Setting up a media server for my kodi devices?

[jiwlei]

Hello, im just wondering what would be the best option to set up a media server for my htpc's. Got one in my living room (w10) running kodi, and another one in my bedrom also windows10 running kodi. I would like to set up a media server so both my devices can access my movie library. I have looked into FreeNas and considering cinema hd trying that out first, im just wondering if someone else here have a media server for their movies and would like to share some tips on how to get started.

[mwkurt]

I'll take a shot.

My server is a Windows 7 PC. Will not upgrade to Windows 10. It is running and running good.

The main programs on this machine is Snapraid for media backup, Ember Media Manager, Kodi for updating the library, a torrent downloader w/Jacket, Sonarr and Radarr. NextPVR has it's own dedicated PC.

My PC motherboard has space for 8 or 10 SATA connections and all are full. Plus I have 2 of these (https://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-ProBox...148&sr=1-9)

If I didn't have all of the SATA connections on my motherboard, I would have bought the larger version of the Mediasonic boxes. They work really well as long as you use the proper SATA board and THEIR drivers. The Windows drivers do not work.

This server feeds 3 Shield boxes connected to various TVs in our home and is on all of the time. I have set the Windows Firewall to stop all downloads at a specific time and then I have Snapraid run a sync command which is sent to me via email. I have Windows Scheduler set to run Ember twice a day and then I have Kodi update the library twice a day.

That is pretty much all of it. If you have any further questions, lmk.

[JavaWiz]

My setup is as follows:



NPVR Server - Windows 10 

• Hauppage card (not used anymore) for connecting to a STB
  
• Short term recordings stored locally
  
• Long term recordings stored on Netgear ReadyNAS 212
  
• I use PlayON to record streaming channels (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, XFinity protected channels, Peacock, Paramout+, Roku, PlutoTV, YouTube, ...) to record shows I want to keep.
  
• I use this machine primarily for recording, removing commercials, not for viewing.
  

HDHomeRun

• Cablecard with XFinity
  
• 3 tuners
  
• Exposed across LAN
  

NAS Storage - Netgear ReadyNAS 212 

• 8 TB storage
  
• This device holds the majority of my media
  
• Kodi MySQL database with catalog of TVShows, Movies, Music, etc...
  
•     Kodi clients point to this MySQL database for their content
  
•     Kodi configured to import both NPVR recordings as well as PlayON recordings so I have a single source of TVShows, Movies and Music, and can track what's been watched, what's new, etc.. across all Kodi end-points.
  

TV Setup

• 6 TVs throughout the house (Bedrooms, LivingRoom, Office, etc..)
  
• Each TV has a RaspPi LibreElec client running Kodi
  
• Since Kodi DB is on NAS, library is shared across all devices (RaspPi's, PC's, Android Tablets, etc..)
  
• Watched, position in show, what's new, etc... is basically sync'd across all clients.  
  
• Can stop a show in one room, then pick it up in another to watch on a different TV.
  

JellyFin - Old Dell machine running Ubuntu

• Used for browser based apps
  
• Also has clients for windows, android, MAC, etc..
  
• Fronted with Nginx reverse proxy on a Raspberry PI for external access into Jellyfin
  

• Jellyfin also allows me to access HDHomerun remotely for live tv.
  

Tablet / Phones ...

• I use both Kodi (client) and Jellyfin for tablets
  
• If there is not a client for the device, I use the Jellyfin browser interface
  

[JavaWiz]

Hello, im just wondering what would be the best option to set up a media server for my htpc's. Got one in my living room (w10) running kodi, and another one in my bedrom also windows10 running kodi. I would like to set up a media server so both my devices can access my movie library. I have looked into FreeNas and considering cinema hd trying that out first, im just wondering if someone else here have a media server for their movies and would like to share some tips on how to get started.

I simply have a NAS (Netgear ReadyNAS) which the movies and tv show files are hosted on.  For each of my TVs, I've added a RaspberryPI running LibreElec to access the Media content (Movies, TVShows, Music, etc..).   

On the NAS, I run a MySQL database which I point my Kodi's to, so they all share the same library, watched shows, watched position, etc.  For example, I can stop the show in the Living room, and start it up at the exact spot in the Bedroom.