Migrating from XP to WHS

[logsvp]

I am considering migrating my HTPC from Windows XP PRo to WHS. The intention being to merge my existing WHS which I only use for PC backups with my HTPC. I currently view SageTV content via extenders (2 x HD100 and 1 x HD200) and occasionally via a PC client. I don't use the HTPC to view SageTV content unless checking upgrades etc.

I use 3 internal TV cards which gives me 6 x DVB-T tuners and 2 x DVB-S tuners. CPU is an Intel E6750 Core 2 Duo and I have 2GB of memory. Also an LG Blu-ray and HD-DVD combo drive.

My current HTPC drive setup is as follows:
Drive 1: 500GB (32GB WinXP partition and the remaining partition is for music)
Drive 2: 500GB (SageTV recordings)
Drive 3: 1TB (DVDs)
Drive 4: 1TB (DVDs)
Drive 5: 1TB (Archived TV)
Drive 6: 1TB (Archived TV)
My HTPC runs 24x7 and the hard drives are set to spin down when not being used (which means for most of the time Drives 3 - 6 aren't running).

So now to the questions:
1. Will it still be possible to allow the drives to spin down if they are pooled.
2. Should I keep the SageTV recordings (Drive 2) out of the pool?
3. When I migrate - is it enough just to use backup copies of the properties files and wiz.bin?

Thanks for any help

[S_M_E]

Originally Posted by logsvp

1. Will it still be possible to allow the drives to spin down if they are pooled.
2. Should I keep the SageTV recordings (Drive 2) out of the pool?
3. When I migrate - is it enough just to use backup copies of the properties files and wiz.bin?

1) Yes, I believe they do but I've never checked to make sure.
2) No.
3) Yes, but I prefer to copy the whole directory to the new box and, when you install Sage, it acts like an upgrade.

[logsvp]

Thanks for the feedback

Originally Posted by S_M_E

... 2) No.

The only thought I had as to why to leave it out of the pool is that the SageTV recordings drive gets pretty well fragmented. Whilst my other drives with mainly static content (once the initial file copy has been done aren't). I guess your response means that this isn't that important? I am running Perfect Disk 10 (defragger) on my WHS so I will continue to use this on the new build.

[S_M_E]

Originally Posted by logsvp

The only thought I had as to why to leave it out of the pool is that the SageTV recordings drive gets pretty well fragmented. Whilst my other drives with mainly static content (once the initial file copy has been done aren't). I guess your response means that this isn't that important? I am running Perfect Disk 10 (defragger) on my WHS so I will continue to use this on the new build.

With 64K clusters in the pool, there is less fragmentation and, as you know, there are defrag utilities for WHS. Once a show is recorded it's either static (if archived/saved) or it gets deleted once viewed. I've not experienced any problems with the recording share being in the pool. I don't even defrag my WHS but you certainly can.