topology recommendation

[sflamm]

I am in the process of transitioning from Windows VMC to Sage.

Can I get some input of which deployment topology I should choose?

Here is my environment:

1. Win 2003 R2 Server server as NAS (quad core - xeon, with 8 GB, and 4TB in hot-swap RAID 5)

No open PCI-E or PCI slots. (I cannot put the HVR2250 Tuner below in this box)

2. Vista Ultimate x64 with core 2 duo e6300, 4GB, 320 Gb single drive
and HVR2250 Tuner

3. HDHR

4. All hard-wired Gig lan, all machines gig.

5. Clients in every room practically... (small form factor PCs next to TVs and monitors)

Should I:

1. run the Sage Server on the NAS to increase recording efficiency from the HDHR and run a Sage Server as a Encoding Server on the Vista box to access the HVR2250

2. Make the Vista box a Sage Server with all 4 network tuners (2 from HDHR, 2 from HVR2250) and use the NAS strictly for storage of all media from the Sage Server

Input / advice would be appreciated. Thx.

[paulbeers]

I recommend option 2. Do everything Sage related on one box (with the exception of housing your media on your Win2003 box). I used Sage this way for a long time. I ran one box for all my media and 1 for Sage with all my tuners. This is your cheapest route as if you go option 1, you will need 2 Sage licences rather than 1.


Second, do you have all SFF computers to act as clients for each room? If not, I really recommend you consider the HD200's. They are completely silent, only use 7 watt-hours and have do not have the issues of poor video card drivers / decoders / etc. They just work and generally are cheaper than building a full PC.

[sflamm]

Thanks. I was leaning toward that option - as it is simpler topology wise and costs less. But I was wondering if the performance improvements (if any) of #1 might outweigh the simplicity/cost.

Did you have any performance issues at all with the single sage server recording/streaming to all the clients and the NAS at the same time in your config? Sage seems amazingly responsive compared to VMC, so I'm thining it will perform well... what was your experience?

I use the SFF boxes today as VMC clients and will change them over to SageClients.

Long run I agree the sage extenders are the way to go... but in the short run I already have plenty of hardware and it is just cheaper to put the SageClient on...

[plawlor]

...I really recommend you consider the HD200's.
I would agree...and strongly... I just replaced my two client PCs with HD200's as part of upgrading my overall setup to support HD. I do not regret it. They are simply fabulous! No way I was going to get the same results with my PCs for the $200 price tag per.

[aflat]

Performance for option 2 shouldn't be an issue, your barely taxing anything in that setup. It would also allow you to do things like run comskip on your nas, and offload all the post processing from your Sage server. You won't have any performance issues.

[sflamm]

Thanks for the input.

I already run showanalyzer/dirmon on the NAS scanning my RecordedTV directory.
It should be pretty easy to configure SA to output for Sage instead...

[mayamaniac]

I say option 1 unless you really want/need to use the 2250. First, its a quad core so a faster machine. Second, it's only one machine to run for recording instead of two, so power saving there. If you need more tuners, sell the 2250 and get another HDHR.