methods of using TV server - discussion thread (1 Viewer)

CHli

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My home server is an Athlon Xp2400+ with 512 or RAM and 4HDD and power consumption in normal case (downloading, an IRC client and remote desktop used) is ~135W
 

infinite.loop

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    My home server is an Athlon Xp2400+ with 512 or RAM and 4HDD and power consumption in normal case (downloading, an IRC client and remote desktop used) is ~135W
    yup the AthlonXP CPUs needed more power than A64.
    but realy "cool" are the new Intel CPUs :) :)
     

    nettech_gt

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    Would there be any significant benifit from setting up RAID using an external NAS that supports RAID (like a Buffalo Terra Station) as aposed to a Windows XP Pro or Server 2k3 computer with hardware RAID configured? (using RAID controller card)
     

    kerpow

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    Would there be any significant benifit from setting up RAID using an external NAS that supports RAID (like a Buffalo Terra Station) as aposed to a Windows XP Pro or Server 2k3 computer with hardware RAID configured? (using RAID controller card)

    That would depend on a few things, like how physically big your server is, ie how many disks you can mount. If you have a massive HP NetServer with external raid arrays (which I guess you don't, I am making a point) then you may as well stick with that.

    I think you need to consider your network. Imagine you are watching TV with time-shift on a client Media Server. Your data will go from the server, to your NAS, from the NAS to the client and all of that will have to go through one switch/hub/box. While this may well be within the bounds of the network infrastructure the data is real time and any glitches in the stream will play out on screen (or get saved to disk). I have seen this before, working with MPEG2 streams in a gigabit broadcast environment (over IP) while the network should have handled the data fine, small switching delays etc can play havoc with real time data (granted glitches do also occur in disk buffers etc).

    The bottom line is that IP was never interned for real time streams, there are some products out there that attempt to prioritise IP traffic for this very purpose (ie InfoValue) but they have no place in a home network.

    The best thing you can do is over speck the network, and under-run the application, ie; stick with your on-board RAID unless you need more space than you can fit.

    Unless that is you can install an ATM network at home (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150044125520&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:2) with true QoS, mmmmm, nice).

    Cheers :)
     

    pannivas

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    Although this is off topic imo, i tend to disagree with u kerpow.

    Since i do stream MPEG2 transport streams from my networked file server (running windows 2003 server).

    The files i stream from my network server are MPEG2 HD/SD, H264 files and many more. To give you an example an MPEG2 HD file with a high bid rate will average around 15-18mbits of bidrate per second (something that a basic 10/100mbit wired network can easily handle). I never had any glitches or problems doing so.

    My setup is pretty basic with 10/100mbips wired connection and my switch is nothing more than a cheap linksys one.

    Now this not time-shifting but correct me if am wrong. What would be the difference between time-shifting an MPEG2 SD stream and playback of an MPEG2 HD stream over the network?

    And what good will an ATM card do for video streaming?
     

    kerpow

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    Yes, maybe starting to go off topic a bit, but its all kinda relevant seeing as this is about how the new system will work.

    First off, don't get me wrong, I don't imagine that anyone will have great difficulties, but it is possible that a heavily used network (especially one that is not used just for TV) could experience problems. And in the case of the questioner I am simply trying to say that if they don't need a NAS for some other reason then there is little point using one as it will increase network traffic.

    What would be the difference between time-shifting an MPEG2 SD stream and playback of an MPEG2 HD stream over the network?

    If the data is being stored on a NAS from the TV server, and then viewed by a separate client there is three times the traffic on the network compared with a direct server to client link. The data goes from the server to the NAS to encode (1), and then when requested (in this example at the same time as encode) back from the NAS to the server (2) for the server to provide the stream to the client (3). That's more bandwidth, yes, plus there are 3 chances for corruption/glitches of the data Compared to; without the NAS the stream would just go from the server to the client (1) end of story.

    And what good will an ATM card do for video streaming?

    Well with a 155m connection it would take a LOT of streams to clog up! But the point of ATM is that it is asynchronous (that's what the A stands for), it was designed for real time data streams, and its possible to set real QoS (quality of service) and even section off 'pipes' (virtual circuits) in the network to ensure that there is enough bandwidth for a particular service.

    But that really IS going off topic! :)

    Cheers
     

    MadMac66

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    SQL-Server Discussion

    It is correct use SQL Express because it's easy to integrate. Nevertheless would it make more sense in my opinion to use a well documented SQL Abstract Layer and support therefore a kind of Plug In support on the server side from beginning on. Personally I think it's better to use another month or two for development instead of risking architectural design flaws which afterwards have to compensated by more and more debugging and patching. I don't know what kind of API you are using right now to talk to the SQL side of Media portal, but I hope that you only use some kind of standart ANSI SQL. In doing so even the later on support for the "rest" of the database stuff is easier to integrate in one - maybe - dedicated SQL-Server and not needing support for more database engines.

    Just my two cent
    Arne
     

    samuel337

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    It is correct use SQL Express because it's easy to integrate. Nevertheless would it make more sense in my opinion to use a well documented SQL Abstract Layer and support therefore a kind of Plug In support on the server side from beginning on. Personally I think it's better to use another month or two for development instead of risking architectural design flaws which afterwards have to compensated by more and more debugging and patching. I don't know what kind of API you are using right now to talk to the SQL side of Media portal, but I hope that you only use some kind of standart ANSI SQL. In doing so even the later on support for the "rest" of the database stuff is easier to integrate in one - maybe - dedicated SQL-Server and not needing support for more database engines.

    Just my two cent
    Arne

    IIRC, the new MP uses DevForce Express from IdeaBlade. This is a data abstraction layer among other things, hence why frodo said that it should work with other SQL databases.

    Post: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/showthread.php?p=64993&highlight=devforce#post64993

    Sam
     

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