Windows Server 2012

[psycik]

Anyone used Windows Server 2012 for a next pvr server?

I'm looking at consolidating some of my virtual machines and currently have a couple of windows 2008 and a w10 nextpvr server. Thinking about consolidating all on Windows 10 or Server 2012.

[blaal02]

Yes, it is possible on Win 2012R2 - I got it working with a Hauppague WinTV-HVR-2255 (US). But you do need to add BDA support (Broadcast Driver Architecture) - I used 'Microsoft Server Converter 2012 R2'

[psycik]

Yes, it is possible on Win 2012R2 - I got it working with a Hauppague WinTV-HVR-2255 (US). But you do need to add BDA support (Broadcast Driver Architecture) - I used 'Microsoft Server Converter 2012 R2'

How do you introduce bda?

[blaal02]

I used that 'Microsoft Server Converter 2012 R2' program from http://win2008workstation.com/forum/view...=63&t=2499. I did the 'Desktop Experience' from the first tab, then 'msmpeg2enc.dll' & 'Enable TV Card BDA Hardware Support' from the 3rd. But there are other more or less manual instructions around the Web. (Plus of course, the drivers for your particular capture card - the latest Hauppague ones ran fine for me on 2012R2)

[psycik]

I'm just trying to figure out what the advantages might be of 2012 over 10.

Bit easier to install and configure stuff in 2012 without the UAC. UI is more like 8.1 though.

Unsure if the resourcing will be any better with 2012 over w10.

[blaal02]

2012R2 is definitely the server version of 8.1 (Win 2016 - unless it gets renamed - will be the server version of Windows 10, sometime early next year supposedly).
UAC shouldn't be any different - it can be turned off in both Win 2012R2 & Win 10.
Win 10 tends to optimize performance for the foreground applications - which is what you want for an HTPC or workstation (though the server version can be persuaded to do the same). Win 2012 may do a better job of sharing resources between jobs - but for an HTPC all you really care about is the presentation app (Kodi, emby theater ...) and NextPVR, which Win 10 should be able to handle just fine.
I'm using 2012 to handle several Hyper-V VMs for other things, as well as act as the media store and NextPVR recorder, and it stays on all the time. For presentation, I have a separate Win 8.1 machine running Kodi connected to the TV. (8.1 still since it also has Total Media Theater 6 for Blu-rays - and I'm hearing TMT doesn't play very nicely with Win 10).

[psycik]

Yeah I already have a front end client. This machine is a VM that I use for some web applications etc and has nextpvr recording service running on it.

[blaal02]

OK, now it might be worth it. 2012R2 will do a better job of hosting those web apps (But what's the VM host running? Unless it's also a server OS, may not buy much).
Actually, I'm impressed that the VM can get to the tuner! - HDHomeRun via USB?

[psycik]

HomeRun....was the main reason I bought one. means either my VM or my phyical box can use the tuners if I don't feel like running as a client.

The host is actually windows 7, so it's probably better I stick with w10....