What Should I Do ???

[zacburgess]

Hi

I only got my media center up and running the other week and already I am made up with it. As I have only got one media center and I need more hard drive space. What should I do?

Do you think its better to sort an server out so I just put all my data in one place?
I have been looking at ubuntu/Debian server OS. Anyone used any of them?

Or should I just forget the server part (for now) and get my self another hard drive?

Cheers
Zac

[northan]

Your already expanding into the world of media hey.

What are your plans with the media center, are you planning full dvd rips?
How many films and music do you plan on archiving over the next two years?
Will a server be usefull for you in other ways other than serving media?
Do you have mutiple pc's you want to stream to, or is there just one media pc at the moment?

Just wanted to gauge a bit more of your needs before I made a suggestion.

As far as ubuntu goes, yes I tried it and it works, but I found it a pain, I reckon cause i'm not well versed in linux, but don't let that put you off. A free o/s lets you play till your hearts content.

[zacburgess]

(01-24-2010 03:13 PM)northan Wrote:  Your already expanding into the world of media hey.

What are your plans with the media center, are you planning full dvd rips?
How many films and music do you plan on archiving over the next two years?
Will a server be usefull for you in other ways other than serving media?
Do you have mutiple pc's you want to stream to, or is there just one media pc at the moment?

Just wanted to gauge a bit more of your needs before I made a suggestion.

As far as ubuntu goes, yes I tried it and it works, but I found it a pain, I reckon cause i'm not well versed in linux, but don't let that put you off. A free o/s lets you play till your hearts content.

What are your plans with the media center, are you planning full dvd
My plans are to use the media center for tv/videos/music

How many films and music do you plan on archiving over the next two years?
Dont no but would like a few blu rays. as I haven got any


Will a server be usefull for you in other ways other than serving media?
No

Do you have mutiple pc's you want to stream to, or is there just one media pc at the moment?
Just one pc and a xbox 360 for now I will be getting another media center or xbox tho

[northan]

Right, its seems to me your at the start and you want to choose which route to go down.

This is the most difficult decision to make, because there are so many variables. Budget, networks, infrastructure, sound distribution, budget, future proofing, expandibility, storage methods and budget.

It doesnt matter which route you go down, your going to find the process of where you are, time consuming and sometimes expensive.
Unless you won last weeks euro millionere, its a gradual buisness of expanding or upgrading the system when the pennys flow.

So that brings us back to that important question, to server or not to server.

My answer for you at the moment is not to server.
Why? Well because your at the start you don't have moosive amount of data yet, putting 1 disk in your media center now could give you 2tb extra instantanously. Also that media center can act as a transcoder for your xbox. Yes I know I said I'm not too impressed with the quality of the xbox system, but If money were tight, or I was waiting to upgrade to new computers, I would certainly be happy with the xbox. Besides this gives you a chance to evaluate the setup with out to much capital and there is little wasted money doing it this way. You can always use the extra hard drive later in a server.

With most peoples systems you will find that they evolved to where they are, I'm sure most did not think they would have a server or, even as much hard drive space before blu ray came out.

I hope this helps, but as I said there are lots of varibles, maybe something i've not asked or you've not mentioned.
Hopefully there will be someone else on the forum that can add some insight too, after all i'm just one opinion.
Also does'nt matter what anyone says, if you got a gleem in your eye that says server, well all I can say is I know what you will end up doing.

[dunks517]

If its storage space you are after then I recommend buying an external Hard Drive, 1TB drives can be bought for around £60 and 1.5Tb around £90. When you go down the server route they can be stripped and popped in the Serve, plugged in the back or used as a film backup (I have done this with a couple of 500Gb drives).

Duncs

[elootos]

(01-24-2010 09:47 PM)northan Wrote:  With most peoples systems you will find that they evolved to where they are, I'm sure most did not think they would have a server or, even as much hard drive space before blu ray came out.

I hope this helps, but as I said there are lots of varibles, maybe something i've not asked or you've not mentioned.
Hopefully there will be someone else on the forum that can add some insight too, after all i'm just one opinion.
Also does'nt matter what anyone says, if you got a gleem in your eye that says server, well all I can say is I know what you will end up doing.

(01-25-2010 09:46 AM)dunks517 Wrote:  If its storage space you are after then I recommend buying an external Hard Drive, 1TB drives can be bought for around £60 and 1.5Tb around £90. When you go down the server route they can be stripped and popped in the Serve, plugged in the back or used as a film backup (I have done this with a couple of 500Gb drives).

Duncs

Evolution is better as it gives you time to adjust to the technology you're currently implementing and also slowly learn to live with its negatives (loads of positives of course, but its the downers that can make you want to ebay it all!)

So start without a server in mind and if you decide to upgrade down the line, then so be it. I would advise that you try and always have one machine that is reliable, stable and ready to work because nothing would hack you off more then having a house full of equipment that you couldn't use because it kept crashing! Try and make your current Media Center that PC, then look to expand and experiment with other systems in the house. Like Duncs, I'd also recommend an external drive; they're cheap, can be moved around, and butchered to live inside a server down the line (like my 5 have )