TV-Server on WHS - Collection of fixes and workarounds (1 Viewer)

[JACOB B]

Just a moment:
Did you said WHS-pool?

SO you use a whs-share folder for all records?

If that's the case:
This is a very bad idea, as the pool-shares are quite loaded with background processes from WHS.
I recommend you install a dedicated HDD, completely unused by the pool. This can be done via the Windows HDD manager as a new partition.
If you want to have network access to the HDD, this can be done as normal network share.


And as a side-note: Try to avoid power management for the HDD's in WHS. My experience is that this is also disturbing smooth playback/records. When checking afterwards recorded files, there were a significant number of bad sections. Windows (not only WHS) seems to be unable to buffer sufficient data when a HDD (and this could be any HDD, not only the one for recording) spins up and stalls data transfer.


Cheers,

Hi All
I am updating my current TV-server setup which is
- TV-server and client in office on a HP laptop (NW8440) with core2duo 2.0 GHz, running Win XP SP3 (32bit), 3 FireDTV DVB-C tuners are connected to the laptop. All 3 timeshift to OS HDD and record to external USB2 HDD.
- MP client in living room Asrock ION 330HT-BD.
- Media server for long term storage of recorded TV, as well as DVD, music and photos is a HP Mediasmartserver EX475 (1.6 GHz single core, "GB ram) running WHS.
- Gigabit network connects everything.

I plan on building a new Media/TV server running WHS, based on the Tower system here:Guide to Building a HD HTPC - Page 437 - AVS Forum
I will use an older Antec TWR and start out with 6 HDD which the MOBO has SATA connections for. This will cost me 296$ (incl. OS HDD) + storage drives. I can expand as desired later.

Now, I am in doubt as to how many dedicated drives I need for the 3 HDTV tuners...
Requirements:
I need to be able to record 3 HD channels simultaneously, while either
- watching (timeshifting) a HDTV channel or streaming a recorded HDTV program on 2-3 clients,
- or streaming a HD movie (from recorded TV or Blu-ray rip) to 1-2 clients while timeshifting a HDTV CH to another client.

I tested how TV server uses the cards. One card can actually record two channels (on same freq.) while timeshifting live TV of one of the channels. As it is, this is a very realistic scenario with the TV channels I have and normally watch.

Worst case, this will require 3 HDTV streams being recorded to the same harddisc (saving to HDD), while streaming 1-3 recordings from same harddisc (reading from HDD), all the same time.

So I need to figure out how to minimize the bottleneck.

Should I have:
1) one HDD pr. tunercard, and timeshift and record to same HDD (three HDD in total, maybe 500 GB a piece)?
- this will give a worst case scenario, as the example above will 3 x read and 3 x write to same HDD.
2) one HDD for recordings from tunercard 1, one HDD for timeshifting from tunercard 1 (maybe a SSD?), and one HDD for recording AND timeshifting for card 2 and 3.
- this will use 2 HDD for the load from the example above.
3) tuner 1 to record to pool (tuner 1 is always the first one used, and therefor also the one with most recordings to read/stream), and timeshift to dedicated HDD from tuner 1 (maybe a SSD?). Tuner 2 and 3 can share a dedicated HDD for recording, and share a dedicated HDD for timeshifting.
- this will spread the load from streaming (reading) and recording (saving) from tuner 1 out to the pool, while timeshifting
(live TV) is optimized. If Tuner 2 is recording and timeshifting at the same time, it will use two HDD fot these tasks.
When tuner three comes in play (seldom, but it happens), it will share with tuner 2...

Thoughts:
- Solution 3) differs from 2) in using the pool rather than a dedicated HDD for recording from tuner 1. If the load is high, as in example above, won't this be better than a dedicated HDD?
- However, if I stream a blu-ray rip from the pool at the same time, the load on the pool in solution 3) is suddenly a lot higher, which might influence recording..? This would not matter in solution 2.

OK, shoot away, both theoretical anwers and answers based by experience are welcomed

Cheers,
Jacob

 

[yhoogi]

Maybe in 5 months, after relocation to my new appartment I can give you a response. I intend to use 2 cards, but consider this will be too late for you.

A side note: to my experience data throughput should be not such a major issue, but you have to closely observe data integrity of the recorded files. To my experience, datastreams got messed at time of switching in the tuners. I suspect some driver issues here which create buffer overruns.



Cheers

Installation of TVServer using the method in the first post is working fine. However I never get the "test user" screen to test the database user and password. I assume this is due to the wrong name of TVServer.exe.config, as I get an error message as TVserver tries to start. However, the DB seems to be OK, as I am able to scan channels without problems.

As you already found your issue ( ), just a comment on the config topic:

If you are fast enough and have the configs available, you can copy them during install directly in the directory as soon as it is created.
Then you will run smoothly through the install.

If I remember it right (frankly gave no real thought to that during install), it seems like you do not need to enter the pw & login anymore.
(TBC)

Cheers,

 

[Schicksal]

AW: TV-Server on WHS - Collection of fixes and workarounds

Is anyone running ATI Catalyst on WHS? I have already installed WHS again and don't update. First thing was installing ATI Catalyst but the control center still doesn't work
and i have to install the driver manually.

 

[yhoogi]

If I remember right, catalyst CC is not working in WHS. Seems liek some drivers/services are missing.

Please remember that the WHS is stemming from the server product line. multimedia apps are not fully supported.

Cheers,

 

[TommySharp]

Hey guys, I've been trying to run the TV server on my WHS box for a few weeks now but the experience is pretty unreliable.... I get bad TV stuttering but it's totally random....

The server isn't under any real load at all and has a dual core CPU.

If I make the server unzip an archive using RDP then TV on the client in the lounge is pretty much useless....

I have the recordings and live tv buffer being stored on a separate drive that isn't in the mail pool.

Anyone got any ideas on how I can resolve this? I'm running the latest release of MediaPortal and just pulling my hair out!!!!

I've tried everything and the only thing I can prove is that it appears random.... The TV will stutter but then if I rewind then sometimes it won't stutter in the same place...

 

[winniwinter]

This worked for me very well:

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...-avoiding-rtsp-multiseat-mode-test-plz-36735/

After a while I had also stuttering channels. After configuring my client as described in this thread everything is working fine for me now. Even channel zapping is a little bit faster

 

[TommySharp]

This worked for me very well:

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...-avoiding-rtsp-multiseat-mode-test-plz-36735/

After a while I had also stuttering channels. After configuring my client as described in this thread everything is working fine for me now. Even channel zapping is a little bit faster

I did try that a few days ago and I wasn't convinced it was working... Might give it another try....

One thing I did try was share the recordings folder and then access it through the "My Videos" part of MP.... This was just as bad so thought this would be without RTSP as it's not the tv client if that makes any sense?

 

[winniwinter]

to see if the function is working you have to enter your tv server config and check the tv streaming control while you are watching tv with a client. If you see the client, you did something wrong..

did u also installed the dvbfix?

 

[TommySharp]

I will have to try it again then cause I kept seeing the client under the steaming section. Will also look into the dvbfix...

Any chance you could post an example of your XML file with new settings?

 

[winniwinter]

Sorry I'm not at home right now.
But here is what I did:

Server Side:
- created a Folder for the timeshift
- shared this folder for all users

Client Side:
- Mapped a Networkdrive ( Folder: eg '\\server\timeshiftbufer' Drive: X)
- changed the MediaPortal.xml file like this (search for section "tvservice"):

  <section name="tvservice">
    [b]<entry name="usertsp">no</entry>
    <entry name="timeshiftingpath">X:\</entry>[/b]

please make sure that MediaPortal is closed on client side. Otherwise the changes in the XML file don't get saved!