NPVR Server sleeps while XBMC is playing video files

[skinny]

I've been playing with Openelec 3.0 RC2 on a client which works very well with NPVR as back-end server with one small issue.

When watching a recording on the NPVR server, (or a video file on the server) the server will enter sleep mode whenever it wants, it's currently set to sleep after 10 min idle.
Server is Windows 7 Home Premium, power settings - When sharing media - Prevent idling to sleep

I'm not sure if this is a server or client issue, can someone point me in the right direction?

[StevHodge]

I have the same problem, using a Raspberry Pi as XBMC client

[skinny]

Oh thank goodness, I thought I must be the only one
One slight modification to the original post. The server does not sleep when playing a video file that is stored on the server.
I have tried this fix but with mixed results. At first there seemed to be no change, now it looks like it might be stopping sleep altogether, but it needs more testing, and that has to be done when no-one is watching or recording anything else

[mvallevand]

The pvr functionality in xbmc is designed for a backend that is always on.

Martin

[sub]

I can provide a patch that keeps the machine awake while streaming, but as Martin implies above, you'll still have problems if you're letting your backend go to sleep. XBMC wont be able to connect when you want it to because the machine will be asleep. With this type of setup you'd be better off leaving it awake at all times (and just use monitor power saving, and let the disks spin down after x minutes of inactivity)

[skinny]

Thanks,
I've been using the 'Advanced Wake On LAN' Add-on to wake the server when needed, it seems to work pretty well. The patch would be nice, but only if you've got nothing else to do

[skinny]

I found a solution which seems to work well
This utility, SmartPower 1.4.2 running on the windows 7 back end gives me a couple of options to keep the back end awake.
Either for as long as another device (xbmc client) is on, or as long as traffic on a network interface exceeds a specified threshold.
Hope that helps someone

[kricker]

This would be a welcome patch. I am working with another coder who has written a patch that will wake servers that are sleeping when XBMC needs content from them. The PR has seemed to stall at the moment, but I am hoping it will get pulled soon into XBMC mainline.

I can provide a patch that keeps the machine awake while streaming, but as Martin implies above, you'll still have problems if you're letting your backend go to sleep. XBMC wont be able to connect when you want it to because the machine will be asleep. With this type of setup you'd be better off leaving it awake at all times (and just use monitor power saving, and let the disks spin down after x minutes of inactivity)