Advice: htpc/server..maybe router?

Tripp

Tripp

Tripp

Associate
Joined
29 Nov 2007
Posts
190
Location
Bexley, Kent
Hi all

I posted this in the small form factor thread but it is probably better suited here...

Been wanting a server and htpc combo for a while now, I have the spare cash so want to jump into this before I spend on something else.

What I want
-play dvd/bluray rips and music files (on main tv and on laptops and smartphones)
-backup all my design work and photos (likely raid 6)
-be accessible to laptops, smart phones (windows, apple and android)
-be accessible off site

what I would like
-to be able to rip and compress blurays
-to use it as a (wireless) router
-to play some emulator games on
-torrent server

I basically want an always on (low power) server with enough oompph to play blurays and perform the server duties mentioned above.

I would also like an OS that can provide a slick htpc experience through my tv whilst the server backup duties remained hidden in the background

what would be the best software and hardware to achieve this.

I will put the budget at £400 for now - cheaper the better really

this is going in the cupboard so size is not a concern
 
#Chri5# said:
RAID 6 is a minimum of 4 HDs - 4 x 1TB would only provide 2TB usable space. It will also want a "proper" RAID controller so I don't expect you'll get close to £400.
Click to expand...

Ah i didnt know it needed a raid card, but I knew how much space would be required for it. guess i wont be having that then

what are my options without raid 6 then?
 
ah thanks for the advice, so you think the proliant is beefy enough then to be doing multiple tasks simultaneously at the same time - im just concerned it would have a hard time if for example I was watching a film while my other half was accessing/backing up files.

off site access is not a of huge importance but it would be nice to access my design work and photos. access would likely be through smartphones or even my laptop. I sometimes forget files so knowing I dont have to go back home to get them would be a great relief. I know using dropbox on my phone might be a simpler option for accessing files but i am curious.

with regards to using it as a wired and wireless accesspoint would this be possible with a proliant when you consider what else i want it to do. I would use my existing sky router but use the something like pfsense on the proliant so I can setup QOS and guest networks aswell as monitoring and possibly have better performance over my existing sky router?

thanks

Just checked and the proliant n40l doesnt seem to have a hdmi port which is an issue
 
Last edited:
@alfalavala - thanks for your comments, plenty for me to look into now - as long as I can watch upto 2 films on seperate devices with no stuttering then thats great.

@enigmo - awesome, thanks for this!!

been looking into the hp some more and looks like the cashback offer is no longer running so it will be ~£250 for one now - would it be a better option to build my own server from scratch, would have a few extras like wireless and hdmi, maybe even have a bit more power too?
 
enigmo said:
You could concentrate on getting the perfect case with a single decent drive and expand later as needed.
Click to expand...

That is the immediate plan - I would buy a 3tb hdd + a ssd (for os and other programmes - then in a few months I wil buy another 3tb drive or more if needed
 
Stu said:
Regarding WebsiteSpark, Is there still the $100 program fee at the end of the three years? What will happen to a Server 2012 install when 3 years expires?

I was all for putting Win 8 on my new N40L until I saw this possibility... is Server 2012 overkill for a home media server?
Click to expand...

not signed up to it yet - had no ide you had to pay after 3 years! - would like to know more about this
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom