Hi all,
I have now set up a complete and working instance of MediaPortal with TV Server (version 1.0 RC2) on my brand new home server rig. Since it might seem a bit tricky here and there for some, I decided from the start to simultaneously create a How-To guide for the whole process for anyone else who might want to setup an environment like this.
First things first... a bit about my server
Case: ThermalTake Armor (Silver w. 25cm side fan)
Mainboard: Asus P5KC
Processor: Intel Core2Duo Q9450
Cooler: ThermalRight HR01-Plus
Fans: 3x Noctua 120mm fans
RAM: 2x2GB OCZ DDR2-6400
HDD: 1x120GB Seagate (system), 1x1TB Western Digital (media)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 7600GS
Sound: Soundblaster X-Fi eXtremeAudio PCI-e
TV Card: Hauppauge PVR-500 MCE
Well.... let's get to it. The guide covers an installation on the above hardware. Other hardware may "kindly" provide you with trouble because of driver support (or the lack of ).
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Guide for setting up MP as a Mediaserver on Windows Server 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This guide is written during the installation of my new home server. This home server is supposed to host Madiaportal with TV Server along with being a file server, development server (SVN and Hyper-V test machines) and a backup server. For the future there are plans for a much more advanced server with features such as Voice-controlled Home Automation and Entertainment.
The following steps have been taken in the following order.
1. Install Windows and make sure to update via Windows Update.
2. Install features:
a. .NET Framework 3.0
b. Desktop Experience
c. Remote Server Administration Tools / Role Administration / Hyper-V Tools
d. Windows Internal Database
e. Windows PowerShell
f. Windows Server Backup and Command-Line Tools
g. Windows System Resource Manager
3. Run Windows Update and enable all Microsoft Update.
4. Run Microsoft Update (still called Windows Update).
5. Create a new user “MediaPortal” and set a password. Keep the user standard.
6. Make sure that all drivers are installed and download MediaPortal (if not already done).
If no drivers for your hardware is available for Windows Server 2008, then just find the same drivers in their Vista-version, since the two systems use the same core and therefore this little trick will work in most cases. Just remember to never mix x86 and x64 versions unless you really, really know what you're messing with. Otherwise ask on the forum or Google.
7. Log in as Administrator and install MediaPortal and TV Server (Follow the respective guides).
8. Make sure that the MediaPortal user has access to the Mediaportal program files and application data (should be by default).
9. If you, like me, place your media on a different drive, then remember to set access rights for the MediaPortal user on these directories.
10. Start using MediaPortal using your new MediaPortal user. Eventually follow the guide further down to set up automatic start of MediaPortal.
As a final step install and configure your codecs. My setup is as follows and installed in that order:
1. Haali Media Splitter
2. FFDShow without h.264
3. CoreAVC
Remember to setup MediaPortal to use the correct codecs.
Note: I have a Hauppauge PVR-500 MCE in the server and updated without problems from their driver CD ver. 3.2. Use the hcwdriverinstall.exe file, because Setup.exe won’t work on this CD (stupid OS check).
Please provide feedback in case I have forgotten anything or you have something to add. Let's kill the lack of documentation for Windows Server 2008 once and for all
/Maedhros
NB: I will make sure to post a similar guide for setting up the complete and ultimate home server with Mediaportal, Backup (online w. eg. iDrive), Home Automation, Voice and AI. However, this is a bit into the future since it is quite a project in the end with a few issues still to work out. MAybe ready for MediaPortal 2
Update: Auto-logon for automatically starting MediaPortal
To ensure that MediaPortal starts up automatically after a reboot (eg. after windows update or power failure), please follow this guide.
1. Follow the steps in the following article using your created MediaPortal user: How to turn on automatic logon in Windows
2. Once logged in as your MediaPortal user open the MediaPortal Configuration and set MediaPortal to start up when windows starts up.
Note: The Autostart setting in MediaPortal is defined in the registry using the current user registry section. So this will not affect a remote login by eg. the administrator account.
I have now set up a complete and working instance of MediaPortal with TV Server (version 1.0 RC2) on my brand new home server rig. Since it might seem a bit tricky here and there for some, I decided from the start to simultaneously create a How-To guide for the whole process for anyone else who might want to setup an environment like this.
First things first... a bit about my server
Case: ThermalTake Armor (Silver w. 25cm side fan)
Mainboard: Asus P5KC
Processor: Intel Core2Duo Q9450
Cooler: ThermalRight HR01-Plus
Fans: 3x Noctua 120mm fans
RAM: 2x2GB OCZ DDR2-6400
HDD: 1x120GB Seagate (system), 1x1TB Western Digital (media)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 7600GS
Sound: Soundblaster X-Fi eXtremeAudio PCI-e
TV Card: Hauppauge PVR-500 MCE
Well.... let's get to it. The guide covers an installation on the above hardware. Other hardware may "kindly" provide you with trouble because of driver support (or the lack of ).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guide for setting up MP as a Mediaserver on Windows Server 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This guide is written during the installation of my new home server. This home server is supposed to host Madiaportal with TV Server along with being a file server, development server (SVN and Hyper-V test machines) and a backup server. For the future there are plans for a much more advanced server with features such as Voice-controlled Home Automation and Entertainment.
The following steps have been taken in the following order.
1. Install Windows and make sure to update via Windows Update.
2. Install features:
a. .NET Framework 3.0
b. Desktop Experience
c. Remote Server Administration Tools / Role Administration / Hyper-V Tools
d. Windows Internal Database
e. Windows PowerShell
f. Windows Server Backup and Command-Line Tools
g. Windows System Resource Manager
3. Run Windows Update and enable all Microsoft Update.
4. Run Microsoft Update (still called Windows Update).
5. Create a new user “MediaPortal” and set a password. Keep the user standard.
6. Make sure that all drivers are installed and download MediaPortal (if not already done).
If no drivers for your hardware is available for Windows Server 2008, then just find the same drivers in their Vista-version, since the two systems use the same core and therefore this little trick will work in most cases. Just remember to never mix x86 and x64 versions unless you really, really know what you're messing with. Otherwise ask on the forum or Google.
7. Log in as Administrator and install MediaPortal and TV Server (Follow the respective guides).
8. Make sure that the MediaPortal user has access to the Mediaportal program files and application data (should be by default).
9. If you, like me, place your media on a different drive, then remember to set access rights for the MediaPortal user on these directories.
10. Start using MediaPortal using your new MediaPortal user. Eventually follow the guide further down to set up automatic start of MediaPortal.
As a final step install and configure your codecs. My setup is as follows and installed in that order:
1. Haali Media Splitter
2. FFDShow without h.264
3. CoreAVC
Remember to setup MediaPortal to use the correct codecs.
Note: I have a Hauppauge PVR-500 MCE in the server and updated without problems from their driver CD ver. 3.2. Use the hcwdriverinstall.exe file, because Setup.exe won’t work on this CD (stupid OS check).
Please provide feedback in case I have forgotten anything or you have something to add. Let's kill the lack of documentation for Windows Server 2008 once and for all
/Maedhros
NB: I will make sure to post a similar guide for setting up the complete and ultimate home server with Mediaportal, Backup (online w. eg. iDrive), Home Automation, Voice and AI. However, this is a bit into the future since it is quite a project in the end with a few issues still to work out. MAybe ready for MediaPortal 2
Update: Auto-logon for automatically starting MediaPortal
To ensure that MediaPortal starts up automatically after a reboot (eg. after windows update or power failure), please follow this guide.
1. Follow the steps in the following article using your created MediaPortal user: How to turn on automatic logon in Windows
2. Once logged in as your MediaPortal user open the MediaPortal Configuration and set MediaPortal to start up when windows starts up.
Note: The Autostart setting in MediaPortal is defined in the registry using the current user registry section. So this will not affect a remote login by eg. the administrator account.