Media Server

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post #1 of 3

7/17/07 at 8:39am

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192 Posts. Joined 4/2006
Location: Upstate NY
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Howdy all,

I know there are several topics on this, and I have read through most of them. What I would like to do is build a very expandable, external media server, and keep it as DIY as possible. I've been doing lots of reading in the general HTPC forum in terms of hardware etc, but I wanted some advice here as well. My biggest question is whether using macs as the clients will limit the OS for the server. The big debates in the other forum is whether to use Windows home sever or unraid, and whether to get a raid controller or use a software solution. Will using macs change the answers to these questions, or can I just use the advice in the PC forum?

Also, I've read a bit about ZFS, and OpenSolaris, and would love to use the ZFS file system, as it looks fantastic. Any advice on this would be much appreciated.

For the basics, I plan on getting a Coolmaster case that can support as many as 20 hard drives. For starters I'd probably fill it with 8 500G drives, and keep filling with 500G drives until my space needs and technology progressed. I'd like this server to be as expandable as possible in the hopes that it will last a very long time.

Thanks,

Target

post #2 of 3

7/17/07 at 8:55am

2,261 Posts. Joined 12/2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
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File systems aren't really relevant to running a media server, rather it will be the protocols used to share the data that is important. These will include Windows sharing, Network File Shares (NFS), Apple Talk, Apple File Shares (AFS), DLNA, etc. What's even more relevant is the software you plan on running on the client which may impact your choice of media server. Since you want to go the DIY route, I would suggest you run Linux on the backend along with MythTV. Clients can be MythTV clients on Linux and/or OSX or DLNA devices. This is about as DIY as you can get and much like everything on linux, it will never be finished and will always be available to tweaking, reconfiguring, recompiling, tuning, and other fun activities ad nauseum.

Most media server products on the Mac are intended to speak with other Mac products (Front Row, MediaCentral, etc). Selecting a Mac can be a limiting platform, but it's also a platform that is intended to work without the hassles of DIY. I would also state that this is how things tend to work on the Windows side of things as well. Most of us want something that works with a minimum of setup and hassle. If you're big into the DIY side of things you should really be in the Linux forums.

I'm not sure the best way to get help is to end a post with "don't tell me this, don't tell me that".

post #3 of 3

7/17/07 at 9:15am

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192 Posts. Joined 4/2006
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Thank you for al advice.

My tentative plans (though very subject to change, and I haven't adequately researched mythbox) is to use either front row or something like DVDpedia to access a large pool of media.

In terms of my DIY desires, I really enjoy hardware, but would like to to craft a DIY system that doesn't require eternal tweaking. Hence, I really like the ZFS file system, which could allow me to create a rock solid basis for the storage. If I can then get it to work with an established front end like Front row (which should get better), I will have learned quite a lot from the project, without having it be ongoing. I tend to like to learn something over a short period of time (3 to 6 months), and then move on before it gets stale. Mythbox worries me, because I don't think I have the attention span to stay with a more long term project. My own short coming.

Thanks,

Target

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