Possible to run HTPC on vm server?

[Mech0z]

I am building a NAS but would at the same time like a HTPC.

This is the stuff I will use

ASUS M3N78 SE (Nvidia 8200 with onboard video)
Phenom X3 8450
Antec New Solution NSK6580B (Cheap and quiet)
2 x 2 Gb Kingston Value ram
500Gb Samsung P166
Asus HD4350

So I will run a server OS which is good for VM, not sure what this will be yet.

But then is it possible to have this server OS control only the onboard video and then run VM and have a server that runs HTPC which has control of the HD4350!?

This way I could combine my NAS and HTPC, but not sure if the software would allow it.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Sure you can run an OS with Media center in a VM. No problem but the OS inside the VM will be windowed and so will anything you watch threw it. Also a good HTPC generally have a video capture/tuner card.

Now you don't have to have a server based OS to run a NAS. You can use Vista 64 and run the NAS and run it as an HTPC. Great thiong about computers is there abilty to serve multiple fuctions.

 

[RebateMonger]

If all you want to do is store and play back video and audio files, you can do that from within a VM. But TV tuners and such will require direct access to the hardware on the card, which a VM won't allow you (at least not today).

 

[techmanc]

VMWares newest workstation build has directx 9.0c support but I dont know if will help with that problem. go here and look at the features tab...........

http://www.vmware.com/products/ws/

 

[Mech0z]

Well what I wanted was to have a virtual server that ran my htpc OS, this would then be the only place where I installed gfx drivers for the HD4350 card, but I dont think that the virtual machines have access to the hardware in this way from what I can understand, so don't think its possible 🙁

 

[techmanc]

Have you looked at building a box with windows home server?