GBPVR as both Client and Server?

[gregthebunny]

Hi all. I'm setting up two identical PVR boxes for my uncle: one for his den and one for his living room. Each has a 640 GB drive for recordings. What I'm wondering, is if each computer can act as a client to the other, making all recordings available on both, and making the available storage for all recordings over 1.2 TB. If this all goes well, I'll be setting up a similar system for myself. GB-PVR seems to like a great piece of software!

P.S. Is there an easy way to move recordings from one computer to the other? Say I record all my Futuramas between both boxes, but want to store them all on just the one?

[imagn]

I'm pretty sure that you can only set it up as either a server or a client.

With that being said, you can still accomlish what you want (Unless there is a limitation i am unaware of in your Uncles house), where one can be the server and one can be the client, put all tuner cards in the server and schedule all recording on the server, then the client can access them as well, now the only thing i see here is live TV i am not sure if this works right on clients

the alternative is to use the video menu and add each machines directory to it so you can access them just not as pretty as the recordings screen.

There also could be plugins but i am not sure about that you might want to research xrecord plugin

[gregthebunny]

He'd like to use each box as a recording PVR. Basically so he can schedule his recordings on the one in the den (old movies, how-to shows, etc.), and let the family use the one in the living room (sitcoms, cartoons, etc.).

I'm still the the process of setting up and configuring everything, so I'll play around with it once I get them both going.

[dennit]

He'd like to use each box as a recording PVR.

One option would be to just set them both up as servers. Then use the Video Library on ServerA to watch videos recorded on ServerB and vice-a-versa. You might want to use a renaming plugin to make it easier to figure out what each recording is.

[gregthebunny]

One option would be to just set them both up as servers. Then use the Video Library on ServerA to watch videos recorded on ServerB and vice-a-versa. You might want to use a renaming plugin to make it easier to figure out what each recording is.

Thanks for the tip. I'll give that a shot.

[pBS]

to setup dual server, just add batch file to import shows from other machine..
now can import based upon path.."pvrx2.exe -import:\\otherpvr\path\recording-dump.xml"
and both machines will have btoh sets of movies...try to stay away from duplicate recordings in this scenario..it will show both...

oops. also need to adjust the path in export for network available paths..[eg: c:\ drive won't be c:\ drive on other machine]
i have a batch file around here somewhere to do this...just gotta find it..
i also have one that can import single shows at a time..

oh yea, can also just use video library to view details also, if using a skin which allows this..like Community4 or Slick...
probably easiest way...

[gregthebunny]

to setup dual server, just add batch file to import shows from other machine..
now can import based upon path.."pvrx2.exe -import:\\otherpvr\path\recording-dump.xml"
and both machines will have btoh sets of movies...try to stay away from duplicate recordings in this scenario..it will show both...

oops. also need to adjust the path in export for network available paths..[eg: c:\ drive won't be c:\ drive on other machine]
i have a batch file around here somewhere to do this...just gotta find it..
i also have one that can import single shows at a time..

oh yea, can also just use video library to view details also, if using a skin which allows this..like Community4 or Slick...
probably easiest way...

Thanks for the info!

I'd like everything to show up in Recordings if possible. I'd prefer to keep Video Library dedicated to something else, such as DVD or VHS movies (which I'm sure will need to be archived at some point).

[martint123]

Basically so he can schedule his recordings on the one in the den (old movies, how-to shows, etc.), and let the family use the one in the living room (sitcoms, cartoons, etc.).

If it was me, I'd still stick to the one server with all the tuners and just a client in the living room - you can do everything the same without all the hassle. If he ever wanted to add a third client (or NMT) it is easy with single server, not so with multiple servers.

[dennit]

If it was me, I'd still stick to the one server with all the tuners and just a client in the living room - you can do everything the same without all the hassle. If he ever wanted to add a third client (or NMT) it is easy with single server, not so with multiple servers.

The main problem with multiple servers is that you can't use or schedule the tuner(s) from the other server. OTOH, client/server setups seem to have more trouble with live TV, particularly for HD. They are both reasonable choices. I went with client/server.

On the issue of access to recordings from another server, be aware that the import method: "pvrx2.exe -import:\\otherpvr\path\recording-dump.xml" Will likely be a bit behind, as the recording-dump.xml file is normally created only once each night. If getting the file into the Recordings database immediately is important, you could probably use the postprocessing.bat file. Postprocessing.bat runs immediately after a recording is done and has access to the recording filename as a batch file parameter. It would be a bit tricky to set up, as it would need to execute a process on the remote server to import the file on the local server, but it can be done.

[johnsonx42]

I've tossed out the idea of a hybrid client a couple of times, but it hasn't generated much discussion (nor more crucially, interest from sub). A hybrid client would work exactly like a normal client, except it would have one local tuner for Live TV. Everything else would go to the server. This would give the best of both worlds.