HP MediaSmart Server? - Page 23

Hi everyone,
I am considering making my first foray in home server/htpc's, for the main purpose of laptop backups (probably with duplication for safety), serving up my music to a to be built htpc/airport expresses+powered speakers combo, and serving up a modest dvd/bluray libray in conjuction with cutting my cable. I've read this whole thread and based on the current Vail/De situation, are the HP mediasmarts still the best option, either the ex490/495.From what I've read the only advantage the ex495 brings is faster file transfer, which I'm not concerned about.

so my expected usage would be the following, if a ex490 is best suited?
1. Laptop backups with duplication
2. Contain all music and serve to a htpc or laptop+receiver and to airport expresses+powered speakers..but can the AE's be controlled directly from an iphone/ipad/android app without turning on the TV or going through the htpc
3. Serve video/photos to the htpc connected to a TV..or could I get away with a popcorn/WD live for video/photos if #2 is yes
3. I may get tuners in my htpc in which case I would offload recorded TV to the server. Then am I correct in that only an extender such as xbox is allowed to view the content in another location from the htpc that it was recorded on? Is the 490 suitable then to serve this up?
4. Any other options other than an xbox to view recorded/ripped videos, if I'm not tied to win7 media center
5. Any issues with using a htpc/laptop to download bit torrents to the server for future playback via a htpc/xbox/wd live and what are the best ways to playback (software and hardware?)

thanks

Damian,

Have installed NFS file sharing on the EX490 using your guide but got stuck at the User Name Mapping in Services for Unix.

Error message "MMC cannor initialize the snap in.

So the password and root text can not be installed.
Have tried permission changes but no yoy.

Any suggestions ?
Am using the 'Advanced Console' for all this.

Never mind, rebooting the EX490 solved that problem.

I just ordered the 495 from newegg. Should be here in the next of days. Is there a good guide/document that will help me set this up correctly?

Look here :

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/wiki...p/Category:FAQ

Damian
Any suggestions ?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...postcount=4109

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...postcount=4114

I need to get the Neo to stream the NFS protocol from the EX490.

The Neo only sees share names, not IP adresses
When I use 'Info" the Neo always shows smb://:@HPSTORAGE/......

I'm hoping someone here could help me out. I've been running a ex495 for a couple years now without any hiccups. The past couple weeks however, I will lose connection to the machine from my client pcs. I lose access to network shares, can't connect through the console, not even remote desktop. I end up having to to a hard reboot (the one second power button auto shutdown doesn't even work). I can still ping the machine with my router. After a reboot, I have full access and it seems fine for anywhere from 5 to 30 hours, then is lost on the network.

I haven't installed any addins recently that could be causing problems. I did add an external encloser with two WD EARS drives. I used the jumper hack and have been able to use them just fine (seemingly).

Basically what I'm wondering is is these problems could be because of the EARS drives, or if the operating system is malfunctioning, requiring a restore?

I do not see antying dealing with initial setup. Does such a document exist?

The initial setup is covered by the poster that comes in the box with the server.

Literally it consists of putting the software on one of your windows PCs, booting the WHS up on your network and connecting to it with the console software that you loaded on your PC.

Then just add users and shares.

It doesn't get much simpler than that.

Hmmm...I don't own a NeoTV so I cannot comment on how the player works. You would have to specify that NeoTV use the nfs address though. However, as I mentioned i don't own a NeoTV so I don't know how they implement. May be worth contacting Netgear directly

The Neo setup is really simple. Select Media Locations and a window opens with 5 entries.
Top is a dropdown with choice of SMB/CIFS or NFS
Second is the entry for Server or IP
Third is the entry for share name
Fourth is the entry for user name
Fifth is the entry for password

Added a shared folder to the EX490 shared folders named nfstesting and set the appropriate permissions including everyone and Guest (no password) and adding root to the NFS page.
Using the advanced admin console check to make sure the NFS service is running.
No matter what entry is used for Server or IP e.g. nfs://MyServer:/Videos, selecting that share from the Neo reports 'no video present'.

I now suspect that the EX490 NFS service has a problem.
Can you recommend a test procedure to ascertain that the NFS is truly operational.

The way I always tested nfs was to connect to it on my PCH or Xtreamer which accept NFS. I don't know if there is any other way to test other then with a device that support NFS

Can windows 7 Ult with NFS client enabled be used for that test ?

Honestly I am not sure. I never had a need to test out on W7 because it was easier to just use my players to test out.

Hey Damian, thanks for your quick PM reply yesterday. My brother tried NASlite M2 and couldn't get it to work out with his shares the way he hoped. I told him about your comments regarding duplication and that was cause for concern. He gave up on it and went with a full version of WHS. He said it "just works" so thanks for all your help.

Great to hear. When all is said and done we all want something that just works. Since WHS and Raid (unRAID, FlexRaid, etc...) seem to be the common storage applications used by many members here I just wouldn't feel comfortable recommending a solution such as NASlite M2 that I am sure not many people have heard of (or even use). Also, WHS v1 will be around for years to come, so that will give us plenty of time to see how the market pans out due to the Vail news.

I set hp 495 server last night. I have it going to netgeat gig switch. When transferring files from workstation to server to a share folder on server I get great speed 600mbps. But when I stream a big mkv video from server to same workstation it is choppy.

I have a separate 1tb drive on network and have no issue streaming same mkv blu-ray rip to same workstation.

Anything I can check on server settings as to why the slow speed?

If you just set up it is possible that if you added large amounts of data to your server it is in the process of duplicating (assuming you have this enabled).

I set hp 495 server last night. I have it going to netgeatz gig switch. When transferring files from workstation to server to a share folder on server I get great speed 600mbps. But when I stream a big mkv video from server to same workstation it is choppy.

I have a separate 1tb drive on network and have no issue streaming same mkv blu-ray rip to same workstation.

Anything I can check on server settings as to why the slow speed?

How do I see if I have duplication set for a folder?

Also.. For permission, any way to set read/write but no delete for user Accts? I see only read, and full.

Duplication is listed in the shared folder tab of the console. I think you select properties of teh shared folder and it lists whether you have duplication enabled. Although it does default to it being off. I just enable duplication for all my shared folders.

I would also like to know if there is a way to set permissions to read/write but no delete... is this possible?

Have Win 7 Ultimate NFS client enabled

This shows:
C:\\Users\\guru>showmount -e 192.168.15.104
Exports list on 192.168.15.104:
/nfsvideo All Machines
/Photos All Machines
/Music All Machines
/Recorded_TV All Machines
/Users All Machines
/Movies All Machines
/Videos All Machines

That indicates the EX490 NFS server works but the Neo 550 will not recognize NFS no matter what even though NFS was set up in media locations and shows e.g. HPSTORAGE /Videos (NFS)

But attempts to mount any shares in W7 fail as well:
C:\\Users\\guru>NET HELPMSG 53

The network path was not found.

Interesting. Have you posted this issue on the NeoTV forum (either on AVS or I guess their official forum)?

Yes, posted on the AVS NTV forum. But it seems that I am the only poster with this issue. All replies are from users that have NFS working with the NTV and have no concrete remedies for my situation.

AFAIK none of them are using the HP EX series

Just in case anyone is looking, Newegg has 2TB Seagate drives for $79.99, free shipping and an additional $5 off with promo code. $74.99 not too bad. I just got my second one and recommend this drive with no reservations. Working out great so far.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-413-_-Product

Yeah, think I am going to pick up a few more. Right now I have 6 seagates and 10 Western Digital in my WHS. One of the Seagates does appear to be acting up, and although not failing reallocated sectors has picked up. Time to keep a close eye on

I'm really walking on thin ice. I don't have duplication enabled for anything on my WHS as I'm trying to maximize available storage. I have a large external drive that I plan to backup all of our photos to as that is all I truly care about protecting. It would suck to have to rerip all my movies but it's not like I can't do it. Photos on the other hand I can't get back.

Amazon also has them for $79.99 and used for $67.99. I picked up several new and one used from Amazon and have had no issues as well as eight from Best BUy.
I currently have 13 in/attached to my HP MSS. They do make that loud clunk when spinning up or down but other than that they have been fine. I would really like to replace my last nine 1.5TB WD green drives with these Seagates since they run cooler than all the 2TB WD green drives I'm using.
Once I do that I can hopefully get my storage pool up to 56TB or 57TB.

Out of curiosity.. how do you have your external drives attached? USB or SATA? What device/enclosure are you using?

Also, can anyone recoomend some good add-ons for the WHS? I installed the advanced connector console. I am looking for ways to tweak performance and better understand the disk system.

In case you're a fan of the WD EADS 2tb drives (which don't need jumpering like the newer versions), Newegg has them available for $89.99 after a $10 promo code discount, through tomorrow. See here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...4&Tpk=wd20eads

Only downside is I tried to order 2 yesterday and it only gave me $10 off, so I ordered one yesterday, one today, and will order a third tomorrow!