SW for dedicated Video Server; XP or Win Server 2003

[Blacksheep]

I have built a dedicated Video/Audio server (Storage and playback only) for my house and was wondering about any input on which operating system to put on it? Was thinking XP Pro or Windows 2003 Server with 5 user Lic. Already own both so cost does not matter. Server specs at bottom of post.

Pro and Cons of XP vs Win Server 2003?
Any problems with one or the other using SAGETV?
Recommending strip size for Raid 5 drives? Was going to use 64k


Just finished rewiring the entire house to Cat 6 with 24 drops.
Using the Dlink DGL-4300 Gigabit Router and 24-port Giga Switch.
Have 3 TVs each have a computer with ATI 550 Capture cards.
Plus have work computer and laptop connected to server. I may add SAGE Client to these two computers to feed off the server.

SERVER SPECs
SuperMicro motherboard with 5xx series Intel P4 3.0
Supermicro Server case 8 bay SATA hotswap trays
2 Gig Ram Set in Dual Channel mode
Highpoint RocketRaid card 8-Port SATA
8 ea 400 Gig Western Digital RE2 Harddrives in Raid-5

[flavius]

So, you want to run a copy of Sage Server on each of the three boxes and store the shows on the server? Then retrieve the shows for playback from the server?

Is there a way you could have big-boy-server do all the recording and turn all the other boxes into clients? Then, of course, you shouldn't be using 2003 server, since it's not on the supported OS list.

[ToxMox]

There are several people here using 2003 Server without issue AFAIK. I'm sure a search will return some answers for you.

[Blacksheep]

My server is a true Server motherboard with a lot of 64 slots but only 1 Pci slot; so I can not just fill it up with 3 TV cards and feed back to the client computers at the 3 tvs. Would be nice but would have to change out my Server motherboard and then would not have a 64 slot for the high end Raid card.

[insomniac]

PVRUSB2's work just fine, if thats an option for you..

I run 3 pvrusb2's on my win2k3 server.

Originally Posted by Blacksheep

My server is a true Server motherboard with a lot of 64 slots but only 1 Pci slot; so I can not just fill it up with 3 TV cards and feed back to the client computers at the 3 tvs. Would be nice but would have to change out my Server motherboard and then would not have a 64 slot for the high end Raid card.

[Opus4]

But, to have a tuner on each client, each client would have to remain on in order to be able to record from it, plus each client would need a full copy of SageTV to act as a network encoder. You could also use PVR-USB2 tuners on the server instead of PCI cards.

I don't know much about the ATI 550 tuner, so I don't know if it comes with a remote. But, if you do put the tuners on the server, you would need some sort of IR receiver for each client, assuming you want to use a remote on each.

There are plusses & minusses each way, I suppose, but I just think it is good to keep all the tuners on the server so the server isn't relying on all the clients to do the recording.

- Andy

[insomniac]

slow poke ;P

[Opus4]

I prefer to think of it as being slightly more thorough.

- Andy

[Opus4]

Oh -- and just be glad we haven't installed the forum modification that allows me to edit the time stamp on posts.

- Andy

[insomniac]

hah!

[AWS]

Originally Posted by Blacksheep

My server is a true Server motherboard with a lot of 64 slots but only 1 Pci slot; so I can not just fill it up with 3 TV cards and feed back to the client computers at the 3 tvs. Would be nice but would have to change out my Server motherboard and then would not have a 64 slot for the high end Raid card.

You can put 32-bit PCI cards in your 64-bit PCI slots. I, too, have a SuperMicro board (P4SCT+II) and have added a "high end Raid card". It's not my HTPC setup but my gaming rig. Those 133MHz or 100MHz PCI-X slots are fully backwards compatable. However, with that being said, the slowest card on your boards dictates the maximum speed on your bus.