SageTV - Antivirus, yes or no

[gbluhm]

What is the conventional wisdom regarding using antivirus software with SageTV.

[JPMNICK]

I use it, AVG free edition, and have no problems. I would never run a PC without it

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by JPMNICK

I use it, AVG free edition, and have no problems. I would never run a PC without it

I'll second that, on both counts!

[Crashless]

I personally do not run AV on my SageTV server - BUT it is a dedicated server, I never visit any sites other than Windows Update, SageTV, NVidia and Steam Powered.

Even then, most files I put on that system go through my main laptop which has NOD32 on it, so all files are pretty clean before they touch it.

I'd only recommend it to very advanced users, but if you're really careful and don't use it for anything else, you might not need it.

Please notice all the caveats before flaming me.

[Conejo]

It probably depends on how much you love your recordings.

If your SageTV Server is a dedicated setup with playback direct out-of-the-box then you can get away with just a good firewall. (You're still on a shared LAN)

But if you surf the net on the same box, or just share out drive directories... then you've opened up your system to a host of potential exploits.

I run AVG, but I also make mirror backups of my boot partition to safeguard against viruses, hacks and my own handiwork I can never trust me. A clean XP/Sage install is never more that 15 minutes away

[sixdoubleo]

I also run AVG Free on my Torrent box...which I also use as my SageTV client in my office. No problems whatsoever.

But (and I know many will disagree) a virus scanner is an unneeded service on a full-time Sage box. If you're not using the machine as a computer, constantly going to websites, accepting ActiveX controls, downloading and installing software...you're at a very low or nonexistent risk.

If you're worried, a better option would be to configure user rights so that Sage runs as a non-admin/non-privileged user. In always taking the minimalist approach, I wouldn't run a resident virus scan service unless you absolutely HAVE to.

[geogecko]

Originally Posted by Crashless

I personally do not run AV on my SageTV server - BUT it is a dedicated server, I never visit any sites other than Windows Update, SageTV, NVidia and Steam Powered.

Even then, most files I put on that system go through my main laptop which has NOD32 on it, so all files are pretty clean before they touch it.

I'd only recommend it to very advanced users, but if you're really careful and don't use it for anything else, you might not need it.

Please notice all the caveats before flaming me.

I agree. I personally run AV on my Sage box, just because it's free through my work. But, if not, I probably wouldn't run it either, since that box is not used to browse the internet, and like you, the only site that computer visits is Windows Update, and all other files first pass through my office computer, which also has AV on it.

If Sage ever has a decent internet browser installed in it, then I will surely keep AV on it...but I don't think it's really needed with my current setup.

[Opus4]

One thing to remember: if you do run antivirus software, be sure it is configured to NOT auto-scan the recording directories, or else it might constantly scan videos as you play them, wasting cpu time. You may need to do the same thing for import dirs.

- Andy

[geogecko]

Originally Posted by Opus4

One thing to remember: if you do run antivirus software, be sure it is configured to NOT auto-scan the recording directories, or else it might constantly scan videos as you play them, wasting cpu time. You may need to do the same thing for import dirs.

- Andy

Wow, I think you just solved an on going problem I've been having. Auto-Scan has been setup on all the drives, because they have to be excluded.

We'll see how this works out. Thanks!

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by Opus4

........it might constantly scan videos as you play them, wasting cpu time.

Not to mention the stuttering it may cause!

[davephan]

Originally Posted by Opus4

One thing to remember: if you do run antivirus software, be sure it is configured to NOT auto-scan the recording directories, or else it might constantly scan videos as you play them, wasting cpu time. You may need to do the same thing for import dirs.

- Andy

Thanks for the tip. My McAfee A\V (free from my cable Internet ISP) was configured to do real-time scanning on all files. I reconfigured My McAfee A\V so it does not scan all files.

I did not notice any stuttering with my dual-core E6850, but I did notice some stuttering once in awhile with my old Althlon XP 2800+ system (RIP), which also had McAfee setup to scan all files.

I also recommend periodic disk imaging for the boot drive, stored on a USB hard drive that only connected to the computer system while imaging.


Dave

[gbluhm]

Looks like there is a range of opinion on this and many variables to consider. I only use this machine for SageTV and iTunes and nothing else. I guess I would feel better with virus software but don't know if my E6700 gives me enough horsepower to run it with a 1080p SageTV. I did download and install the AVG and see it can be set to do a system scan at any time of day. If I can turn off real-time scanning maybe that's a good compromise.

[davephan]

Originally Posted by gbluhm

Looks like there is a range of opinion on this and many variables to consider. I only use this machine for SageTV and iTunes and nothing else. I guess I would feel better with virus software but don't know if my E6700 gives me enough horsepower to run it with a 1080p SageTV. I did download and install the AVG and see it can be set to do a system scan at any time of day. If I can turn off real-time scanning maybe that's a good compromise.

I tried AVG about a year ago. It seems to work, but the GUI was pretty crude at that time. I have heard about AVI causing serious problems on a couple of systems, where they had to be rebuilt or recovered. Be sure to have an image of your system, before installing AVG if possible.

Dave

[GTwannabe]

Run antivirus, but set it not to do real-time scanning on recording directories. Otherwise, the AV software is continuously re-reading the recordings as they are streamed to disk, which kills drive performance.

This procedure is necessary on products like Symantec and McAfee. AVG has a less thorough real-time engine and doesn't continously scan files streamed to disk.

I do suggest you install dedicated antivirus software on your Sage server, rather than one of those "security suite" bloatware packages.

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by GTwannabe

I do suggest you install dedicated antivirus software on your Sage server, rather than one of those "security suite" bloatware packages.

hear, hear!

[ybrew]

No antivirus software on my sage box. My sage server sits in my closet behind a router. Only site I visit is windows update and sage. Box is dedicated and headless. No need for antivirus IMO.

[jdamore]

I have used AVG on my client/server (winXP) and I haven't had any compatibility issues at all. As a matter of fact, I haven't had a virus get into my sage box(s) in years as I use a laptop for the potentially "dangerous" areas.

When I upgraded to vista I decided not to put AV software on since i haven't had any viruses in a long time. I did come across this which gives me a piece of mind that I am a little safe..

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

It is slow but I just run it over night..

[unkyjoe]

NO A/V on my server, no need to burden it.

It stays within my local network, updates are sent to it via my Small Business Server update service.

[takeshi]

It's interesting to see people mention "burden". I recall having AV even on my first iteration of a Sage box and it was a P3 700 system. Never had performance problems with it. In fact, I only upgraded it to add HD.

[TechBill]

My PC near the TV is a full time SageTV server and client and showanayler so I don't use any anti-virus on it since the PC is not use for anything else. It on the network but it only access Windows update or trusted sites for hardware driver or SageTV updates.


Bill