HP Micro server as media server

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Sigma721

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Hi eveyone

I have had a look and hope I am not asking something already posted.

I want to make a media server to play movies,etc via HDMI on my tv. I would also like to install a blu ray player(if possible)?

What I know so far is to buy a HP Micro server, install Windows or Ubuntu on it along with XBMC. Then install a NVidia 210 series graphics card and of course a hard drive.

Is this heading the right direction? Where is the best place to shop?

I am open to any suggestions.

Regards
 
Here's my 2 cents for what its worth.

HP Micro server - R600 (I got it for a steal, lol)
ATI HD5450 - ~R350
Media IR Remote - R65 (China Mall)
Mini Wireless Keyboard + Trackpad - ~R300 (eBay)

Running Windows 7 with XBMC on start-up. It's awesome.
 
jarrodr said:
Here's my 2 cents for what its worth.

HP Micro server - R600 (I got it for a steal, lol)
ATI HD5450 - ~R350
Media IR Remote - R65 (China Mall)
Mini Wireless Keyboard + Trackpad - ~R300 (eBay)

Running Windows 7 with XBMC on start-up. It's awesome.
Click to expand...

Organize me also one! Lol
 
vinodh said:
Here's a link to a thread that has just about everything you want to know about the HP MicroServers as well as all the extras that have been added to it: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/333460-HP-ProLiant-MicroServer
Click to expand...

And here's another one wrt creating the Ultimate TV Experience http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...-Guide-to-creating-the-Ultimate-TV-Experience

Between those two threads you can't go wrong as they have a wealth of information in them, you won't have to look anywhere else on the net for info.
 
Thanks so much everyone! Really a great forum this!

I have had a look around on those, and I have everything sorted except playing Blu Rays. Does anyone know what the best external Blu Ray player is for a pc?
 
Playing blu rays in linux on xbmc/openelec would probably require makemkv plugin I 'think' but could be wrong. No idea as to the 'best' player, what options are available to you?
 
Where is china mall? That place near langlaagte?
I need a remote receiver.
 
Check my post here if you get an nvidia card, ready to go out of the box :)

bullzeye.za said:
1) Download this: http://mediahog.co.za/firmwares/MH_MASTER_0.8.1.7z
2) Extract it with 7-Zip ( Will take about 8gb of space )
3) Download and extract this: http://mediahog.co.za/firmwares/USBIT.7z
4) Run the app included in the second archive, point it at the extracted firmware and tell it to "Restore" to the flashdisk( Has to be 8GB or more, will not work on smaller flashdrives currently ).
5) Put the flashdisk into the microserver's internal port, turn it on and it should boot straight

Should also work on a PC that has an NVIDIA card, I am working on getting ATI drivers working at the moment.

I developed this to work on my N36L microserver, but can confirm that it works 100% on the N40L as well, tested with an NVIDIA GT520 card ( gigabyte )

Please PM me problems, I don't often check this thread :)

Also working on:

-New SuperSport plugin that will initially only be available with this firmware package ( For release when it's 100% stable )
-ATI Compatability
-Auto detection of internal storage ( May or may not work at the moment, ZFS being particularly fun )
-Installing XBMC Eden when released
Click to expand...
 
jarrodr said:
Here's my 2 cents for what its worth.

HP Micro server - R600 (I got it for a steal, lol)
ATI HD5450 - ~R350
Media IR Remote - R65 (China Mall)
Mini Wireless Keyboard + Trackpad - ~R300 (eBay)

Running Windows 7 with XBMC on start-up. It's awesome.
Click to expand...

Yeah... 2 things though. :erm:

1) nVidia should be recommended if you want the OP to save himself some headaches. GT210 or GT520.

2) Running Windows 7 with XBMC at startup is not "awesome", it's a terrible suggestion. Rather get OpenELEC.
 
Keeper said:
Yeah... 2 things though. :erm:


2) Running Windows 7 with XBMC at startup is not "awesome", it's a terrible suggestion. Rather get OpenELEC.
Click to expand...

+1 why would you want to load windows on it, if you just using it for xbmc?
 
nadimm said:
So you can have a download machine, sickbeard, couchpotato, etc. i use Ubuntu with XBMC auto start.
Click to expand...
Sickbeard, sabnzbd etc can all be run on the openelec image ....
 
Keeper said:
Yeah... 2 things though. :erm:

1) nVidia should be recommended if you want the OP to save himself some headaches. GT210 or GT520.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Didn't realize what a mish it would be with the hd5450. Definitely spend a little more on an nvidia. Better for Linux based installations, i.e. open elec, xbmclive, ubuntu

Still haven't got it right, video is a bit choppy. And if you want to use hardware processing you have to do some homework.

Worked well on openelec though. Might be a ram issue.
 
If you're just using it as HTPC go with openelec it's a slimmed down XBMC distro works great and both ATI and Nvidia cards should work out the box with it.

If you buy a HP Microserver now the 2GB is adequate for what you're going to do with it. at most you'd need to add another 2.
Then I'd recommend a GT520 and then you should be sorted bar a remote
 
I read through the massive http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/333460-HP-ProLiant-MicroServer thread but if someone can answer this simple question please. I'm ordering the microserver from HP , got the GT210 ( low profile ) already and have tested openElec on my home PC via android app. Will get the remote sorted once its up and running .
Question : do i just let openELEC run from USB or do I need to install an OS on the server ? Its just for watching media and connect via wifi.
I will be plugging in an WIFI dongle and have 2X2TB drive i want to pop in. the drives are externals now but will take it out of the casings and pop it in the server.
Adding Win 7 adds to the cost. Is it necessary ?
 
Corbin said:
I read through the massive http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/333460-HP-ProLiant-MicroServer thread but if someone can answer this simple question please. I'm ordering the microserver from HP , got the GT210 ( low profile ) already and have tested openElec on my home PC via android app. Will get the remote sorted once its up and running .
Question : do i just let openELEC run from USB or do I need to install an OS on the server ? Its just for watching media and connect via wifi.
I will be plugging in an WIFI dongle and have 2X2TB drive i want to pop in. the drives are externals now but will take it out of the casings and pop it in the server.
Adding Win 7 adds to the cost. Is it necessary ?
Click to expand...

OpenELEC is the OS. You don't need win7.
You can keep it running off the USB stick if you want. Personally, I'm gonna install it on the internal drive.
 
Sinbad said:
OpenELEC is the OS. You don't need win7.
You can keep it running off the USB stick if you want. Personally, I'm gonna install it on the internal drive.
Click to expand...

It's still an install, just on the usb instead of the hdd. So you'll still have the benefit of the metadata and library being saved.
 
I find it boots faster on an installed HDD than running off a USB flash drive.

To be honest I compared boot times with win 7 x64 and the Win 7 booted faster.
 
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