Who is running a media network/server?

ROBSCIX · *Last edited by ROBSCIX; 07-11-2012 at 04:22.*

Hey guys, I know many of use have home networks in our homes. I was wondering who else runs a media network/server?

In my home, I have my main music collection on the PC. All the other PC/laptops and media players in my home have access to these files also.

I find this much easier then keeping multiple copies of media files on different PC's. The subject came up the other day as I suggested this type of setup to another and he is happy as it works out much better for his home systems.

So, are you running a media network/server type system?
If so tell us what you have an how it is setup.

Note: we are not interested in hearing about your ultra cool network setup, unless it is USED for media such as music and movies.

grunger · 07-10-2012, 20:33 | posts: 1,830 | Location: London

1 Physical server with 2 HyperV VMs

Physical Box
C2Q 2.4
8GB DDR2
1x1TB
1x RAID5 2TB
1x2TB

Physical - Data and Backup via LTO tape drive
VM1 - Exchange 2010 Dedicated
VM2 - Blackberry Enterprise Server (I can kill this one in Oct when the last BB dies in this house!)

Dual NICs LAG'd to a ProCurve switch.

The main box has all the media and it shares it to my Shuttle MediaCentre box and other PCs on the LAN via SMB as mapped drives, it also streams music to an old Netgear MP101 via TwonkyMedia.

As my Shuttle has a small 32GB SDD I also use part of the servers disk as the recording drive for media centre via iSCSI

Works well, although maybe somewhat more complex than the average and not purely a 'media server'

WhiteLightning · 07-10-2012, 20:46 | posts: 20,488 | Location: Netherlands

yes i have a dedicated pc with movies movies etc. (which i also got hooked up to my TV) i7-930,6gb 1600,4870x2 (the horror!!!!) and 120gb SSD,2x2TB and 1x1TB green caviars.
can easily get through the media through other pc , consoles ,phone or other media devices.
i only watch movies on the dedicated pc, and the other pc though, due to less options on the other devices.

ROBSCIX · 07-10-2012, 21:05 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

I think it is becoming more and more common for people to be running these types of networks. Well more common with people like us!
I always recommend people to put in a router and some cabling/wireless if they have multiple systems. The price of networking gear is so cheap these days.

Nato.dbnz · 07-10-2012, 21:46 | posts: 3,255 | Location: Auckland NZ

I currently use my main PC as my media server running Logitech Media Server which streams my music over wifi to my stereo via the Squeezebox Touch. Currently I also run HDMI from this PC out to my tv and control the PC with my Android Unified Remote for movies.

In the next month or 2 I'm going to put together a mini itx box for the living room to take over the media duties as well as act as a backup box for my important files. It will do all the same things I currently use my main PC for but with smaller power requirements and no need to run HDMI between rooms.

gridiron whirlw · 07-10-2012, 21:50 | posts: 3,186 | Location: Ohio

We now have 4 pcs that have access to all of our flac files.

4 if you count the pc that actually has the files on it.

Thanks to ROBSCIX.

ROBSCIX · 07-10-2012, 21:47 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

I am doing an ITX build also.

ROBSCIX · 07-10-2012, 21:53 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

I think I might make a sticky on it for those that are new to the idea.

Veteran · 07-11-2012, 00:33 | posts: 7,405 | Location: United kingdom

I have a DHCP and proxy server in my garage,an ftp,a NAS that i built myself using SCSI drives(reliable for 24/7 use) and a seperate server running IPcop for added firewall protection ie:web filtering/ip filtering etc.

I have my gaming pc in the house.

I think im going to get rid of the ftp and proxy tbh as its not needed now as IPcop does a good enough job without the proxy i think.

ROBSCIX · 07-11-2012, 04:21 | posts: 16,085 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Is that used for media?

Veteran · 07-11-2012, 08:32 | posts: 7,405 | Location: United kingdom

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Is that used for media?

Yeah all sorts of crap tbh,but im going to eliminate some of it as its not needed tbh,i set it up just to see it working more than what data was being stored.

Tom F · 07-13-2012, 00:46 | posts: 2,647 | Location: Gloucesterestershire

Kind of - all my audio / video lives on a somewhat old QNAP TS-109 NAS.

Was running as a Squeezebox server too when it was at my parents house, but currently just runs as a file server for audio and video. Works well enough for me =)

N0sferatU · *Last edited by N0sferatU; 07-11-2012 at 06:02.*

yes I have both local and remote access to all my multimedia

The living room HTPC houses 15 TB of hard drives. I'm able to do the following from the living room PC and it's supporting hardware.

1.) Play local music / video
2.) Play on any of my other PC's (including a second HTPC in the bedroom) using XBMC or basic folder sharing in windows
3.) I have software that allows me to remotely stream all my music and video (transcoded for bandwidth) to another computer or my mobile phone
4.) I also have a slingbox to stream my DirecTV to either another computer or mobile phone.

Basically I can access all my stuff anywhere I have internet service.

EDIT: My laptop does house some local FLAC/MP3 for on the go as does my cell phone but they both can still access stuff remotely.