull me (and others) into this "cool" arena!

:)

Yeah, things can get pretty crazy pretty quick. The USB solution should hold you over for the time being.

As far as the unRaid goes, it would sit in an old PC, does not require much, just usb and lots of storage. the OS runs on a usb stick/drive and all it does is storage. you add drives, 2 data 1 parity in the free version and it essentially shares your data on the network. you would then map to it from any computer, in my case it was my main system and then stream to your PCH from the computer connected to it.

I used it for a short while and really liked it because of how simple it was, but wanted to get away from having to have my desktop do the streaming. I figure the move to WHS was easy. copy off the data and re-build. I actually want to build a new system for WHS before I go real crazy. Just trying to wait a little to make sure the funds are right as I want to upgrade my desktop and then move my old system FX64 to to be the WHS. At which point I can build out nicely. Only issue is I have a shuttle SN27P2 that I would want to get rid of in the process so i dont waste it. This way I can have WHS stream to the PS3 and then when the PS3 is not happy, I can stream Tversity. Every so often the PS3 barks at me with unsupported media.

Then maybe one day get a PCH just for how cool it looks.

But for you, there would be an add-on app for WHS that lets you copy backups off to other media, such as the unRaid, if you backup your home systems to it. But the rest of your media you would just copy over to it I guess to have a backup like that. unRaid has SMART capabilities built in, so it monitors your storage and you can see if any drives are ill.

but with your 8 bat usb, I guess you have it under control. did you make it over to slick deals today for more storage?

I guess I should read up on unRaid. Thanks for the info. Sounds like you're a madman with your PCs:)

Yes I just ordered the 8 bay USB enclosure and 8 more 1.5TB drives. I actually got a PM about a better deal on the drives - 1.5 TB SATA Barracuda 7200.11 for $99 each and free shipping (at Dell)!! Thanks very much for the tip, you know who you are!

I also just enabled Folder Duplication on my server's video folder. I figured I would kick myself if something happened between now and the end of the week when the enclosure and other drives come and I have the space anyway. Soon I'll have a backup!

20 Terabytes here I come:D

Yes please! I want this, but will need big time help! Thanks in advance for your willingness to pull me (and others) into this "cool" arena!

:)

I think SW should just write it with CJ. He knows as much as I do at this point, has more storage and rips (freak!), and probably has more time.

CD

I guess I should read up on unRaid. Thanks for the info. Sounds like you're a madman with your PCs:)

Yes I just ordered the 8 bay USB enclosure and 8 more 1.5TB drives. I actually got a PM about a better deal on the drives - 1.5 TB SATA Barracuda 7200.11 for $99 each and free shipping (at Dell)!! Thanks very much for the tip, you know who you are!

I also just enabled Folder Duplication on my server's video folder. I figured I would kick myself if something happened between now and the end of the week when the enclosure and other drives come and I have the space anyway. Soon I'll have a backup!

20 Terabytes here I come:D

that was the exact deal...it was on slickdeals which is a sight that simply gives you links to "slick" deal and the one I referred to was with dell, so you got it.

Its funny you mention that about the Oppo. Honestly, I barely even use the Oppo anymore except for SD dvds. Like I just finished watching The Shield on it. But usually most of the movies I watch are on Blu Ray and I watch them on the PCH now that I have it all set up. It makes things so much easier.

And to top it off, once I get a nice collection of movies, I'm gonna transform my phone jacks throughout the house to ethernet jacks so I can access my movie library from any tv in the house. But realistically since I would need a PCH also at that location it would probably only be the master bedroom for now since that's the only other place we ever watch tv. But my wife would be a happy camper if she could lay down in bed and watch one of her favorite movies without getting up :)

It's really not terribly hard to set up. I'm not an IT professional, and I had it all up in running within a few hours (with CD's training beforehand of course!). If your husband is a computer geek he should be able to set it up for you no problem. But with that said, the install and setup is certainly not plug and play like a blu ray player is!

Anyway, my cost so far:

AnyDVD HD - $150
HTPC - $800 -
Blu Ray Reader/Writer - $220 - I chose to get a writer too, a reader can be had for less $$.
Popcorn Hour - $290
Storage - $1250 - that includes my HP media server and about 8.5 Terabytes of storage

That's all I spent to get it set up. The only money I would need to spend in the future is for additional storage. A big chunk of that could be saved by using a PC you already have at home. I didn't have one and I figured if I was gonna get one why not get one with an hdmi out, memory, processor etc so I could use it to browse the web, watch online content etc. And you probably wouldn't need 8.5 TB of storage right off the bat:D. And the BD writer isn't even necessary either, I may never even use it, but I thought it would be cool.

So assuming you have a pc at home and wanted say 1TB of storage for now (about 35 movies at full PQ & AQ), all it would cost is:

$150 for AnyDVD HD, $125 for blu ray drive, $125 for external 1TB drive, $225 for PCH, so $625. Just a couple bucks more than the oppo:D

As for connections, the audio/video out connect via hdmi to your pre-pro, just like a blu ray player. But it would need a ethernet cable or something to connect it to your computer to get the files you ripped. You could get a cheap gigabit lan switch for like $30 and plug your computer in and your pch in via ethernet.

Thanks for the detailed reply Shawn. After all that hard choosing and re-choosing, your Oppo is sitting neglected :eek:. I think for now I will just hang out and relax. It's a pretty major investment. I know that you spent quite a bit more than necessary but I know I'd be down that very same road with wanting more space ($$). Loved the screen shots of the GUI.

I guess I should read up on unRaid. Thanks for the info. Sounds like you're a madman with your PCs:)

Yes I just ordered the 8 bay USB enclosure and 8 more 1.5TB drives. I actually got a PM about a better deal on the drives - 1.5 TB SATA Barracuda 7200.11 for $99 each and free shipping (at Dell)!! Thanks very much for the tip, you know who you are!

I also just enabled Folder Duplication on my server's video folder. I figured I would kick myself if something happened between now and the end of the week when the enclosure and other drives come and I have the space anyway. Soon I'll have a backup!

20 Terabytes here I come:D

Late coming, but a buddy of mine uses QNAP (http://www.qnap.com/) and LOVES it.

I think SW should just write it with CJ. He knows as much as I do at this point, has more storage and rips (freak!), and probably has more time.

CD

I was taught by the master though:D

that was the exact deal...it was on slickdeals which is a sight that simply gives you links to "slick" deal and the one I referred to was with dell, so you got it.

Ah ok sorry. I thought you said 1TB drives, and the ones I saw on slick deals said 1TB drive for $90. And then someone PMed me with the dell offer for the 1.5TB drive for 99 and I was like sweet! Thanks for the recommendation!

Thanks for the detailed reply Shawn. After all that hard choosing and re-choosing, your Oppo is sitting neglected :eek:. I think for now I will just hang out and relax. It's a pretty major investment. I know that you spent quite a bit more than necessary but I know I'd be down that very same road with wanting more space ($$). Loved the screen shots of the GUI.

You're smart for thinking ahead about the storage. You're right you'll want more and then you'll start thinking about backups and before you know it you'll have 20 terabytes LOL.

The Oppo isn't being neglected! I still use it for SD, in fact just watched "Jesse Stone: Thin Ice". I know kind of corny, but I like those jesse stone movies. Not sure how much I'll use it for BD's though anymore:o

Like the other day I bought Friday the 13th and opened it up, popped it in the pc to rip it and streamed to the pch later that night. Never even made it into the player before being archived into the bd stash:p Atleast now I don't got to build a movie room to store all the BD's. I can store em in boxes:D

At least now I don't got to build a movie room to store all the BD's. I can store em in boxes:D

Nah, truly embrace the discless lifestyle Shawn...lose the cases, and get some of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827998006; $20 for 400-disc stroage...best per disc rate going!

I have 13 so far. :eek: OMG, I shouldn't have said that...now you'll try to out-do me on cases. :p

CD

13, sweet jesus...

Shawn, what the heck, you might as well rip the SD dvds too, stop screwing around.

I just havent been able to accept the price of BD yet, I wanted to get transformers the other day and they still want like 30 some bucks...

13, sweet jesus...

Shawn, what the heck, you might as well rip the SD dvds too, stop screwing around.

I just havent been able to accept the price of BD yet, I wanted to get transformers the other day and they still want like 30 some bucks...

It's $20 at Best Buy this week with a free comic book.

You just have to look for sales. With nearly 50 Blu Rays, I'm averaging less than $15 per disc.

I bought Transformers back in April during Targets B1G1. Bought Transformers, Wall*E, Tropic Thunder, Iron Man, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda for $15 each.

It's $20 at Best Buy this week with a free comic book.

You just have to look for sales. With nearly 50 Blu Rays, I'm averaging less than $15 per disc.

I bought Transformers back in April during Targets B1G1. Bought Transformers, Wall*E, Tropic Thunder, Iron Man, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda for $15 each.

yeah, I have to do a better job of looking.

13, sweet jesus...

10-11 for about 20 years of CDs Smak. The rest for DVD.

CD

haha, just found it at J&R used to be like 30 here too, but it is 20 now. I have some gift card money left over from when I bought the wife her vacuum, I was going to get an alarm clock, but i think I will go this route instead. It like free money. I have to start expanding BD collection with the theater being more functional now.

13, sweet jesus...

Shawn, what the heck, you might as well rip the SD dvds too, stop screwing around.

I just haven't been able to accept the price of BD yet, I wanted to get transformers the other day and they still want like 30 some bucks...

Ok I'll stop screwing around ;) Yeah I'll start ripping a few SD DVD's. Hopefully I can let the anthem take care of the upscaling.

For BD's I never pay ~$30, it's kind of insane. Usually Target has BOGO sales so they end up like $15/each. And Best Buy often has sales of $10-$20. Costco and Sams Club are actually kind of expensive from what I recall. If you trust your blockbuster store, they sell previously viewed copies of few week old new releases for like $12.

10-11 for about 20 years of CDs Smak. The rest for DVD.

CD

I thought you meant you had 13 discs, not 13 cases of 200:eek::eek:

I thought you meant you had 13 discs, not 13 cases of 200:eek::eek:

No, no, no...that would be crazy. Those are 400-disc cases, so I meant 13 cases of 400. :p

CD

No, no, no...that would be crazy. Those are 400-disc cases, so I meant 13 cases of 400. :p

CD


You are crazy! :p

folder dup is done, 2.3tb copied overnight. But I think I have a drive failure! It says one of them is unhealthy. Is that what that means?

You are crazy! :p

folder dup is done, 2.3tb copied overnight. But I think I have a drive failure! It says one of them is unhealthy. Is that what that means?

I ran the repair wizard and now it says healthy! I guess all is well. I'll keep an eye on it though :)

You are crazy! :p

folder dup is done, 2.3tb copied overnight. But I think I have a drive failure! It says one of them is unhealthy. Is that what that means?

Could have been overheating Shawn.

CD

Nah, go for the next-gen 4220 CJ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219033. A little more, but Norco learned some things on the 4020.Chenbro cases are much better quality, but they are more expensive. This is the one I'm currently running, with 16 750GB drives (8.13TB formatted in RAID 5+0 with a HighPoint RocketRAID 2340 controller).
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=39

They also have a 48-bay 2.5" drive chassis...
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=117

And a 50-bay 3.5" drive chassis... :)
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=45

Shawn, I know you don't want to "lose" storage space to bit redundancy, but having tried several different methods for storing/playing 2,000+ DVDs, I've wasted money on a lot of solutions that don't work or quickly grew tedious. I eventually ended up with this solution, and all of the extenders in the house (3 Linksys, 2 Xbox 360, 1 HTPC) can now pull from a single source for DVDs, TV, and Music.

Could have been overheating Shawn.

CD

Or it could be another issue...SEAGATE...they have been having some issues of late, I know there was a big firmware issue for a while there. It could be nothing but definitely keep an eye out. You will see at newegg. lots of people say they are great while others have tons of issues. this is why a good backup is nice, or in this case dupe. If it is bad you remove it from the storage pool and then replace the thing, or so i believe thats how it works. I have not have to go through this just yet. I try to stick with WD, I always have seemed to have had better luck there.

By the way, i am toying with ordering myself a new MB to then build out my WHS, less storage of coarse, but at least then I can start getting my hand dirty with it all for real already.

Chenbro cases are much better quality, but they are more expensive. This is the one I'm currently running, with 16 750GB drives (8.13TB formatted in RAID 5+0 with a HighPoint RocketRAID 2340 controller).
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=39

They also have a 48-bay 2.5" drive chassis...
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=117

And a 50-bay 3.5" drive chassis... :)
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=45

Shawn, I know you don't want to "lose" storage space to bit redundancy, but having tried several different methods for storing/playing 2,000+ DVDs, I've wasted money on a lot of solutions that don't work or quickly grew tedious. I eventually ended up with this solution, and all of the extenders in the house (3 Linksys, 2 Xbox 360, 1 HTPC) can now pull from a single source for DVDs, TV, and Music.

Nice! :D Or the SuperMicro http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811152124, which used to be the DIYers go to case before the cheap Norco's came along.

CD

Nice! :D Or the SuperMicro http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811152124, which used to be the DIYers go to case before the cheap Norco's came along.

CD

Not to get totally off topic, but is something like that SuperMicro or the Chenbros compatible with unRAID? And do those prices include motherboards?

The 16 bay Chenbro was around $600. Seems pretty good if it include the mobo and psu. Probably not though, right?

Could have been overheating Shawn.

CD

Or it could be another issue...SEAGATE...they have been having some issues of late, I know there was a big firmware issue for a while there. It could be nothing but definitely keep an eye out. You will see at newegg. lots of people say they are great while others have tons of issues. this is why a good backup is nice, or in this case dupe. If it is bad you remove it from the storage pool and then replace the thing, or so i believe thats how it works. I have not have to go through this just yet. I try to stick with WD, I always have seemed to have had better luck there.

By the way, i am toying with ordering myself a new MB to then build out my WHS, less storage of coarse, but at least then I can start getting my hand dirty with it all for real already.

Thanks, I hope it was just the temperature on it. I guess writing 2.3TB worth of data might make the drive say "It's Getting Hot in Here":D

I checked the thermostat down here and it's at 70, so I turned the air on to 67, cause it's like 99 degrees outside today!:eek:

I've seen those reviews Smak, hopefully mine will be ok. When/if a drive does fail, what do you do with it? Contact the merchant or Seagate?

Chenbro cases are much better quality, but they are more expensive. This is the one I'm currently running, with 16 750GB drives (8.13TB formatted in RAID 5+0 with a HighPoint RocketRAID 2340 controller).
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=39

They also have a 48-bay 2.5" drive chassis...
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=117

And a 50-bay 3.5" drive chassis... :)
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=45

Shawn, I know you don't want to "lose" storage space to bit redundancy, but having tried several different methods for storing/playing 2,000+ DVDs, I've wasted money on a lot of solutions that don't work or quickly grew tedious. I eventually ended up with this solution, and all of the extenders in the house (3 Linksys, 2 Xbox 360, 1 HTPC) can now pull from a single source for DVDs, TV, and Music.

Whoa, 50 bays?? Now we're talking:D Is that just an empty case for the drives, or does it come with everything it needs to be able to slide the drives in?

I got it, finally!!:D

My wife was complaining that her wireless internet upstairs (2 floors from the router in the basement) was going too slow. That combined with my 100mbps problem on my htpc, I figured I would move the modem and router back upstairs. And then I would get a switch of some kind tied in by a wireless access point or gaming adapter.

So I went to Best Buy and got these two things to set up in the basement:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6040713&st=netgear+switch&lp=5&type=product&cp=2&id=1188561461949

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9010241&st=linksys&lp=42&type=product&cp=1&id=1218008374585

It literally took me like 2 minutes to set up. Plugged it all in and checked the status of my HTPC LAN speed and it said 1Gbps!! I started some transfers of some files I ripped yesterday and it was transferring to my server at 60MB/sec:D I was only getting 12 before! And wife doesn't complain anymore about hers either;)

It must have been something to do with the Belkin router. Anyway, thanks for everyone's help on that. :)

Just wanted to update this in case anyone else is having/had this problem. Later on that night after changing the Belkin router for the gigabit switch I had connection dropouts like crazy. It would say 1Gbps and then network cable unplugged, over and over. Until finally it did another handshake and then came back with 100Mbps. This is with a cat 6 cable.

So it seems the ethernet connection was giving me handshake issues like hdmi does. So I had already ordered this intel pcie gigabit adapter (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2276643&SRCCODE=WEBLET03SHIP&cm_mmc=Email-_-WebletMain-_-WEBLET03SHIP-_-03ship):
http://images.tigerdirect.com/skuimages/large/I69-6020-main.jpg

which I thought I'd be returning. But since these handshakes started I thought I would install this and see if had the same problems.

I installed it yesterday and I haven't had one problem yet and it's still at 1Gbps and transfers are excellent - 35-60MB/sec.

So it seems the network card that came with the PC by realtek is either crap or the drivers were messed up. And I guess the belkin router knew it couldn't handle more than 100Mbps so that's why I couldn't get 1Gbps with it. And the switch tried to get 1Gbps, but couldn't sustain it.

Very weird, but happily it's working so far!

Shawn, to answer both you and Ed, typically these kinds of cases are barebones; chassis, fan array, and drive bays. You need mobo, drive controllers, PS, etc. They document these builds over in the HTPC thread (and elsewhere of course), and the costs associated with building from scratch. I'm tackling one in the Winter (my slow season at work). I was thinking of the 20-bay from Norco, but these 24, 36, 48, 50-bay units really make me salivate.

CD

Thanks, I hope it was just the temperature on it. I guess writing 2.3TB worth of data might make the drive say "It's Getting Hot in Here":D

I checked the thermostat down here and it's at 70, so I turned the air on to 67, cause it's like 99 degrees outside today!:eek:

I've seen those reviews Smak, hopefully mine will be ok. When/if a drive does fail, what do you do with it? Contact the merchant or Seagate?

If it is in the first 30 days do new egg, their support is awesome, if it is beyond, do seagate. most often you will be able to do cross shipping to simplify life a little, where you can ship back in their box.

So it seems the ethernet connection was giving me handshake issues like hdmi does. So I had already ordered this intel pcie gigabit adapter:

I cant believe it, shawn actually bought something online. So does this also mean that the power line network thing is going back?

Shawn, to answer both you and Ed, typically these kinds of cases are barebones; chassis, fan array, and drive bays. You need mobo, drive controllers, PS, etc. They document these builds over in the HTPC thread (and elsewhere of course), and the costs associated with building from scratch. I'm tackling one in the Winter (my slow season at work). I was thinking of the 20-bay from Norco, but these 24, 36, 48, 50-bay units really make me salivate.

CD

Ah ok thanks. That'll be down the road when I've outgrown the 32 drive MSS :D

If it is in the first 30 days do new egg, their support is awesome, if it is beyond, do seagate. most often you will be able to do cross shipping to simplify life a little, where you can ship back in their box.

Thanks for the info :)

I cant believe it, shawn actually bought something online. So does this also mean that the power line network thing is going back?

Whatcha talking about?:D

I buy stuff online all the time! It's just I'm too impatient to actually wait for it so I often buy it in the store instead:p

But I've been trying to get better - I've even started buying grocery items in bulk off amazon!

Powerline - probably going to keep, that was for a different purpose (my wife's internet). Although...I may give her the powerline and steal back the router and modem:)

Thanks for the info :)



Whatcha talking about?:D

I buy stuff online all the time! It's just I'm too impatient to actually wait for it so I often buy it in the store instead:p

But I've been trying to get better - I've even started buying grocery items in bulk off amazon!

Powerline - probably going to keep, that was for a different purpose (my wife's internet). Although...I may give her the powerline and steal back the router and modem:)

I would definitely steal it back, she will never know...;)

It was just funny that you posted a link to tiger direct, because this last week everything you needed you were running to best buy or wherever and paying top dollar for it all and to hear you say you waited for something to actually be shipped to you was amazing and caught be a bit off guard. I had to take a step back for a minute.:)

I am just glad we have those woes behind us.

What is the NIC card in the PC? You can always test with another NIC card, they are cheap, try to grab one just for testing purposes. Is you current card on board or is it an add-in?

SO, does this mean I should be planning for my GOM frames?:D

I would definitely steal it back, she will never know...;)

It was just funny that you posted a link to tiger direct, because this last week everything you needed you were running to best buy or wherever and paying top dollar for it all and to hear you say you waited for something to actually be shipped to you was amazing and caught be a bit off guard. I had to take a step back for a minute.:)

I am just glad we have those woes behind us.



SO, does this mean I should be planning for my GOM frames?:D

Doh! I guess so, start planning:D

Yeah I'm glad it's fixed too. As to buying that stuff from Best Buy - if it helps, I rarely ever buy anything there without a 10% coupon in hand.

The tiger direct, it's funny I actually drove to one of the new "comp usa/tiger direct" stores to buy it in store - but they didn't have it so I had to order online:D

I'm gonna try to wire my phone jack in the 'modem closet' (main floor of house where printers are and such) to an ethernet jack and then join the cat 5 wire to the modem closet to the cat 5 wire to the theater rack and see if I can get internet hard wired and be able to return the powerline!

Thanks again for the help!

I ran the repair wizard and now it says healthy! I guess all is well. I'll keep an eye on it though :)
bad sectors. I had that on my drives when I put my WHS together. I had to run that a time or two for each drive, and it just marks the bad sectors and replicates the data to a new area. It's almost like burn-in. Once you find the bad sectors, you don't really have to worry about them anymore since it just pretends they don't exist. It's built into most OS's now including windows server.

bad sectors. I had that on my drives when I put my WHS together. I had to run that a time or two for each drive, and it just marks the bad sectors and replicates the data to a new area. It's almost like burn-in. Once you find the bad sectors, you don't really have to worry about them anymore since it just pretends they don't exist. It's built into most OS's now including windows server.

Bad sectors is bad though. This is not a good thing, it is like buying a projector with dead pixels...

I'm gonna try to wire my phone jack in the 'modem closet' (main floor of house where printers are and such) to an ethernet jack and then join the cat 5 wire to the modem closet to the cat 5 wire to the theater rack and see if I can get internet hard wired and be able to return the powerline!



I did it!! I was able to rewire all my jacks in the house to ethernet. I also found out while doing it all my wires are cat 5e! I thought they were just cat 5. Anyway, I'm gonna be able to return the powerline thing. I figure I would move the modem and router downstairs where all the cat5e homerun to and then plug in the printer closet, my wifes computer, my office, and theater room into the router! We'll see how it goes :)

Bad sectors is bad though. This is not a good thing, it is like buying a projector with dead pixels...
No, it's like buying a car with an advertixed 20cuft of trunk space but getting 19cuft due to a device added to the trunk due to a factory recall.

You'll never notice the difference between 903GB and a drive masked to 902GB to avoid the bad sectors. If you're that tight on space, your issue is not with that HDD.

No, it's like buying a car with an advertixed 20cuft of trunk space but getting 19cuft due to a device added to the trunk due to a factory recall.

You'll never notice the difference between 903GB and a drive masked to 902GB to avoid the bad sectors. If you're that tight on space, your issue is not with that HDD.

yes but on a brand new drive this can mean there are potential issues with the disk surface and it could be on the verge of failure. yes it can work for years and often there are spare sectors on a drive to be used in the event of a failure but on a new drive I would not want to be seeing bad sectors.

BTW you car trunk analogy is brutal, if you added something to the trunk then it is an addition, like a drive you add data to it so it has less free space. I mean you are calling it an addition...but whatever, its a mute point, I was only saying that he should monitor the drive via SMART which helps detect further failure.

My drives came today! And I finished up the network changes.

Drives:
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/6241.jpg

Network :) I know it's kind of messy, but it's working!!
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/6243.jpg
http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/6244.jpg

Now we have blazing fast internet in my study, my wife's computer, the theater room everywhere basically now! It was super easy changing out the phone jacks for ethernet jacks and wiring the home run ones. A lot easier than I thought it would be! I can also now transfer files super fast and set up multiple PCH's to pull from the server (in the future;)).

Thanks Smak for talking me into doing away with the powerline. I returned it today - $150 saved...that's like another 2TB :D

Another update on the ripping process using ToNMT. Some people have mentioned they don't want to spend the time on it and just want to 1:1 copies and copy the main m2ts file for non seamless branched titles. I found out after playing around with them that stripping out the extra audio tracks that you don't need is really helpful for streaming because it makes the bitstream smaller. So I would definitely recommend to strip out the audio that you don't need as it will save you storage space and will be easier to stream with no quality loss.

bad sectors. I had that on my drives when I put my WHS together. I had to run that a time or two for each drive, and it just marks the bad sectors and replicates the data to a new area. It's almost like burn-in. Once you find the bad sectors, you don't really have to worry about them anymore since it just pretends they don't exist. It's built into most OS's now including windows server.

Thanks for the info!

I was only saying that he should monitor the drive via SMART which helps detect further failure.

Thanks - is SMART a feature of WHS or an addon software?

Thanks for the info!



Thanks - is SMART a feature of WHS or an addon software?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Monitoring,_Analysis,_and_Reporting_Technology

Essentially it is hardware monitoring...it is built into the hard drives and the MB bios (I believes thats where it is) and then essentially you have software that can monitor it. For instance, I have a smoothwall firewall (home built firewall on a linux kernel) and there is an add-on that monitors the SMART status and can notify me of issues with the drives and even email me I I configure it correctly.

Windows has programs that can monitor it as well and report status.

I am pretty sure WHS can monitor it too. I think thats partly where the drive status comes into play.

With all your drives now you definitely need this add-on: http://www.whsplus.com/2009/04/06/windows-home-server-disk-management/

But yes, there are add-ins that should help tell you whether you are safe, or your drive is predicted to fail...

I know you need more to do, so have at it: http://www.homeserverland.com/media/g/whsaddins/default.aspx?Sort=Rating&PageIndex=1

Shawn, I 'm sure you realize this, but, as you add drives to the storage pool, LABEL THE PHYSICAL DRIVE. There's nothing worse than having one of a bunch of identical drives go bad and then realizing you don't know WHICH physical drive to actually remove.

http://www.whsplus.com/2009/05/26/my-movies-for-windows-home-server/


This looks like it lets you rip directly on the server with your settings for YAMJ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Monitoring,_Analysis,_and_Reporting_Technology

Essentially it is hardware monitoring...it is built into the hard drives and the MB bios (I believes thats where it is) and then essentially you have software that can monitor it. For instance, I have a smoothwall firewall (home built firewall on a linux kernel) and there is an add-on that monitors the SMART status and can notify me of issues with the drives and even email me I I configure it correctly.

Windows has programs that can monitor it as well and report status.

I am pretty sure WHS can monitor it too. I think thats partly where the drive status comes into play.

With all your drives now you definitely need this add-on: http://www.whsplus.com/2009/04/06/windows-home-server-disk-management/

But yes, there are add-ins that should help tell you whether you are safe, or your drive is predicted to fail...

I know you need more to do, so have at it: http://www.homeserverland.com/media/g/whsaddins/default.aspx?Sort=Rating&PageIndex=1

Thank you! I installed the disk management add-on, it's pretty neat. I viewed the details on each drive and none of them predicted failure, hopefully it's right:p

I'll have to look around at those other ones!

Shawn, I 'm sure you realize this, but, as you add drives to the storage pool, LABEL THE PHYSICAL DRIVE. There's nothing worse than having one of a bunch of identical drives go bad and then realizing you don't know WHICH physical drive to actually remove.

That's a great idea thanks. My 8 bay enclosure is coming today so I can label them as I set it up. How do I label it though? Doesn't it get pretty hot in there? Permanent marker?

http://www.whsplus.com/2009/05/26/my-movies-for-windows-home-server/


This looks like it lets you rip directly on the server with your settings for YAMJ.

Thanks - not sure what the benefit of doing it that way would be?

That's a great idea thanks. My 8 bay enclosure is coming today so I can label them as I set it up. How do I label it though? Doesn't it get pretty hot in there? Permanent marker?



Thanks - not sure what the benefit of doing it that way would be?
not much now that you're set up. But no network transfers and you could have a one step DVD ripper set up there in the theater so that it could rip a DVD while you got ready (or a bluray in a little while longer).

I just write on them with a sharpie or whiteout if it's a black case, or use tape and the marker. If it's hot enough to do anything to tape or anything, then you need more air. My drives are never more than 100 F in any of my pc's.

Shawn,

Have to ask, but what do you need additional backups for? I say additional, since you have backups of all of your movies on the actual physical media. They only thing you are actually backing up, is your time.

Do you have something like a RAID-5 setup, then you aren't too bad off? But if you are mirroring your data, then IMHO, it's not worth it.

If you were to loose a 1.5TB HD, then you'd loose like ~60 25GB rips. (Well, now that I do the math, at ~90min/rip, that's 3.75 days).


So, nevermind.

Keith

Shawn,

Have to ask, but what do you need additional backups for? I say additional, since you have backups of all of your movies on the actual physical media. They only thing you are actually backing up, is your time.

Do you have something like a RAID-5 setup, then you aren't too bad off? But if you are mirroring your data, then IMHO, it's not worth it.

If you were to loose a 1.5TB HD, then you'd loose like ~60 25GB rips. (Well, now that I do the math, at ~90min/rip, that's 3.75 days).


So, nevermind.

Keith


RAID does not = a backup solution...

Shawn,

Have to ask, but what do you need additional backups for? I say additional, since you have backups of all of your movies on the actual physical media. They only thing you are actually backing up, is your time.

Do you have something like a RAID-5 setup, then you aren't too bad off? But if you are mirroring your data, then IMHO, it's not worth it.

If you were to loose a 1.5TB HD, then you'd loose like ~60 25GB rips. (Well, now that I do the math, at ~90min/rip, that's 3.75 days).


So, nevermind.

Keith
WHS has a redundancy and rebuild feature. So to backup, it's just costing him twice as much in storage.

not much now that you're set up. But no network transfers and you could have a one step DVD ripper set up there in the theater so that it could rip a DVD while you got ready (or a bluray in a little while longer).

I just write on them with a sharpie or whiteout if it's a black case, or use tape and the marker. If it's hot enough to do anything to tape or anything, then you need more air. My drives are never more than 100 F in any of my pc's.

Ok thanks!

Shawn,

Have to ask, but what do you need additional backups for? I say additional, since you have backups of all of your movies on the actual physical media. They only thing you are actually backing up, is your time.

Do you have something like a RAID-5 setup, then you aren't too bad off? But if you are mirroring your data, then IMHO, it's not worth it.

If you were to loose a 1.5TB HD, then you'd loose like ~60 25GB rips. (Well, now that I do the math, at ~90min/rip, that's 3.75 days).


So, nevermind.

Keith

You're right about the time - it would be a big pain to re-rip them all. The added storage for duplication (backups) is really only about a hundred bucks extra for every 50 movies or so. I figure it's worth it!!

Today I got the 8 bay enclosure TR8U! I set it all up, labeled the drives. It's gonna work great! I have like 11TB free!

http://www.uncoverthenet.com/shawn/theater/tr8u1.jpg

A small problem though - it only recognized 6 of the drives. After doing some research, it's a very common problem with the power cables inside the box. Apparently the new units have this fix, but mine must be an older one. So I contacted Sans Digital tech support and they sent me instructions and are going to mail out the cables.

In case anyone is having the same problem -the cables you need are two 4 pin Y molex cables. You can also buy them from a computer store for a few bucks. And here are the instructions from tech support

Inside the unit, the power cable goes from the power supply to a board and then goes to the backplane that connects all drives.

In order to fix the issue, it has to use the power extension cables to directly connect the power supply and the backplane that connects all drives (skip connecting to the board).

In this case, all eights can spin up together and be detected by your computer.

You may try the steps below to change the cable.

1. take off the side cover of the unit (take two screws off first)
2. there is a board at the bottom of the unit
3. there are four IDE cables (yellow) and four power cables connect the board and the back of the drives, each cable handle one set (2 drives).
4. remove all four IDE cables (please make a note to make sure which two ports are a set when you put the cable back later)
5. remove all four power cables
6. after removing the IDE and power cables, you will see there are two cables and a ATX connector that connecting the power supply and the board at the bottom
7. remove the ATX connector and two power cables
8. use the expansion power cables we provide to connect the power supply to the back of the drives
9. connect the ATX connector back
10. connect four IDE cables back
11. put the cover on

The steps might be a little bit complicate, please be careful when you doing it and not hurt yourself.


I'll try not to hurt myself:D

RAID does not = a backup solution...

True Raid doesn’t = Backups, but does offer some protection and benefits over JBOD.
Is it worth the cost to setup a Hardware Raid over JBOD would a personal choice.
When backing up data, especially that much there’s always compromises.
I do believe someone said this /\ earlier. ;)

Ok thanks!



You're right about the time - it would be a big pain to re-rip them all. The added storage for duplication (backups) is really only about a hundred bucks extra for every 50 movies or so. I figure it's worth it!!
plus in WHS, you're backing up the images on your PC's. That's definitely worth it.

The bigger problem than just ripping movies while you're doing something else is figuring out which movies you need to rip again. That's a project that you can't walk away from to eat dinner, mow the yard, etc.

About the TR8U: Very interesting design there. When it starting talking about the IDE cables, I was confused, since it's a SATA enclosure.

So, I looked at its insides over at NewEgg and it looks like each SATA drive goes through a SATA-IDE bridge, then down to the RAID card, which then converts it to USB. So, serial to parallel to serial. Sounds efficient to me :).

Keith

He He Shawn you are a addict now I'm sure your wife just shakes her head and rolls her eyes whenever you start talking home theater talk :D

Uh oh...my wife does that now and I haven't even started our build yet!

He He Shawn you are a addict now I'm sure your wife just shakes her head and rolls her eyes whenever you start talking home theater talk :D

LOL, yeah it's usually a combination of shaking her head, rolling her eyes and walking away:D

Last night I watched a blu ray movie on the new usb enclosure. Both the primary and backup copy were on the drives in the enclosure. It played perfectly, no issues!

Pretty happy about that because that means I could theoretically expand my current setup to 48TB, or about a thousand movies with backups of each one!

And Sans Digital mailed out the cables to do the surgery.

Last night I watched a blu ray movie on the new usb enclosure. Both the primary and backup copy were on the drives in the enclosure. It played perfectly, no issues!

Pretty happy about that because that means I could theoretically expand my current setup to 48TB, or about a thousand movies with backups of each one!

And Sans Digital mailed out the cables to do the surgery.

Man you are getting really good at calculating BD movie numbers, how many SD movies could you fit?:confused:

Man you are getting really good at calculating BD movie numbers, how many SD movies could you fit?:confused:

Well, if each movie were ~5GB, you could fit 300 on a 1.5TB disk. Considering that each blu-ray could probably be around 25GB, Shawn could actually get 2000 in that space. Are there ever 2000 movies out on Blu?

Keith

Shawn,

Have you tried any HD-DVD movies out? That drive of yours can read both, and I'm pretty sure the PCH (A110) can play it.

Keith

Man you are getting really good at calculating BD movie numbers, how many SD movies could you fit?:confused:

No idea how many SD's, but blu rays are averaging about 24 gigs a piece for me. :)

My dad just sent me more blu rays of childhood movies I used to like - one was short circuit. I used to love that movie. Watching it now it feels so dated LOL.

Well, if each movie were ~5GB, you could fit 300 on a 1.5TB disk. Considering that each blu-ray could probably be around 25GB, Shawn could actually get 2000 in that space. Are there ever 2000 movies out on Blu?

Keith

That's a good point, I'm not sure how many BD's there are so far.

Shawn,

Have you tried any HD-DVD movies out? That drive of yours can read both, and I'm pretty sure the PCH (A110) can play it.

Keith

No I haven't tried any HD DVDs. I don't have any. I suppose I could buy some used ones online for pretty cheap.

how does a movie like short circuit even look on BD? Some of those super old movies I wonder if it is even worth it? Is it just glorified SD content at that point?

how does a movie like short circuit even look on BD? Some of those super old movies I wonder if it is even worth it? Is it just glorified SD content at that point?

It totally is just a glorified SD. It was pretty clear in some scenes and in others extremely grainy. There is DTS-HD MA which the SD version wouldn't have. But it's not a title I would spend the extra $$ on for Blu Ray.

Ah, thats what I was thinking. I guess its one of those things you kind of draw the line as to what movies you think will be good and which will not benefit much, such as this. I was on bluray.com the other night looking at movies coming out and 2 must have that are coming in september, Gladiator and Braveheart. Those 2 were still made at a time that I think they will be very awesome and benefit from BD, but I guess we wont know till then.

Finally, Gladiator is coming out in HD. I'm surprised that it took so long. Also, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is coming out on BluRay in November. Can't wait to pick those up!

CJ

Also, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is coming out on BluRay in November. Can't wait to pick those up!


I'll be waiting until 2011 when the real version of LOTR comes out.

I'll be waiting until 2011 when the real version of LOTR comes out.

What version is that?

CJ

Ah, thats what I was thinking. I guess its one of those things you kind of draw the line as to what movies you think will be good and which will not benefit much, such as this. I was on bluray.com the other night looking at movies coming out and 2 must have that are coming in september, Gladiator and Braveheart. Those 2 were still made at a time that I think they will be very awesome and benefit from BD, but I guess we wont know till then.

I think those two will be good in BD. Much better than Short Circuit I'm sure:D

RAID does not = a backup solution...No, but if you're going to buy another set of drives to back up a JBOD array, then you might as well run two separate RAID arrays and mirror them. Drop a drive in either and you just insert a spare and rebuild. Data on 2 sets of JBOD drives isn't safer than data on redundant RAID arrays, or as easy to restore.

What version is that?

CJ

The EE's.

Off Theater Building Topic Question:

I'm running Windows Server 2003 in a box with a bunch of parallel ATA 250GB drives in a SOFTWARE raid 5 array. One recently died and I needed to replace it. You mentioned labeling the drives when you put them into an array....waht do you label them with? Is there a unique identifier on the drive that is picked up by Windows?

To replace this disk, I had to shut down, pull the power cable from drive 1, then reboot and see if it was the one with errors. When that wasn't the right one, I had to shut down, replace the power cable on drive 1, then pull the power cable from drive 2, reboot....

There has to be a way to label each drive so that I know which one to pull without this little dance.

Any help would be appreciated.

You mentioned labeling the drives when you put them into an array...I believe the labeling comment was related to a collection of drives like Shawn has (no array) where the label (Sharpie or tape) corresponds to the name or drive letter of the drive in Windows.

There has to be a way to label each drive so that I know which one to pull without this little dance.There is. Use a RAID card that has failure indicators for each of the drives. :)

Unfortunately, when combined in a software RAID collection there's no easy way to identify the offending drive. Worse, if you unplug the wrong drive and reboot, there is a possibility that Windows may see the whole array as broken and not allow you to recover.

If you used Window's striping or another "combined" drive option when configuring the drives, you may be able to go into Disk Management (Vista: Start -> Computer -> Right click on Manage -> Continue -> Disk Management) and see which drive is dead. However, if it's "just" a write error that's causing the problem, it's unlikely that you'll find the bad drive that way.

Your best bet is not to boot into Windows, and instead boot using the Ultimate Boot CD (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com) to run hard drive diagnostics (read only!) on the drives. Hope that helps.

Yeah I ended up labeling my drives with permanent marker. Hopefully I won't have to use the labeling system;)

So last night I had my first movie that would not play in the Oppo or AnyDVD. It was "12 Rounds". Seems it's a new encryption by Fox that renders it useless in most players. It's absolutely ridiculous. Most people already think Blu Rays are insanely expensive and won't make the move, but adding in the fact that they keep releasing movies that simply won't play, yeah real smart.

Anyway - while I had the Oppo running I played a movie that I was gonna watch on the PCH just for fun. I gotta say I am spoiled now:p Even with the Oppo, the logos, the previews etc just make it so much more of a pain to watch the movie - and the fact that I had to actually get up from the captains chair:D

Yeah I ended up labeling my drives with permanent marker. Hopefully I won't have to use the labeling system;)

So last night I had my first movie that would not play in the Oppo or AnyDVD. It was "12 Rounds". Seems it's a new encryption by Fox that renders it useless in most players. It's absolutely ridiculous. Most people already think Blu Rays are insanely expensive and won't make the move, but adding in the fact that they keep releasing movies that simply won't play, yeah real smart.

Anyway - while I had the Oppo running I played a movie that I was gonna watch on the PCH just for fun. I gotta say I am spoiled now:p Even with the Oppo, the logos, the previews etc just make it so much more of a pain to watch the movie - and the fact that I had to actually get up from the captains chair:D

Shawn, give Sly 2 weeks and they'll release a patch that'll break that 12 Rounds deal. That's why you get the lifetime updates. :D

CD

Shawn, give Sly 2 weeks and they'll release a patch that'll break that 12 Rounds deal. That's why you get the lifetime updates. :D

CD

Surprisingly, this new round of encryption has slowed them down a little... It's been 4 weeks and they still don't have it cracked. Either that, or they're on vacation...

At worst it will be another month or so, though. SlySoft is the best!

Surprisingly, this new round of encryption has slowed them down a little... It's been 4 weeks and they still don't have it cracked. Either that, or they're on vacation...

At worst it will be another month or so, though. SlySoft is the best!

Well, like Shawn said, supposedly it's so tough most players won't read it!? What are they thinking?

CD

Shawn:

I'm curious. How do you deal with the issue of remote control with the HTPC / Popcorn unit you have.

Since I'm using mostly RS-232 with my theater, a PC would be a total non-starter on my end.

How does the Popcorn unit work that way? Are you just using the HTPC for storage?

Basically, confused catching up on your thread.

And, BTW, thanks for the wave on the other thread.

Shawn:

I'm curious. How do you deal with the issue of remote control with the HTPC / Popcorn unit you have.

Since I'm using mostly RS-232 with my theater, a PC would be a total non-starter on my end.

How does the Popcorn unit work that way? Are you just using the HTPC for storage?

Basically, confused catching up on your thread.

And, BTW, thanks for the wave on the other thread.

Hey Doc :)

I don't use the HTPC for anything other than ripping the movies and web browsing so far. So for both of those I use a wireless mouse and keyboard.

The PCH works great with the harmony just like a blu ray player. I haven't gotten into RS-232 yet so not sure how all that would work!

Surprisingly, this new round of encryption has slowed them down a little... It's been 4 weeks and they still don't have it cracked. Either that, or they're on vacation...

At worst it will be another month or so, though. SlySoft is the best!

Yeah tell em to hurry up dammit:D

Well, like Shawn said, supposedly it's so tough most players won't read it!? What are they thinking?

CD

Yup, it's useless in my house - and I have 3 players, 4 if you count the HTPC BD drive:mad:

Yup, it's useless in my house - and I have 3 players, 4 if you count the HTPC BD drive:mad:

Reminds me of the very early days of CD. Initially, when the CD was first released, I'm sure the last thing on R&Ds mind was "how do we keep someone from making a copy of this thing"...that technology probably seemed so far-flung into the future. But, where there's a will, there's a way...and when people started to copy these things, Sony tried to put the genie back in the bottle; they encrypted a small number of newly pressed discs. Problem is a) they only played on the very latest generation of players, and b) they didn't tell the public they were doing it. When these CDs wouldn't play for the people who paid, what...$20 back then...and then word got out why...because of Sony's secret copy-protection paranoia...it was a PR nightmare and the program was immediately discontinued.

Whoever released this 12 Rounds deal should take heed.

CD

Reminds me of the very early days of CD. Initially, when the CD was first released, I'm sure the last thing on R&Ds mind was "how do we keep someone from making a copy of this thing"...that technology probably seemed so far-flung into the future. But, where there's a will, there's a way...and when people started to copy these things, Sony tried to put the genie back in the bottle; they encrypted a small number of newly pressed discs. Problem is a) they only played on the very latest generation of players, and b) they didn't tell the public they were doing it. When these CDs wouldn't play for the people who paid, what...$20 back then...and then word got out why...because of Sony's secret copy-protection paranoia...it was a PR nightmare and the program was immediately discontinued.

Whoever released this 12 Rounds deal should take heed.

CD

This is brutal, yeah anyDVD was always very good about getting it cracked...we will see, in due time. I will never understand the point of it. They will spend more money trying to come up with new securities and piss off even more consumers when the average person that wants to buy the BD isnt out to copy it. More people rent the movies than want to copy the thing. If they just made the things cheaper, the piracy wouldnt be such an issue in the first place. I understand they need to make money but at the same time people dont want to spend 30 on movies. I went to target today to look for BD to start building my collection more, but the average price was over 20 bucks. this is not worth it to me and is the reason my collection is fairly small. 15 bucks maybe, but if they were 10 bucks a piece I would buy tons. and if lots of people bought BD at 10 bucks they would make just as much if not more as they do now, when only a few people spend 30 bucks on a disc. it is dumb and it is the publishers liek sony that are going to ruin this technology before it really can get good.

I watched 2 SD movies the last 2 days, Bad Boys last night and Bourne Identity right now. They both look good enough to me that I can survive for some time on my SD collection until they decide to relax a bit.

OK, I need to bring this back to the great discussion of YAMJ...newegg had a special last week for the AMD 940, so I had to upgrade my personal rig, and so i will re-build my WHS with the old system, so I went hard at my WHS testing add-ins and such, to get a feel for what I will want when I re-build it, I need to order a new mobo and with it an extra 1TB drive...sorry shawn I will lag behind you on storage a bit. so, tonight I also got my first experience with YAMJ. got it to install and I can use my browser to open the index page and everything looks like it should. However, now for the real question here. After 30 minutes of searching, I give up. I may be looking in the wrong spot, or I am not reading things clearly, so I must ask as the answer will come much faster...is PCH the only device that can play the videos? I click play in my browser but nothing happens. I wanted to test it here first. next was to see if you can play it from the PS3, but limited info here too. If not directly from the PS3, I was thinking if I can get Ubuntu installed on it, then I could play it through Firefox and vlc, however, because it does not even play on my computer, I am guessing this is not possible. But before all hope is lost, I thought I would still ask. Currently I just cant justify the PCH. too many other things going on, but if it is the only option, I can see myself building my collection for a while and keeping it in YAMJ and then down the road when I can justify it to myself, then I will get the PCH because the eye candy is sweet, much better than just browsing to videos on the PS3...

also, I was just looking at my files in my browser and see the files listed as 2 channel audio but others with 6. I ripped the files to mkv with handbrake and then let mkv2vob make the transfer to a ps3 friendly format. Is it possible something is screwed up? Audio sounds good and is multi-channel in these movies, so could this just be something with the way YAMJ is reading the files or do I have to change somethign in the way I am ripping things?

AFAIK, the PCH is the only thing that can play the files directly from the Index file. However, anything that supports the file type (.mt2s, .ts, etc.) can play the actual media files.

CJ

Smak, let me see if I follow this: you have a PC, that you have SD rips on and the ability to play them from that PC? You loaded YAMJ on that same PC, and you can browse the GUI with the cover-art, etc, just fine...but when you hit the play button in YAMJ, the files don't play? Hmm, only thing I can think is check your YAMJ set-up; where you select where the video files are stored, I believe you would want to select 'jukebox only for my PC'. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

As far as your other issue, yes, I would say that the way YAMJ is set-up all it looks at is your file-extension and then pulls information from the imdb database. It doesn't know if you've got 5-channel DD, or 6-channel EX, or DTS-HD MA, etc. But, if it sees a .m2ts file (BD), it'll probably assumes the high-resolution codec the film is listed to have. If it sees .ISO or .VOB, maybe the 5-channel codec, etc. So if it doesn't recognize your file extension, it may just be giving you the lowest codec in the db; the 2-channel. Remember, it's not that smart; it just takes information from the imdb database and displays it in the GUI. You can probably override it if you want.

CD

Smak, let me see if I follow this: you have a PC, that you have SD rips on and the ability to play them from that PC? You loaded YAMJ on that same PC, and you can browse the GUI with the cover-art, etc, just fine...but when you hit the play button in YAMJ, the files don't play? Hmm, only thing I can think is check your YAMJ set-up; where you select where the video files are stored, I believe you would want to select 'jukebox only for my PC'. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

As far as your other issue, yes, I would say that the way YAMJ is set-up all it looks at is your file-extension and then pulls information from the imdb database. It doesn't know if you've got 5-channel DD, or 6-channel EX, or DTS-HD MA, etc. But, if it sees a .m2ts file (BD), it'll probably assumes the high-resolution codec the film is listed to have. If it sees .ISO or .VOB, maybe the 5-channel codec, etc. So if it doesn't recognize your file extension, it may just be giving you the lowest codec in the db; the 2-channel. Remember, it's not that smart; it just takes information from the imdb database and displays it in the GUI. You can probably override it if you want.

CD

YAMJ is actually installed on my WHS. I was testing it from my personal pc over the network...if I do local jukebox on the WHS, it fails with a DNS style error. I think maybe the issue is I mis-selected the files are on my...I did NMT hard disk. I guess the NMT is the PCH? Do I want to use all UNC paths and stuff for my locations? I guess that is where I am a bit confused. I would assume UNC paths are needed to tell the networked device looking at the index file where the files are on the network.

Shawn:

I'm curious. How do you deal with the issue of remote control with the HTPC / Popcorn unit you have.

Since I'm using mostly RS-232 with my theater, a PC would be a total non-starter on my end.

How does the Popcorn unit work that way? Are you just using the HTPC for storage?

Basically, confused catching up on your thread.

And, BTW, thanks for the wave on the other thread.

For HTPC, there are a lot of remote control servers that can use USB to control the PC. Then there are tons of 10-foot UI's to use.

For the PCH-A110, you need to use IR (direct or from a control server), but it's been very reliable so far.

YAMJ is actually installed on my WHS. I was testing it from my personal pc over the network...if I do local jukebox on the WHS, it fails with a DNS style error. I think maybe the issue is I mis-selected the files are on my...I did NMT hard disk. I guess the NMT is the PCH? Do I want to use all UNC paths and stuff for my locations? I guess that is where I am a bit confused. I would assume UNC paths are needed to tell the networked device looking at the index file where the files are on the network.

Yes, NMT (Network Media Tank) is the PCH. If you're setting YAMJ up as a WHS add-in, I would look at 2 things: one, set-up your YAMJ to be 'jukebox only for my pc'; all the other options, I believe, are for NMTs which you don't have. Two, make sure your movie-file location is pointing to the share you have your rips stored on.

Beyond that Smak, you might need to get some WHS help, for those who have set it up directly to their Servers w/WHS. BTW, if all you're looking for is the cool GUI, YAMJ isn't the only game in town. In fact, I've not heard of it being used with HTPC very much (as you can see, it was built for NMTs). I think I hear of My Movies getting used with HTPC more.

CD

Yes, NMT (Network Media Tank) is the PCH. If you're setting YAMJ up as a WHS add-in, I would look at 2 things: one, set-up your YAMJ to be 'jukebox only for my pc'; all the other options, I believe, are for NMTs which you don't have. Two, make sure your movie-file location is point to the share you have your rips stored on.

Beyond that Smak, you might need to get some WHS help, for those who have set it up directly to their Servers w/WHS. BTW, if all you're looking for is the cool GUI, YAMJ isn't the only game in town. In fact, I've not heard of it being used with HTPC very much (as you can see, it was built for NMTs). I think I hear of My Movies getting used with HTPC more.

CD

Yeah, i guess I will have to look around. Until I have a PCH, it is not really worth killing myself. As we all know, you can start working on a computer and next thing you know, hours have gone by. I have spent far too long on something I was not even sure of if I can get it to work. So for now, I will YAMJ be and move on to other testing and searching. The best really would be to get some kind on interface like this with the PS3, as that will be my media player as there are no plans for a HTPC at the moment. Although that plan could always change too, but for now, I will go with the PS3 and play the file the way I have been. Although, once the list gets very long like the one shawn is planning, I think searching for a movies in a straight list may get a bit painstaking, but we will wait and see. With a baby on the way in T-minus 4 weeks, I need to slow down on my tech toys and just worry about the basement getting done.

YAMJ is actually installed on my WHS. I was testing it from my personal pc over the network...if I do local jukebox on the WHS, it fails with a DNS style error. I think maybe the issue is I mis-selected the files are on my...I did NMT hard disk. I guess the NMT is the PCH? Do I want to use all UNC paths and stuff for my locations? I guess that is where I am a bit confused. I would assume UNC paths are needed to tell the networked device looking at the index file where the files are on the network.

The YAMJ is basically just a set of html files that point to the media files. So anything that can display html files should work with the YAMJ. But more importantly will be what device can actually play the files. Any BD's with HD codecs will need a device that can either decode them or stream them to a decoder like a receiver. Or you can "Core" the files leaving only the SD audio.

I have my files in YAMJ set up so that it reads it as //HPSERVER/Videos , or rather //SMAKS_SERVER/YAMJ :)

Once you run Yamj, you can open up the html files that it created with notepad and see the path it's trying to pull from. That'll help you troubleshoot path issues.

Btw, when the C-200 comes out, I'll probably get it and I'll sell you my a110 for half price;)

The YAMJ is basically just a set of html files that point to the media files. So anything that can display html files should work with the YAMJ. But more importantly will be what device can actually play the files. Any BD's with HD codecs will need a device that can either decode them or stream them to a decoder like a receiver. Or you can "Core" the files leaving only the SD audio.

I have my files in YAMJ set up so that it reads it as //HPSERVER/Videos , or rather //SMAKS_SERVER/YAMJ :)

Once you run Yamj, you can open up the html files that it created with notepad and see the path it's trying to pull from. That'll help you troubleshoot path issues.

Btw, when the C-200 comes out, I'll probably get it and I'll sell you my a110 for half price;)

Really? What about the C200 do you want? I can't see anything about it that's useful. I don't want/need a BD drive in it, I don't care about the front-panel display. Is there anything else substantive?

Really? What about the C200 do you want? I can't see anything about it that's useful. I don't want/need a BD drive in it, I don't care about the front-panel display. Is there anything else substantive?

AMF, I too was disappointed that the new PCH C-200 didn't seem to offer much to entice A-110 users to upgrade. That being said, here are the advantages as I see them. One, some people will love the slot for a BD drive. I too didn't get it at first, but I guess there are actually some people on the fence who don't have a stand-alone BD yet, and this will present them with a true all-in-one option; the C-200 will play BD rips, and a physical disc, should the occasional need rise.

As for the front-panel display, again...I'm with you...I don't need it. However, it will be a big help for those looking to stream and navigate audio from the PCH (IMO, it's still a huge step behind devices like Squeezebox and Sonos, so I will hold onto my Squeezeboxes for now).

And then there is the updated/faster processor, and supposedly somewhat nicer GUI. Faster processor would be nice, of course, but I can see where the nicer GUI isn't a big deal...for guys like you and me. If you're just using the PCH as a movie-player, you're still gonna rock with YAMJ, so the nicer GUI becomes irrelevant. However, if you're doing some of that other crap (web-based video, and BTs), I guess the nicer GUI would come in handy.

Here's how I see it: if you already have an A-110, and don't have a need for the BD drive, you're probably all set. If you're buying your first PCH, $299 isn't that much more than $215, and you might as well opt for the latest and greatest. There's no telling what cool, new apps they might develop to take advantage of the new processor, and faster is faster.

Me, I'm on the waiting list because I need a second unit (and like I said, for $80 I'll opt for the newer, faster unit); as for Shawn, I suspect he just likes new toys. :D

CD

Really? What about the C200 do you want? I can't see anything about it that's useful. I don't want/need a BD drive in it, I don't care about the front-panel display. Is there anything else substantive?

The biggest improvements are:

- Processor is 5 times as fast as the A110.
- Memory in the A110 is 256MB DDR SDRAM, memory in the C200 is 512MB DDR2 DRAM
- Newer chipset to hopefully support better GUI
- Gigabit ethernet


For me the memory and processor speed are worth it. I use the PCH all the time now and it has pretty much taken the place of a player in my HT. There are a few issues that I've experienced with the A110. They're very minor, but I'm hoping/guessing that these will be resolved, or at least improved, in the C-200:

- Fast forward sometimes causes audio sync/dropout problems on high bitrate streams. My fix is to stop it and resume, so it can buffer again.

- 1080p24 output sometimes has dropped frames/stutter on high bitrate streams. 1080p60 has no noticeable issues.

- Browsing 100+ movies via YAMJ can take a couple seconds for the next page to load (for instance page down).


The first two could be fixed with firmware updates possibly or changing to HTTP streaming vs SMB. But HTTP would require me setting up myihome as a service on the server and I haven't decided if I wanna mess with that yet.

But, overall considering the awesomeness of the pch I think these are pretty minor, and if the c200 can improve any of them I'm game:)

as for Shawn, I suspect he just likes new toys. :D

CD

Oh yeah that too:D:D

It is rumored that the C200 may also support subtitles and BluRay ISO's. Either of which would be a good reason for me to upgrade.

CJ

Also, the new chipset is supposed to support flash, which should make for much better second party GUI's.

CJ

It is rumored that the C200 may also support subtitles and BluRay ISO's. Either of which would be a good reason for me to upgrade.

CJ

CJ, I think .ISO (and probably subtitles too) are a lock, given it'll do disc playback. Are you really going to store BD .ISOs? They'll be 50G a piece :eek:

CD

Btw, when the C-200 comes out, I'll probably get it and I'll sell you my a110 for half price;)

I might have to take you up on that if I dont figure somethign else out in the mean time with my movies or something else like that...

is the gui on the 360 better when trying to connect to a media server the way I am through my ps3?

To All,

I tip my hat to all of you. This video storage thing seems like something that would offer some really slick features. However......

YAMJ,
mkv2vob,
NMT,
AFAIK,
MKV,
Handbrake,
Raid,
ISO

I am now getting that sinking fossil feeling. Help me Please >> I need someone from my generation to decipher.

Hanes, Big, anyone please help - I'm drowning in alphabet soup!

To All,

I tip my hat to all of you. This video storage thing seems like something that would offer some really slick features. However......

YAMJ,
mkv2vob,
NMT,
AFAIK,
MKV,
Handbrake,
Raid,
ISO

I am now getting that sinking fossil feeling. Help me Please >> I need someone from my generation to decipher.

Hanes, Big, anyone please help - I'm drowning in alphabet soup!

LOL...

YAMJ...Yet Another Movie Jukebox; it's the program that displays the cover-art, etc. for NMTs (Network Media Tank...devices like the PCH ((Popcorn Hour...lol)), that play and serve digital media

mkv2vob...is software that coverts digital files from a .mkv (Matroska) format, to a .vob format (which is a standard mpeg-2 DVD format)

AFAIK is simply "netspeak" for As Far As I Know

Handbrake...is a ripping/converting software

RAID...is a form of data back-up using more than one hard drive to make sure you don't lose any important data

and .ISO is a digital file format...an image really, of a file or entire disc

CD

I stopped ripping BD because I was having horrible skipping issues with video playback. These were ripped via AnyDVD and also tried the new DVDFAB 6.0 with BD support ripping to MPEG-2.

Machine specs are off the chart so I don't believe it's a machine issue. (4.2ghz OC e8600, 8GB ram, 64 bit vista, etc, etc) This was on a SSD drive as well as my 7.5 TB RAID drive.

Any ideas?

I stopped ripping BD because I was having horrible skipping issues with video playback. These were ripped via AnyDVD and also tried the new DVDFAB 6.0 with BD support ripping to MPEG-2.

Machine specs are off the chart so I don't believe it's a machine issue. (4.2ghz OC e8600, 8GB ram, 64 bit vista, etc, etc) This was on a SSD drive as well as my 7.5 TB RAID drive.

Any ideas?

That's the problem with HTPC's. There are so many variables, if you have a problem, they are very hard to track down.

A couple things to try- back down on your OC, play HD files stresses your system in ways that OC testing may not catch. What video card do you have? If you don't have one that supports hardware decoding, try looking at one that does. Have you done read/write speed tests to your RAID or SSD drives (personally, I wouldn't use SSD drives for this)?

If you've done all this and are still having problems, take a look at an NMT :)

CJ

Thanks CD,

Believe it or not I was actually familiar with 2 of those terms RAID and ISO; after that I found myself feeling older than my actual age, and in a bad dream titled "Journey to Acronym Hell".


Looking forward to the dedicated thread on this topic :)
Defining acronyms would be a great start.