Utility: PVR Functionality - SageTV Interface to Lightsout V1.0 on WHS

[Grasshopper]

Okay, here's a rule of thumb: Before asking how to add functionality, it's best to check whether the functionality is already present. Turns out I already can wake the server from the HD100. Hooray for LightsOut, and many thanks to logsvp whose software makes it easy to use with Sage.

[logsvp]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

... Now if I could wake the server when I power on the HD100, we'd really have something. I do have a router running DD-WRT -- is there any way to achieve this functionality?

I am not an expert in this area but I think the issue is that the HD100 would have to send a magic packet to the WHS to wake it up. AFAIK it doesn't have this functionality. So as I said in my earlier post, I think you will have to use another device to wake it up - I use an App on my iPhone or press the WHS power on button. Another post on the subject is here HD200 will not wake up server which has quite a good discussion on the subject. It might be worth putting in another request for this feature to SageTV Support

[logsvp]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

... Turns out I already can wake the server from the HD100. ...

Ignore my prevous response then I would be interested to know how you got this to work

[Grasshopper]

Uh oh. STVLOS seems to be throwing some error messages. Looks like they're related to the difference between UK and USA date handling. Here's a sample:

The description for Event ID ( 0 ) in Source ( STVLOS ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: Service failed on execute: ''18/01/2010 18:30'' is not a valid date and time.

Perhaps there's still part of the code that relies upon the UK date format?

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by logsvp

Ignore my prevous response then I would be interested to know how you got this to work

Actually, I was wrong about the successful test. I had suspended the WHS via mouse locally, and then went upstairs and successfully powered up the HD100. I assumed the HD100 woke up the WHS. But another similar test just now was unsuccessful; my conjecture is that other network activity awakened the WHS box while I was coming up the stairs. Sorry about that.

[logsvp]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

Perhaps there's still part of the code that relies upon the UK date format?

Possibly, but my test with US date format worked OK
I will look at it again tomorrow (UK time).
In the meanwhile, It might be worth stopping the service, uninstalling it and re-installing it (double check that the version ends in .22 - just in case ) - see earlier post from GregW for format of command

[allen]

Logsvp,

I just installed your app and so far so good. Thanks for the great work. There is no need for me to keep my WHS Sage server on all the time and this solves that problem.

Thanks!
-Allen

[logsvp]

Originally Posted by allen

... Thanks for the great work. ...

Thanks for the feedback, I am glad it is proving useful

I have just uploaded a new version that provides more error checking, a revised folder structure for the log files and backup files and also implements log file and backup file housekeeping

[logsvp]

I have just uploaded a new version (now at version 1.0) which has an improved/corrected algorithm for determining required uptime. In some instances the WHS was being asked to resume earlier than required (specifically when a certain combination of parallel recordings were encountered).

The new algorithm should also ensure that the WHS doesn't hibernate/suspend if the WHS is running and the next scheduled recording is due within the time specified as the 'MinimumDowntime'.

I have also added additional instructions regarding LightsOut settings; in order that STVLOS is stopped before a suspend/hibernate and started on the resume.

I would recommend that STVLOS users should upgrade to this version

[logsvp]

Originally Posted by logsvp

... The new algorithm should also ensure that the WHS doesn't hibernate/suspend if the WHS is running and the next scheduled recording is due within the time specified as the 'MinimumDowntime'. ...

Just as well I said "should" as it didn't work correctly
Hopefully I have now corrected this in Version 1.0.0.32 - as before, I suggest that STVLOS users should upgrade to this new version

[logsvp]

Originally Posted by logsvp

... Hopefully I have now corrected this in Version 1.0.0.32 ...

uhm, apparently not
I have now uploaded version 1.0.0.34 which corrects a problem where if there was a program that ended later than one starting after it (but ending earlier), the stop time was taken from the program ending earlier - the result would be a truncated recording for the program ending later.

Again, I suggest users upgrade to version 1.0.0.34.

Also in this version, if you select a Log Mode of 'Full', the log file now shows a summary of the calendar events and associated recordings

[chrisc983]

what is the best configuration for this? I have it set up but can't get the server to go to sleep/hibernate when not in use. I basically want it to go to sleep when we are not using the hd200 but we don't turn them off. How would I configure lightout to tell the server to hibernate if possible while the hd200's are on? Thanks.

[logsvp]

I am not sure about this - I switch my HD100/200s off so that LightsOut doesn't register them as being active.

STVLOS will create the calendar entries for you in LightsOut telling LightsOut when it should keep the WHS running but if in the meanwhile if LightsOut sees the HD200s being permanently on and you have configured it not to hibernate when they are on - obviously it won't hibernate. I think there are other techniques/options that can be used in LightsOut, like: CPU, Disk and network activity. However, I am not sure these will work in your situation.

I think the best thing would be to post your question in the LightsOut forum @ http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.p.../89-lightsout/

[hjcol]

logsvp great plugin, I ve been testing it the last few days. Still trying to figure out how to do the WOL from the hd200. I also found an issue with firewire channel change. After coming out of hibernation the firewire channel change would break and sage needed to be restarted. I just had LightsOut stop and start sagetv after coming out of hibernation.

I am also having issues with the pc freezing while coming out of hibernation, I am hoping its something simple like drivers. I'll find out this weekend.

[logsvp]

Originally Posted by hjcol

logsvp great plugin, ...

Glad you find it useful

I also have problem with some of my tuners not working when coming out of hibernation - I am hoping this issue will resolve itself when WHS 2 (aka Vail) is released with updated add-ins. To get round this problem, I have lights out to reboot the PC two minutes after coming out of hibernation which resets the problem tuners so that they work OK. Only downside is that it takes ~5 mins from WHS coming out of hibernation to have SageTV fully operational.

To get Lights-Out to reboot the PC I set the following options in LightsOut Settings (accessed via the Home Server Console):
#################################################
On action

Start/Stop these services on resume/suspend:
DriveExtenderMigrator,SageTV,STVLOS,Spooler

Run this program on resume:
shutdown /r /f /t 120 /p:01:01 /c "Lights-Out Forced Restart"

##################################################

The '/t 120' gives two minutes for the system to settle down after a resume before re-booting it in order to avoid any complications.

I haven't found out how to get WOL from a HD200 to work but instead use an App on my iPhone to do it or just power the PC on from the Power switch.

I will be uploading a small update to STVLOS within a week (or so) that handles a situation where STVLOS can end if it attempts to read the SageTV file at the same time that SageTV is writing to it. I also might include an Add-In that shows the times and reasons that STVLOS has scheduled the up-time for. I haven't done an installer for this so it has to be manually installed (one of the reasons I haven't uploaded it yet).

[hjcol]

I have a client in the livingroom, I am thinking of leaving that one on all the time and just using the programs mentioned in http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...9249&page=3#49. I figure my client will use less power than my server of 13 hdds. Plus my server is in my bedroom and it gets hot in there.

[hjcol]

I have an asus 520 gu router and it has dd-wrt, I added this script and was able to get it to start the server, just set the $Target to empty. Is there a way to run a script just before the server goes into hibernate?

[logsvp]

Originally Posted by hjcol

Is there a way to run a script just before the server goes into hibernate?

The best way (I guess) would be to have LightsOut invoke a script and wait for successful completion before it hibernates the WHS. This (I think) would be a change request which you could probably discuss on the WeGotServed LightsOut forum.

In the meanwhile (after a bit of googling), I found this .vbs script which I have only tested on Win7 X64. Whether it will be able to execute fast enough before the WHS hibernates or not I don't know. I saved it as check_hibernate.vbs and ran it from the command line - it executes and appears to end but it is still running - look for a wscript.exe process running in the Task Manager Processes tab. After testing (by Sleeping and restarting my PC) I cancelled it via the Task Manager.

MsgBox "Hibernate Check starting!"
Set colMonitoredEvents = GetObject("winmgmts:").ExecNotificationQuery("Select * from Win32_PowerManagementEvent")
Do
  Set strLatestEvent = colMonitoredEvents.NextEvent
  Select Case strLatestEvent.EventType
    Case 4
      MsgBox "Entering suspend."
    Case 7
      MsgBox "Resuming from suspend."
    Case 11
      MsgBox "OEM Event happened, OEMEventCode = " & strLatestEvent.OEMEventCode
    Case 18
      MsgBox "Resume Automatic happened"
  End Select
Loop

Also, I see this old thread which may be some help

[hjcol]

Hmm, I was thinking of creating a service that would be kicked off by lightsOut. I believe they can start a service suspend/resume. So what it will do is check to see if hdpvr is running if it is then turn off the stb through firewire which turns off the hdpvr and then go into hibernate. when it starts up the service checks to see if hdpvr is on if it is it does nothing but if it's off it sends a power on to the stb which will turn on the hdpvr. that way my hdpvr is off when i am not recording. I think i have all the scripts needed to accomplish this. My main issue now is that the whs server freezes 1 out of about 8 times coming out of hibernation. Only way to fix this is pressing the reset button. I am hoping i can fix it with a driver update this weekend. Might need to do a bios update but I am afraid of screwing up the system.

[Grant]

Will this work with SageTV Ver. 7.x?