Dual Core Atom 330 as GbPvr Server?

[tjb]

Is anyone using an Atom 330 processor based system as a GbPvr server?

Let me back up for a moment. In the past I had been using an HP Proliant ML150 as my main server, which included GbPvr recording and hosting two PCH's as clients. It definitely was up to the task, but used around 250 to 300watts at idle. So I started searching for a greener solution. First, for storage, I got a NAS from Qnap (Ts-410) which uses only about 20 watts with three 1.5 TB disks in it. Then for the heck of it, I temporarily tried to use my Dell Vostro A90 (Atom 1.6, identical to the Dell Mini 9) to act as a GbPvr server. To my surprise, it works perfectly for recording shows. However, it is not up to the task of streaming video to the NMT. So now I am thinking about building a system based on the Zotac IONITX motherboard (which has a dual core Atom processoor) so I can get my Vostro back. I'd be very interested to know if anyone else has tried this and if they had any success.

[mvallevand]

Streaming is not CPU intensive at all, so I'd suspect your drive first and your network second. If you are recording to the NAS and playing from the NAS that could be alsobe an issue.

However if you recordings are kept on the NAS (directly or via archiving), then you can configure the PCH's to read directly from them saving a bit more overhead on the server.

Martin

[tjb]

Hi Martin,

I did get recording to work directly to the NAS, and it seems to do a very good job. I can also play files directly from the NAS (ie through the PCH interface). But when I tried to play a file through the Recording menu of GbPvr, that's when I ran into problems. By the way, when I tested playback there were no recordings in progress.

When you say you can configure the PCH to access the files directly, are you referring to playing them from the Videos menu? Or maybe directly from the PCH interface? What I really hate to lose is the comskip capability, which I assume I would lose if playing the file directly.

[mvallevand]

Normally GBPVR streams to the PCH via http but the --use-shares option cause the file to be read via cifs/smb In theory you don't lose com skip, but many NAS devices don't have the oomph to support streaming required be mvpmcx2. It might be worth a try.

Martin

[tjb]

Normally GBPVR streams to the PCH via http but the --use-shares option cause the file to be read via cifs/smb In theory you don't lose com skip, but many NAS devices don't have the oomph to support streaming required be mvpmcx2. It might be worth a try.

Martin

Probablly a dumb question, but I know how to setup a PC client to stream from a share, but where do you set this up for a PCH? Is it a setting in config.xml?

[mvallevand]

Let's move this thread to the mvpmcx2 forum, with a post and logs showing playback from the NAS Your question is still valid hopefully someone will still answer it.

Martin

[Bathman]

I'm using a Dual Core Atom 330 as my main HTPC and it serves to one Pentium M 1.6 client withour any problems at all. In fact it works better than the 2.0 pentium m it replaced.

[nitrogen_widget]

i'd think you'd want to use the Atom as a client considering it's small size & HD capability.

[tjb]

Let's move this thread to the mvpmcx2 forum, with a post and logs showing playback from the NAS Your question is still valid hopefully someone will still answer it.

Martin

Martin,

I will start another post and include logs shortly. Thanks for you help and suggestions.

[tjb]

I'm using a Dual Core Atom 330 as my main HTPC and it serves to one Pentium M 1.6 client withour any problems at all. In fact it works better than the 2.0 pentium m it replaced.

Bathman,

Are you using Streaming or File Sharing for the Atom server? And if I may ask, did you build your own Dual Core Atom 330 system or buy one already packaged. Either way, can you give me the details?