*** Official Kodi (née XBMC) Thread ***
- Thread starter Confused
- Start date
I'm using the exact setup I described in the opening post - a centralised MySQL database to hold details of all the media, and metadata, and (as I'm using Frodo) the artwork is managed locally by each box.
I have my server (Windows Home Server) running XBMC, and it is keeping the library up to date - but the advantage with a MySQL database is that any of your clients could, potentially, keep the library managed.
The only thing that Frodo does differently is how it handles the artwork (thumbnails, posters, etc).
With Eden, the PC that adds an item to the library also downloads the artwork. Because of this, to ensure that all clients get the artwork, you had to 1) manually copy these files onto each machine, or 2) "move" the artwork onto a shared drive, such as a network drive.
Approach 1 is a manual process (or a number of scripts), and approach 2 is more automated, but gives you latency in retrieving and showing the artwork, as it involves the network.
With Frodo, the URL of the artwork is stored in the main database, and then each client keeps track of which it has downloaded. The client then checks both the centralised database, and its local database. If a bit of artwork is missing from the local copy, it will download it.
This has the advantages that with the artwork stored locally, it's quicker to locate and view (especially with an SSD) - which speeds up the user interface - but the disadvantage is that each client requires local storage space to store this - if you have a large library with lots of extra fanart, this could get into the gigabyte range (but Eden did this anyway unless you centralise the storage of artwork)
I have my server (Windows Home Server) running XBMC, and it is keeping the library up to date - but the advantage with a MySQL database is that any of your clients could, potentially, keep the library managed.
The only thing that Frodo does differently is how it handles the artwork (thumbnails, posters, etc).
With Eden, the PC that adds an item to the library also downloads the artwork. Because of this, to ensure that all clients get the artwork, you had to 1) manually copy these files onto each machine, or 2) "move" the artwork onto a shared drive, such as a network drive.
Approach 1 is a manual process (or a number of scripts), and approach 2 is more automated, but gives you latency in retrieving and showing the artwork, as it involves the network.
With Frodo, the URL of the artwork is stored in the main database, and then each client keeps track of which it has downloaded. The client then checks both the centralised database, and its local database. If a bit of artwork is missing from the local copy, it will download it.
This has the advantages that with the artwork stored locally, it's quicker to locate and view (especially with an SSD) - which speeds up the user interface - but the disadvantage is that each client requires local storage space to store this - if you have a large library with lots of extra fanart, this could get into the gigabyte range (but Eden did this anyway unless you centralise the storage of artwork)
The final milestone was closed today for Frodo final - so within a few days it should be out - but I've found RC3 very stable 
You don't need to install XBMC on your server. You can have a centralised MySQL database without it. The reason I've installed XBMC onto my server is so that my end-point machines don't need to do any updates to the library, as my server does this immediately any new media is added. This means that new items are available instantly, rather than having to wait for a client that's just booted up to run through a scan.
What exactly do you want to achieve, easyrider, and we'll help you configure XBMC best
You don't need to install XBMC on your server. You can have a centralised MySQL database without it. The reason I've installed XBMC onto my server is so that my end-point machines don't need to do any updates to the library, as my server does this immediately any new media is added. This means that new items are available instantly, rather than having to wait for a client that's just booted up to run through a scan.
What exactly do you want to achieve, easyrider, and we'll help you configure XBMC best
If you've been given it - it's cost you nothing, so why spend your own money on a Pi? (Plus the SD card, power supply, etc needed to actually run it, plus maybe a case)
I would guess that a Mac Mini is more powerful than a Pi, so could run the more graphically intensive skins (such as Aeon Nox, my current skin of choice)
I would guess that a Mac Mini is more powerful than a Pi, so could run the more graphically intensive skins (such as Aeon Nox, my current skin of choice)
A Raspberry Pi does have limitations when used for XBMC - and in knowing and understanding those limitations, you can make an informed decision as to whether it is suitable for your specific uses.
There's a very good post here on the XBMC forum, which goes through a number of these.
I would like a Pi or two - as machines to stick in the kitchen or garage, hooked up to a set of stereo speakers, purely for playing music, and controlled via a mobile. These will not do any video decoding, will have the basic Confluence skin installed - but it'll sit on the main menu screen not doing much after it's been initially configured.
If you've got an AV receiver with HDMI, then the Pi can be used to output audio to it, but not DTS-HD (it'll pass through DTS) or TrueHD (it'll probably give you no sound) and then you'll have some luck with most video formats, even up to 1080p.
But - you couldn't, for example, play back any Hi10p - it's not got any built in decoders, and its CPU is not fast enough.
There's a very good post here on the XBMC forum, which goes through a number of these.
I would like a Pi or two - as machines to stick in the kitchen or garage, hooked up to a set of stereo speakers, purely for playing music, and controlled via a mobile. These will not do any video decoding, will have the basic Confluence skin installed - but it'll sit on the main menu screen not doing much after it's been initially configured.
If you've got an AV receiver with HDMI, then the Pi can be used to output audio to it, but not DTS-HD (it'll pass through DTS) or TrueHD (it'll probably give you no sound) and then you'll have some luck with most video formats, even up to 1080p.
But - you couldn't, for example, play back any Hi10p - it's not got any built in decoders, and its CPU is not fast enough.
XBMC will want to keep a local cache of all artwork no matter what - the theory is that local storage is quicker than looking to the NAS for all artwork.
As the ATV's have limited storage, it may be worth setting up a directory on your NAS which holds the cache of artwork. You can point XBMC on your ATV's to this by adding to the advancedsettings.xml file
Code:
<advancedsettings>
<pathsubstitution>
<substitute>
<from>special://masterprofile/Thumbnails/</from>
<to>PROTOCOL://YOUR_NETWORK_SHARE/xbmc/userdata/Thumbnails/</to>
</substitute>
</pathsubstitution>
</advancedsettings>If your HTPC has a fast local disk, then I'd keep the artwork local to it - believe me, the difference it makes to the fluidity of browsing by having the artwork cached locally (especially on an SSD!) is huge.
It doesn't really use the sources.xml file once it's set up - but it's not a bad idea to copy the sources as well as advancedsettings.xml - this just ensures that every XBMC is identically configured.
Do you want a full-blown PC (so you can do other stuff with it) or do you want a small dedicated box?
You can't go too wrong with even something cheap like a Pentium G530, H61 board, 4GB DDR3, and a 64gb SSD
How are you accessing the server? Direct on the console, via VNC/TeamViewer, or via RDP?
It'll only run if you're not in RDP mode.
What OS? Have you gone into the display properties and set the hardware acceleration to Max? (On my WHS box, it was set quite low)
I've got all of mine on Frodo release currently - I upgraded them all from RC3 just minutes after the installer .exe was available on the download page.
Next on my agenda is to take a look at Live TV, our Virgin package is coming up for renewal soon, and we just don't use the V+ box as much as we did, so I'll throw my TV tuner into the server and use that to record stuff that is usually recorded on the Virgin box - usually the reality shows like Strictly, X-Factor, I'm A Celeb that the missus watches.
Next on my agenda is to take a look at Live TV, our Virgin package is coming up for renewal soon, and we just don't use the V+ box as much as we did, so I'll throw my TV tuner into the server and use that to record stuff that is usually recorded on the Virgin box - usually the reality shows like Strictly, X-Factor, I'm A Celeb that the missus watches.
I've used hostname, but I'm only running Windows so far, which likes DNS names - Android doesn't seem to like local DNS names - so that will be a consideration - if you're looking for adding Android devices, you might want to use IP addresses.