questions on media server

master7045

Senior member
Jul 15, 2005
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I recently built an HTPC but used an existing hard drive so my local storage space is limited. I have a desktop and laptop that I have media stored on, but I would like to put everything in one spot so I'm not hunting for my media files. I'm open to building/buying a NAS or server PC. I'll try to go into detail with what I want to do w/ my media and hopefully that will help as I don't quite fully understand transcoding vs streaming.

Wants:
  • Low power
  • access media (pictures, music, blu-ray ISO/MKV, DVD-ISOs) over gig &/or wireless netowrk (I promise not to try to play a blu ray ISO over my 802.11g network) This will include my HTPC, laptop, desktop and galaxy tab. HTPC is wired w/ Cat5e, all others are wireless.
  • backup data to server
  • I'd love to be able to access this stuff when I'm on the road, like some sort of VPN solution. I've used Hamachi & real VNC to connect to my parents PCs, but don't know if that will work.

I think I can do all of the above w/ a pre-built HP mini server for about 400 plus the cost of the drives. I'll figure that part out later, but I just don't know what is needed to accomplish all of the above. Any thoughts?
 

postmark

Senior member
May 17, 2011
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If the HP mini server you're talking about is a WHS system, then yes, it would be able to do all that for you out of the box.
 

master7045

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Jul 15, 2005
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Thanks for the quick response postmark. If that is the case, then is it better to buy a HP mini server or build one and buy a WHS license?
 

postmark

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May 17, 2011
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If you like the small form factor of the HP systems, and the ability to have drive carriers for easy access to teh drives, then there's really no way to build one for less with the same footprint/drive configuration. Which HP system are you looking at?
 

master7045

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Jul 15, 2005
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So the HP system is what I'm leaning to now.. I haven't taken too close of a look at them, other than I know they exist. I'm not fixed on HP, but I think they were the first mainstream to market w/ this type of device. I'll take a look at the Asus, HP, etc models and see if I can figure out what the difference is.
 

Morg.

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Mar 18, 2011
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You can also take a look at not ripping your wallet with violence and anger.

All pre-built nas solutions are ridiculously overpriced for no reason.

Get yourself an e350 Zacate, a decently price mini-ITX case w/ 2 - 4 disk spots.

Install any flavor of linux like Ubuntu, just build your RAID 10 or RAID 1 while in the live CD, rebuild after -> you'll find all the explanations you need by googling.

Do a bit more stuff, get a dyndns, setup your ssh and there you go, your nas is perfect and you can access it from the road (although your sucky connection will make you want to vnc / remote desktop to it instead).

If I were in the US at this point I'd prolly build it for you -- too bad.
 
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master7045

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Jul 15, 2005
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MOrg, that sounds all good and dandy, but will zacate have enough horsepower to transcode a 1080p file if it needs to? If it wont, will it have any problem just plain serving the file to a HTPC, xbox360, tablet device? only one at a time or all 3 perhaps?

I think I'm leaning toward the path of building as it seems to be just as cheap to build and buy WHS or use some Linux distro.
 

mosco

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Sep 24, 2002
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MOrg, that sounds all good and dandy, but will zacate have enough horsepower to transcode a 1080p file if it needs to? If it wont, will it have any problem just plain serving the file to a HTPC, xbox360, tablet device? only one at a time or all 3 perhaps?

I think I'm leaning toward the path of building as it seems to be just as cheap to build and buy WHS or use some Linux distro.

If you willing to spend the money and you need to transcode 1080p stuff, you are probably better off getting a 2100t or one of the new sandy bridge based pentium models.

Still low power, but more expensive and a little more power than a Zacate. I have Air Video installed on a Zacate, I am going to try it out in the next day or to and will try and let you know how it performs. I am going to guess its going to suck.
 

master7045

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Jul 15, 2005
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Thanks mosco, that's kind of the feeling I'm getting. I'll try to piece a few builds together and see what everyone thinks.
 

mfenn

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Jan 17, 2010
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www.mfenn.com
MOrg, that sounds all good and dandy, but will zacate have enough horsepower to transcode a 1080p file if it needs to? If it wont, will it have any problem just plain serving the file to a HTPC, xbox360, tablet device? only one at a time or all 3 perhaps?

I think I'm leaning toward the path of building as it seems to be just as cheap to build and buy WHS or use some Linux distro.

Zacate will transcode 1080P, just not in anything like real time.