SageTV 7 with Windows Home Server

[CaptSammy]

If all I want to do is store my AVI files on the server, and connect that server to my TV and watch them, do I need SageTV? I have the Home server software but never installed it and cant find anywhere if it comes with a media player worth a darn.

If it doesnt, cant SageTV 7 client do what I want? My cable company tossed me a big DVR so I dont need to record with Sage any longer, although I have HD home play and several Hauppaug cards unused now, as well as a v6 license for SageTV. My wife and I have loved Sage for years, and would like to find a reason to upgrade to 7 and use it, but would also like to only have one machine "do it all".

Thanks!

[OneOfMany]

Since Sage is usually used to capture the video source and handle the recordings, and you are simply using your PVR standalone and using the PVR's interface to mange your recordings, then realistically no. You are not taking advantage of the core feature of Sage.

You simply need a front end on one system? Forget Homeserver, it's for a dedicated server. Put a copy of Win7 on it and use their MediaCenter to view your personal media, and switch to your PVR for TV viewing.

Grant

[CaptSammy]

I thought of doing that, but then I figured if I am going to run the box 24/7 why not have a server available that could serve those videos to other Win7 machines on the network. Which led me to Home Server.

The only problem with Home Server is that I have never seen it run, so I dont know if it has a Media Player Available. If not I figured the Sage Client would allow watching on that machine and the rest of the family could use their Win7 machines to also view movies if they wanted.

In a nut shell I could retain wife support using the Sage client because she already knows and loves it. I would use Sage core again but not sure how difficult it is to record from Uverse. My only experience with Sage was with an analog cable connection, easy peezy. Then I stepped up and got an HD Homerun working when they forced the digital feed on us (still didnt require a set top). Now with Uverse I am totally lost and took the easy route with their DVR.

[gplasky]

By design Windows Home Server is a headless server that is designed to serve media in your house and provide backups for any PC in your house. It is NOT designed for actual media playing (the latest media player is not installed and you need a hack to install it). You can use another PC to playback media from WHS or use the Sage system.

Gerry

[CaptSammy]

Yeah thats why WHS is doomed to fail, they [Microsoft] ignore the "Home" in Home Server.

In a data center I can see dedicating a machine for a specific use, but in a home environ every tool should be flexible and have multiple uses, especially when it concerns running a machine that eats energy 24/7. The ONLY reason Media software is not included is because Microsoft protects their rights to sell as many licenses as they can whether users need them or not. If WHS cant play an AVI or MP4 while serving files to a family of four, maybe they should start selling Linux. Microsoft has never offered a true server OS, not sure why I thought WHS would prove otherwise. Playing a movie is nothing more than "serving" video data right? No different than "serving" HTML or simple raw files, just a different output.

Will Sage Client run on WHS for media viewing? Guess I'll have to spin it up as nobody seems to have tried Sage Client on WHS. I have a copy, just never opened it. I am betting that the big problem is going to be codecs or maybe video drivers, but Vista codecs should work. Maybe set application as priority in system performance settings.

Wish me luck.

[keepersg]

Originally Posted by CaptSammy

Yeah thats why WHS is doomed to fail, they [Microsoft] ignore the "Home" in Home Server.

In a data center I can see dedicating a machine for a specific use, but in a home environ every tool should be flexible and have multiple uses, especially when it concerns running a machine that eats energy 24/7. The ONLY reason Media software is not included is because Microsoft protects their rights to sell as many licenses as they can whether users need them or not. If WHS cant play an AVI or MP4 while serving files to a family of four, maybe they should start selling Linux. Microsoft has never offered a true server OS, not sure why I thought WHS would prove otherwise. Playing a movie is nothing more than "serving" video data right? No different than "serving" HTML or simple raw files, just a different output.

Will Sage Client run on WHS for media viewing? Guess I'll have to spin it up as nobody seems to have tried Sage Client on WHS. I have a copy, just never opened it. I am betting that the big problem is going to be codecs or maybe video drivers, but Vista codecs should work. Maybe set application as priority in system performance settings.

Wish me luck.

It's possible (I did it) but requires a lot of messing around--installation of codecs, hacks to install a media player etc. Not worth the trouble...there's a thread somewhere that describes this:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41745

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by CaptSammy

Yeah thats why WHS is doomed to fail, they [Microsoft] ignore the "Home" in Home Server.

In a data center I can see dedicating a machine for a specific use, but in a home environ every tool should be flexible and have multiple uses, especially when it concerns running a machine that eats energy 24/7. The ONLY reason Media software is not included is because Microsoft protects their rights to sell as many licenses as they can whether users need them or not. If WHS cant play an AVI or MP4 while serving files to a family of four, maybe they should start selling Linux. Microsoft has never offered a true server OS, not sure why I thought WHS would prove otherwise. Playing a movie is nothing more than "serving" video data right? No different than "serving" HTML or simple raw files, just a different output.

Will Sage Client run on WHS for media viewing? Guess I'll have to spin it up as nobody seems to have tried Sage Client on WHS. I have a copy, just never opened it. I am betting that the big problem is going to be codecs or maybe video drivers, but Vista codecs should work. Maybe set application as priority in system performance settings.

Wish me luck.

Good luck. You can also hammer in a nail with a pipe wrench too. But it makes more sense to choose the appropriate tool. WHS is not a playback machine. Think of it as a gateway to your media. Both internal and external. Remote access is built into WHS and is very easy to use.As keepersg says it can be done but not worth the effort. Extenders and PCs are all you need to make the most use of WHS.

Gerry

[bsquarewi]

If all you want to do is watch AVI's, DVD's and MKV's off a shared network drive there are countless media players which are a much easier option than setting up a full PC. PopcornHour, AppleTV, XBMC, Boxee, SageTVHD300, WDLiveTV, Roku, etc.

Stick the WHS down in your basement or whatever and get a silent network player to stream your videos off the server. Let each device do what it does well. Let WHS store and backup your video's. Use a network player to stream the videos. No need to screw with codecs or the noise of a PC next your your TV. A good network media player costs about the same or less than a video card you would need in a HTPC anyhow.

[OneOfMany]

"Yeah thats why WHS is doomed to fail, they [Microsoft] ignore the "Home" in Home Server. "

No, it's because they [the users] ignore the "Server" in Home Server.

Grant

[CaptSammy]

So the customer should change their requirements to meet Microsoft's needs? Odd business strategy, lets see how that works out for WHS.

I threw Vail RTM on my server and started tweaking. It was working sweet, I found many "how to's" for converting Server 2008 into a workstation, looks like common practice for developers creating dev box's. Those naughty developers...

Then I ran into an error and had to check the logs, odd that all the errors referred to "Win7". Then I came to realize that Vail is "homegroup" capable; thats a Windows 7 only functionality. I am now convinced that they [Microsoft] hacked some Server 2008 functions onto a Win7 foundation to build Vail. If it were the other way, hacking Win7 functionality onto Server 2008, one would think that homegroup functionality is now available to Server 2008 in some fashion (torn from Vail and added to Server 2008).

With that in mind I blew Vail away, installed Win7 Pro proper, added all my machines to a homegroup, and have everything I ever wanted in a server. Installing PS3 media server will extend it to the rooms that do not already have a Win7 Machine. The only function I will miss is the backup functionality, looking into best case solutions for that next.

Thanks for all the help, twas a fun exercise in desktop OS's. I don't get much of a chance to work with desktops any longer, as I have managed some of the largest raised floor server spaces in the US, but currently focus on SharePoint Architecture.

[Slipshod]

Originally Posted by CaptSammy

Then I came to realize that Vail is "homegroup" capable; thats a Windows 7 only functionality.

The original version of WHS added homegroups with the last power pack. It's not a strictly Win7 feature in that regard.

And Server2008 and Win7 share the same original codebase, just like 2003 and XP. No surprises there.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by Slipshod

The original version of WHS added homegroups with the last power pack. It's not a strictly Win7 feature in that regard.

And Server2008 and Win7 share the same original codebase, just like 2003 and XP. No surprises there.

On the original WHS with PP3 installed, WHS will add its shared Music, Photos, and Videos folders automatically to the Windows 7 Music, Pictures, and Videos shares (respectively). You don't see or have access to the homegroup feature per se on WHS. Not trying to split hairs. But you don't have to provide the Homegroup password for this to happen on WHS v1 with PP3.

Gerry