Simultaneous users on a single HTPC

[KAZANI]

Current hardware capabilities allow a single HTPC to sustain the workload requirements of multiple users, but on the OS level things haven't caught up just yet. I have been testing my i5-3570K-based system's capabilities to enable HTPC characteristics in an HDTV which is in a different room of the house. I extended my main desktop through the HDMI output of the motherboard and I can run XBMC and internet browser windows by using a wireless mouse. Can it be made so that the users at either end of the PC run their separate accounts under Windows 7 and thus the inevitable interferences be resolved? I found something about enabling concurrent remote desktop connections over at missingremote but I'm not sure that's pertinent to my single computer situation (tried it anyway, didn't get me anywhere).

-Would using a remote to control XBMC mess with my main desktop?

 

[postmortemIA]

you need windows server variant on computer to have more than one remote connection at the time.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

you need windows server variant on computer to have more than one remote connection at the time.

Only if you want it to work.

 

[PhoenixEnigma]

What you're looking for is called multiseat computing. Microsoft has something called Windows MultiPoint Server that does this, though it looks like it's a volume-licensed OEM or education only product, so it's both somewhat expensive and somewhat hard to get. A quick google also brought up Friendly Seats as well, though the website looks a little iffy.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Here ya go. $50 is a good deal.

 

[KAZANI]

What you're looking for is called multiseat computing. Microsoft has something called Windows MultiPoint Server that does this, though it looks like it's a volume-licensed OEM or education only product, so it's both somewhat expensive and somewhat hard to get. A quick google also brought up Friendly Seats as well, though the website looks a little iffy.

Friendly Seats looks like the thing I'm looking for but it doesn't support Windows 7.

Here ya go. $50 is a good deal.

Windows Home Server won't do cause I don't have an LAN to manage, just 1 computer.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Friendly Seats looks like the thing I'm looking for but it doesn't support Windows 7.




Windows Home Server won't do cause I don't have an LAN to manage, just 1 computer.

If you have multiple people using the one computer or, you have multiple streams being accessed from one computer, using server software is easier and cheaper than third party switching software/hardware.

 

[KAZANI]

Home Server is for a network of multiple PC's. I only have 1 PC to deal with here.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Home Server is for a network of multiple PC's. I only have 1 PC to deal with here.

No, it is for the use I previously described. It's just that it usually involves multiple computers. But, it's your money and you're certainly welcome to spend how you like. I'm just trying to provide alternatives.

 

[KAZANI]

Every info I've looked into it speaks of a network of PC's (or some network capable device). Can you point me to instructions on how to do what I'm trying to do?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The network capable device in this case is the one computer you would install the home server OS on. The nicest solution would be an rf remote and of course a wifi modem with as many available channels as you have locations. The rf remote is essentially a dumb terminal. Alternatively, if your tv's are not web ready, you can wire them. I'm not a av/home theater guru so perhaps you could ask in that forum. I just know the purpose of server software is to provide multiple simultaneous access to files and applications whether there is only one or one hundred computers in the network.

 

[Anteaus]

I'm confused. Are you just trying to stream media or do you want everyone to have a fully functional windows environment like a thin client?

If your just wanting to stream media, just do a file share and get set top boxes such as WD Live for the other tvs.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I'm confused. Are you just trying to stream media or do you want everyone to have a fully functional windows environment like a thin client?

If your just wanting to stream media, just do a file share and get set top boxes such as WD Live for the other tvs.

I believe he's trying to allow different users in different rooms simultaneously watch different streams.

 

[KAZANI]

I have one PC connected to one HTDV/monitor (through DVI) and to one HDTV (through HDMI). I want to make it so that the user of each screen is handled as a separate user by the OS, but simultaneously. I don't want to deal with any more devices (apart from the separate, wireless mouse for the HDTV that I mentioned).

 

[Number1]

I have one PC connected to one HTDV/monitor (through DVI) and to one HDTV (through HDMI). I want to make it so that the user of each screen is handled as a separate user by the OS, but simultaneously. I don't want to deal with any more devices (apart from the separate, wireless mouse for the HDTV that I mentioned).

Duplicate your desktop to the second screen and use two mouses, keyboards.

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20078955-285/how-to-set-up-dual-monitors-in-windows-7/

mouses... LOL

 

[KAZANI]

Duplicate your desktop to the second screen and use two mouses, keyboards.

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20078955-285/how-to-set-up-dual-monitors-in-windows-7/

Nope, that's not it. The aim here is not to duplicate a desktop.

 

[Number1]

VMware?

http://www.vmware.com/products/player/faqs.html

 

[vshah]

there was a registry/file hack for windows xp pro that would let you have multiple logins simultaneously, but still wouldn't work since you'd need a client machine at each TV anyway.

as I understand it, you want your single HTPC to be serving 2 screens, each with an independent interface & independent user control. I think virtual machines are your best bet, if you can map a keyboard/mouse to each VM, and lock each one to a screen.
but who knows if multiple vmware instances will be able to decode simultaneous 1080p videos. I doubt GPU acceleration would work from within the VM.

 

[kornphlake]

Can this be done in Linux by assigning a workspace to either display? You'd have to figure out how to map the input devices to the desired workspace, and deal with Linux support for media which can be hit or miss.

 

[Sidekicknichola]

I assume you have tried making your desktop "extend windows to this display" to both monitors (not mirrored) .... dragging XBMC to one display and VLC or something to the other.


PC monitor 1 (DVI) - display 1 - running XBMC here
HDTV (HDMI) - display 2 - running VLC (or vice versa)
and using a wired keyboard and mouse for display 1 and a bluetooth keyboard/mouse for display 2


I assume you would then have to have a MOBO and/or soundcard that would allow each of the audio outputs to go through a different port (HDMI and Aux/Optical/etc) .... I know mine will allow different signals to go through different outputs.


... my vote, get an appleTV and jailbreak it to run XBMC on your other TV.

 

[vshah]

I assume you have tried making your desktop "extend windows to this display" to both monitors (not mirrored) .... dragging XBMC to one display and VLC or something to the other.


PC monitor 1 (DVI) - display 1 - running XBMC here
HDTV (HDMI) - display 2 - running VLC (or vice versa)
and using a wired keyboard and mouse for display 1 and a bluetooth keyboard/mouse for display 2


I assume you would then have to have a MOBO and/or soundcard that would allow each of the audio outputs to go through a different port (HDMI and Aux/Optical/etc) .... I know mine will allow different signals to go through different outputs.


... my vote, get an appleTV and jailbreak it to run XBMC on your other TV.

windows only supports a single mouse pointer as far as i've ever seen, and only a single app can have focus at a time, so both mice/keyboards would be controlling either xbmc or vlc. wouldn't work.

 

[Aikouka]

You could just use a hosted VM solution that is used on the second monitor and give it exclusive access to a specific mouse and keyboard.

EDIT:

I did a bit of Googling, and it looks like a few of the free VM solutions can handle this.

Sun/Oracle has VirtualBox
VMWare has VMWare Player

VMWare also has a hardware-level VM solution that's free, but I'm not sure as to what extent it works. Some of its description makes it sound like an extension of their paid product (Hypervisor), but other parts make it sound like a separate and fully functional product:

http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere-hypervisor/overview.html

Chances are the people in the Software, Operating Systems or another specific sub-forum could help you more with this. This is honestly way out of the realm of Audio/Video stuff.

 

[Sidekicknichola]

windows only supports a single mouse pointer as far as i've ever seen, and only a single app can have focus at a time, so both mice/keyboards would be controlling either xbmc or vlc. wouldn't work.

True you will have one mouse pointer ... but you would only need two if both people are trying to access content at the same time.... other wise you would wait 30 seconds to the other side picked content, the move over and select yours.

 

[KAZANI]

UPDATE:
Following your suggestions folks, I've undertaken an arduous VMware project during the last couple of days with some mixed results:

+ The general setup I wanted to achieve is served by the virtual Win7 machine I've compiled so far, with all the software I needed working good with the wireless mouse

- No amount of tinkering will get HDMI audio working :\

 

[KAZANI]

UPDATE #2:
I can now get HDMI audio working on the HDTV but only at the cost of setting the HDMI audio device as default in the physical machine's Win7, which messes with my main desktop's programs for which I must use S/PDIF output to my speakers. GAH...I'm so close! lol