HTPC or NAS or BOTH

B

belowalthough

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Hi All

I have seen and read tons and tons of posts and forums but i still do not have a solid answer to what i should do.

I have tried OpenELEC with Milkmans Guide and i did a FreeNAS Setup as per Mike. but then i read about other ways / items you can do....

So i want to know what everyone out there is doing and recommends.

I Current Have The Following:

SOFTWARE:

1. FreeNAS v8.0.4
2. SABNZBD
3. Sick Beard - Never Used
4. Couch Potato - Never Used
5. XBMC - Windows
6. OpenELEC (This Includes XBMC)

HARDWARE:

HP Micro Server N40L
8GB RAM
4x 3TB WD Drives
Wireless Remote
MSI GT520 Graphics Card
SATA RAID CARD (For My ICY DOCK 4 BAY)


Any advice will be great.

Thanks
BB
 
My current set up is:

- HP Micro Server running Unraid, acting as a NAS device only
- Zotac MAG ND01, running XBMC, SABNZBD, sickbeard and Couch Potato

However, i am busy changing that.

- I want my Micro server to run SABNZBD, sickbeard and Couch Potato on top of Unraid
- Raspberry Pi to run XBMC
- And sell my Zotec (anyone interested???)
 
well blade, what do you essentially want to be able to do?

that is the question that will make or break your decision as to what you will be running.

m-itx Zotac bar?
 
If you are planning on streaming to your TV and you don't have a console(PS3, Xbox 360), you going to need an HTPC.

NAS (Holds content) > Consoles/HTPC (Plays content) > TV (Shows content)

or

HTPC with correct sharing set up (Holds and Plays content) - cons: Always on

or

NAS(Holds content) > PC (Plays content)
 
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I have a HP Micro Server N40L.8GB RAM which is running windows home server it is networked to a 32-inch LCD 550 Series TV
It runs DLNA native
I can select content on the server from the remote on the TV , and play it on the TV (apart from the other PCs connected which i can do the same )
Easiest way is to load windows 7 on the microserver and network the TV if the TV is capable then you can stream any content from the microserver via your modem/router ( it works out the box )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Living_Network_Alliance
Windows Media Connect and therefore Windows Media Player 11 support DLNA.
Windows Media Player 12 (bundled with Windows 7) supports all DLNA roles.
 
Last edited:
FNfal said:
I have a HP Micro Server N40L.8GB RAM which is running windows home server it is networked to a 32-inch LCD 550 Series TV
It runs DLNA native
I can select content on the server from the remote on the TV , and play it on the TV (apart from the other PCs connected which i can do the same )
Easiest way is to load windows 7 on the microserver and network the TV if the TV is capable then you can stream any content from the microserver via your modem/router ( it works out the box )
Click to expand...

Silly question (since I don't feel like looking for the 550 TV's info now): is this running over a wired LAN, or does the TV support Wifi?
 
ChocolateBadger said:
If you are planning on streaming to your TV and you don't have a console(PS3, Xbox 360), you going to need an HTPC.

NAS (Holds content) > Consoles/HTPC (Plays content) > TV (Shows content)

or

HTPC with correct sharing set up (Holds and Plays content) - cons: Always on

or

NAS(Holds content) > PC (Plays content)
Click to expand...

think i will want to go for the NAS due to the fact of the always on HTPC. Is it relatively easy to set up sickbeard etc on a normal external hard drive that is plugged into the network via the router?
 
flarkit said:
Silly question (since I don't feel like looking for the 550 TV's info now): is this running over a wired LAN, or does the TV support Wifi?
Click to expand...

It is working over a wired LAN
AFIK all the TVs with a lan sockets support DLNA
And most are capable of fitting a WIFI dongle (some are proprietary dongles and some have built in WIFI)
 
Last edited:
Ok

So has anyone Tested FreeNAS v8.0.4 with SABNZBD, Sick Beard, Couch Potato ?

Then i might just create 1 NAS and then use a small media Player / device that i can use XBMC on it on a 1GB LAN, Then use the XBMC PC via HDMI to my TV.
 
I dono, there is just something that draws me to having windows 7 on my htpc, I use my wireless xbox controller as a remote. On start up an app launches that allows me to use the controller as a mouse, I can also bind any kb or mouse button on the controller so it really is seamless.
From there I can use xmbc, play nfs shift, browse, open snes games, do pretty much anything.
 
CoolBug said:
I dono, there is just something that draws me to having windows 7 on my htpc, I use my wireless xbox controller as a remote. On start up an app launches that allows me to use the controller as a mouse, I can also bind any kb or mouse button on the controller so it really is seamless.
From there I can use xmbc, play nfs shift, browse, open snes games, do pretty much anything.
Click to expand...

Bluray playback in XBMC would be nice though :D
 
bladebob said:
Ok

So has anyone Tested FreeNAS v8.0.4 with SABNZBD, Sick Beard, Couch Potato ?

Then i might just create 1 NAS and then use a small media Player / device that i can use XBMC on it on a 1GB LAN, Then use the XBMC PC via HDMI to my TV.
Click to expand...

Works fine. Just no way to stop and start the services with machine shutdown and start up. 8.2 plugin system will rectify this.
 
Skandalis said:
Any you'd recommend? I tried PowerDVD without much luck.

But the gold medal would still be to play it straight through XBMC - Hopefully in due time :whistle:
Click to expand...

I use software that came with my laptop which is called arcade or something but it's made by cyberlink so the new version of powerDVD should work
 
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