Need advice on increasing hard drive storage

This is pretty close to a question that I've been wanting to ask but I'm not sure if it is against the forums EULA.

I would say go with a server or NAS. That's my plan (server). But more importantly I wanted to know about reducing/reencoding ripped BR files. I'm not too worried about the size of my DVD files but as I'm buying more and more things on BR I am concerned about the amount of space they eat up on a hard drive.

I do have have a an older dual Xeon system that I could dedicate to the needed processes but I not sure if I can ask about software to do this with other than the stuff I know about for ripping. Is there a good guide that someone point me too? Also, I've never used or made .iso's.

I think a media server is a good option in the long run. However, you could also just get an external raid enclosure like this (there happens to be a great shell shocker deal on that right now).

I would recommend using a software raid solution like Flexraid instead of whatever raid/jbod solution is built into the enclosure though.

Does your HTPC have an eSATA connector? If so you might want to just add an external enclosure and buy disks as you need them (or when they're on sale). This would be much cheaper than going the full NAS route and the HTPC would essentially act as a NAS anyway.

Edit: haha great minds think alike!

Do you know how to build PC's?

If so you could build a windows home server 2011 box for pretty cheap and it is not hard to set up at all.

If you have never built a pc, dont be afraid, its never been easier to do and you can find guides to walk you through it.

Save your time, effort and money.

Skip the NAS and the external boxes that are just baidaids and build a server.


Most NAS boxes costs $200+

You can get a $35-$50 LGA1155 motherboard, a $35 G530 CPU, 4GB DDR3 $20, a case and PSU ($50-$60)

Same cost you have a full service server- that you can add as much HDD's and storage in future as you want.

Most external box solutions are limited in 2-4 HDD's and you can easily outgrow it.


Plus with a server- you can add in 2TB now... then 3TB drives later this year..

Perhaps 4TB drives next year... and buy as you need. Cost per TB gets cheaper over time.

I am working on some server guides for anyone interested.

Stay tuned.

Do you have a gigabit (hard wired) network (I assume you do since you are contemplating a server vs NAS)?

If so then yes it is plenty fast enough. And yes, you will get HD Audio.

Thanks for the bolded part. You just made my day and I am glad I could help you get into HTPC.

I am assuming the htpc you just built is plugged into the tv, right?

A "server" does not have to be anything more than another computer on your network. You will want both computers plugged into each other via gigabit switch (kind of like the wifi router you already have, but more robust for the large file sizes).

Many users have more advanced raid setups for data redundancy. If you feel like that is above your head or your needs, you could just as well run a desktop PC with XP on it and that could be your server. All you need to do is enable the drives to be seen and shared on the network.

As long as both computers have gigabit connections and you connect them to each other with a gigabit switch you shouldn't have problems with lag or stuttering.

I plan on going with a server myself. I want it to be hooked up to my home network and I want the added flexibility. The hardware part won't be a problem but I've never use WHS or any other type of server software. But I have time to learn about it since the server project is still a couple of months out.

Wireless for decent bit rate video is a bad bad bad idea. I wouldn't consider streaming video across your house until you have a wired connection. There are some solutions like powerline adapters if you don't want to lay done cat6 cables.

If its features you're after, do a server build. If its cheapness, get a 4 bay enclosure. The one lockdown linked to is $99 + the drives. Sure a server won't be too much more (probably $200 + the previous post costings didn't include the OS) but $100 gets you a 2TB drive. A 4-bay enclosure can be build up to 4x2TB = 200 BluRay disks at your current 20GB per.

Keep in mind too that with a dedicated server you have another PC to build and maintain (updates etc) whereas the enclosure just uses your existing HTPC.

BTW, I'm basing this on the original features request: "Basically I am looking at fairly cheap and easy methods to add storage. Any suggestions?"
If the OP has found that his requirements have grown as people have posted cool things you can do with a media server then that changes things. Upgraditis is a horrible and wonderful disease...

I agree with this. Look into the Powerline adapters. You will save yourself at least a few hundred dollars worth of headaches.

Depending on how you set it up there is little to no maintenance.

200Mbps powerline adaptor (no need to go higher) is a great idea. Often these go on special at newegg for $50/pair. Money well spent...

HD audio has nothing to do with the server. It has to do with what type of audio your files have and whether or not your software/hardware is set up to take advantage of it.

You aren't going to get anywhere watching bluray movies over wifi. The technology is not there yet to have a consistent experience.

If hardwiring ethernet is not an option, perhaps powerline or moca adapters would be. Powerline uses your electrical wiring in place of ethernet, and moca uses the same coaxial cable that that carries your cable television.

You could put your server physically close to your htpc, and then connect both of them together with a gigabit switch.

Another option, if your htpc has an esata port, is something like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817576009
It's basically like a "super" external hard drive, with room for four hard drives in there. Each show up as individually letter drives in My Computer.

They had a 200mbs Netgear pair that includes a 4 port switch on one of the pair of adapters for $69 last week.

Or if a person has coax in place, ethernet-over-coax adapters might be a good alternative. You are supposed to be even able to multiplex over the top of a cable signal on a single coax usually (although not over satellite; not sure about FIOS).

No. If you already have a gigabit router, you shouldn't need another switch. If not, you'd get a switch. Connect that to your internet modem/router, whatever, than plug your office computer into one of the ports. And into another port plug an ethernet patch cord that would run to one powerline adapter plugged directly into a wall outlet. On the other end you'd plug the other adapter into an outlet near where you want your htpc, and run an Ethernet patch cord from that adapter to your htpc. The powerline simply serves as a bridge in your ethernet network. As far as the devices plugged into the adapters know, they are plugged into a wired network.

If you got something like the netgear with a built in switch, you could also plug in your TV, blu ray player, or other ehernet enabled devices and have them all connected into your network.

In my experience powerline works very well when it works, but there are a variety of conditions in your home wiring that may prevent it from working, or working at a particular outlet or between a particular pair of outlets. You can try different outlets, but sometimes it's just a fail. More often than not it will work. Ethernet over coax may actually be more reliable, but is a little bit more complicated.

Edit, depending on how old your DirecTV setup is, you could be a prime candidate for ethernet over coax. Until recently, you needed two coax lines to each DirecTV DVR. Now with the SWM setup for DirecTV, you only need one, which would mean you have an unused coax line to your TV which is readily available for use as a ethernet connection without worrying about multiplexing. Also, Etherent over coax is actually what DirecTV uses for their Whole Home setup to connect your various DirecTV boxes to each other and to your internet connection. I think it's actually possible to piggyback your htpc off the DirecTV network if you have the Whole Home setup although i haven't actually tried it yet.

By the way, you'd probably also put your server or NAS in your office an plug it into the switch as well, and it would be networked to your htpc.

I bought a Mediasonic 4 bay drive and put 4 3 TB hard drives in it to supplement the two 2TB and 500GB external drives I had before I got into ripping blurays. This was before the floods in Thailand though so the 3 TB drives were only a little over $100 and the enclosure was $99. I might try to research how to change one of my old PC cases into a server one of these days. I have an old case that's been stripped of some components and a full older PC that is running Windows XP. I wonder if I would add a bunch of hard drives to the XP computer and use that as a server or do I need to actually install WHS?

I'm interested. Let us know when it's ready.

-Your hard drives have sata connections, does the motherboard in that PC? I think you could put a pci/sata card in there if not (someone more knowledgeable please clarify that).

-Will you need to add a NIC to get gigabit speeds?

The benefits to Windows Home Server are in features like automatic backups.

Working on securing the domain name as we speak. These things take a little time but I will try to put a rush on it.

No problem. I haven't even started buying the hardware yet. Also, I'm want to take the 2 Duet cards out of my HTPC and place them into the server. Then I could even build a slim itx streaming box in the future. Right now I'm using this.

Check this out...

Link

Nice. I haven't had a website in years. I don't even know how much it cost for domain names and hosting these days. Keep us posted.

It's a pretty old PC so I think it would most likely have PCI connections. I might get around to opening it up one day and see what's inside.

I would probably set this PC up downstairs next to my current PC that is connected by ethernet to my router that's only 10/100. The PC I'm using now has a gigabit connection but I'm not streaming at gigabit speeds right now and have had no issues streaming bluray rips outside of the Boxee Box which was a fault of that piece of hardware and their crappy software.

The automatic backups sound pretty good. I was using FlexRaid when it was in beta but now I'm living on the edge with no backup solution once they went paid. Honestly, with Blockbuster bluray rental, Netflix, Hulu, and the variety of online streaming videos I find myself buying a lot less blurays and mostly streaming stuff now. I only buy my utmost favorites now and either rent the bluray for marginal movies I want to see in high quality and then just stream everything else. It still would suck if a couple hard drives crapped out on me though. *knock on wood*