WHS 2011

JaffAWood · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:59

No real beef - just wondered if you have one?

Well actually, little beef - i need it to play videos via HDMI on the TV. Currently trying to run it through a virtual machine but the resoultion and quality is appauling. Any ideas how i can make this work?

Reckon it's ok to run VLC directly off the server - just doesnt seem right to me!

Yamahahahahaha · 23 Nov 2011 at 14:33

VLC does have a server - client mode where it can stream media, but I've never used it.

What's wrong with streaming straight from the box to your HTPC?

JaffAWood · 23 Nov 2011 at 14:50

Yamahahahahaha said:
VLC does have a server - client mode where it can stream media, but I've never used it.

What's wrong with streaming straight from the box to your HTPC?

Sorry - rereading that i didnt explain myself very clearly. I want the server to play directly on the TV - currently it goes from the server to my gaming PC to the TV. Im looking to totally remove the PC without any further cost...

Although in starting to get the feeling i might have to get one of those network, tv decoder thingies - or at least a second hand 360 (urgh)

Yamahahahahaha · 23 Nov 2011 at 17:05

I assume that playback from your gaming PC to the TV works perfectly.
In which case, the server lacks the processing power to do video. You could try putting a new CPU in there if the motherboard will take it.

If not, then your best bet is to get a network decoder, as you say. Something like the WD TV Live Plus maybe?

JaffAWood · 24 Nov 2011 at 09:34

Yamahahahahaha said:
I assume that playback from your gaming PC to the TV works perfectly.
In which case, the server lacks the processing power to do video. You could try putting a new CPU in there if the motherboard will take it.

If not, then your best bet is to get a network decoder, as you say. Something like the WD TV Live Plus maybe?

Hey,

Thanks for your reply. Im pretty sure it isnt the CPU... The server is my old gaming PC (recently upgraded) the full spec is -

Athalon II 250 @ 3.6
4GB DDR3 @ 1333
5750 @ 700 / 1150

Might just try installing VLC directly on the server and not bother trying to mess about with the Virtual Machine..

RimBlock · 25 Nov 2011 at 07:14

JaffAWood said:
Hey,

Thanks for your reply. Im pretty sure it isnt the CPU... The server is my old gaming PC (recently upgraded) the full spec is -

Athalon II 250 @ 3.6
4GB DDR3 @ 1333
5750 @ 700 / 1150

Might just try installing VLC directly on the server and not bother trying to mess about with the Virtual Machine..

How have you setup your virtual machine ?. Is the WHS2011 running as a VM on a VM server ?.

If your MB and processor supports it then you could use VT-d to pass the video card to the VM so it can control it directly. Obviously you would need two video cards (or embedded video and a separate card).

I had a client who wanted to put his HTPC and NAS in VMs and run them off the same Virtualization server. I have tried to convince him that this way likes trouble but he is dead set on it. He has just ordered a server MB from me to do it

. Oh well, will be interesting

.

RB

JaffAWood · 25 Nov 2011 at 10:15

RimBlock said:
How have you setup your virtual machine ?. Is the WHS2011 running as a VM on a VM server ?.

If your MB and processor supports it then you could use VT-d to pass the video card to the VM so it can control it directly. Obviously you would need two video cards (or embedded video and a separate card).

I had a client who wanted to put his HTPC and NAS in VMs and run them off the same Virtualization server. I have tried to convince him that this way likes trouble but he is dead set on it. He has just ordered a server MB from me to do it . Oh well, will be interesting .

RB

Cheers for your reply.

I have WHS running as the base OS and had VMserver running XP i was going to run VLC to play on the TV.

Unfortunately i dont have a 2nd dispay/GFX card so that option is out too..

I begrudgingly installed VLC direcetly on the server last night - works ok (and night and day better that VM) but im not happy with it as a solution. Think im gonna have to get a network media player in the new year. :mad:

Any recomendations? Cheap as poss is the only stipulation really...

RimBlock · 25 Nov 2011 at 10:39

JaffAWood said:
Cheers for your reply.

I have WHS running as the base OS and had VMserver running XP i was going to run VLC to play on the TV.

Unfortunately i dont have a 2nd dispay/GFX card so that option is out too..

I begrudgingly installed VLC direcetly on the server last night - works ok (and night and day better that VM) but im not happy with it as a solution. Think im gonna have to get a network media player in the new year.

Any recomendations? Cheap as poss is the only stipulation really...

Yeah, I can imagine the video is a lot better out of the VM as you are using the VMs basic video driver.

WD live TV is pretty good (have 3), AC Ryan Mini 2 is also pretty good (have the the HD2 which allows you to add a hard drive internally).

A HTPC is out due to budget constraints but that would be best maybe for sometime in the future.

RB