SageTV Client/Server questions

[dhersey]

I'm getting ready to buy some hardware for a Client/Server SageTV setup. I have a few general questions on this.

1) Is post processing done at the client side or the server side before the stream is transmitted? Can you even do post processing of a TV stream? i.e. FFDSHOW.

2) If my media server (with ripped DVDs) is seperate from my SageTV server does the data steam traverse the SageTV server before going to the client?

3) How stable are client/server implementations?

4) Is Windows 2003 a stable server platform compared to XP Pro or are there driver issue, particularly with PVR150/PVR500

5) Are tuners dedicated per client or are they pooled?

6) If they are pooled does it intelligently select a tuner? From example: If one tuner had digital cable and the other tuner has basic cable and a client selects to record a show on basic cable will it use the tuner connected to digital cable? This would mean that if someone wanted to watch digital cable while recording there would be a conflict.



Thanks in advance...

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by dhersey

1) Is post processing done at the client side or the server side before the stream is transmitted? Can you even do post processing of a TV stream? i.e. FFDSHOW.

All decoding is done at the point the video is played, so the client decodes when it plays.

2) If my media server (with ripped DVDs) is seperate from my SageTV server does the data steam traverse the SageTV server before going to the client?

Yes, the server grabs the media and sends it to the client.

3) How stable are client/server implementations?

I suppose that depends on the hardware used/the stability of the system in the first place. I can't remember when I had to reboot due to a SageTV issue.

5) Are tuners dedicated per client or are they pooled?

pooled.

6) If they are pooled does it intelligently select a tuner? From example: If one tuner had digital cable and the other tuner has basic cable and a client selects to record a show on basic cable will it use the tuner connected to digital cable? This would mean that if someone wanted to watch digital cable while recording there would be a conflict.

There is a property you can set to influence tuner usage priority:
mmc/encoders/<some number>/encoder_merit=0. Higher # = higher priority, so you can set it to 'prefer' a particular tuner when a channel is available on multiple tuners.

- Andy

[dhersey]

Would be nice if media was pulled directly by the client although I can see some advantages to having the server do it.

Hmm... I think a GigE crossover between the SageTV server and the Media server would work ok rather than having to have extra GigE ports on a switch.

P4 3Ghz ok for running 3x PVR500?

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Yes, the server grabs the media and sends it to the client.

Not to disagree or anything, but with the specific case of DVDs, I'm not sure that's the case, DVD rips won't play if the client can't access the filesystem the DVDs are stored on, also DVD rips (AFIAK, I now DVDs do) use a combo source/splitter filter, that I don't think would work in a streaming environment.

[Opus4]

heh -- why not disagree if what I said isn't quite right?

Hmmm... I probably read the question too fast. I don't use ripped DVDs over a network, so DVDs should be left out of my comments. I'm sure stanger knows more about that part than I do. I believe most, if not all, other media is currently streamed via the server to the client.

- Andy

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Opus4

heh -- why not disagree if what I said isn't quite right?

Mainly because it was about 50/50 question/hypothesis. I just know that if the drive isn't mapped (or a UNC path in Sage) ripped DVDs don't work with an Unable to Access Filesystem error IIRC. That and, from playing with graphedit, DVDs use a combo source/splitter filter, at least from the drive, I've never figured out how to play a ripped DVD in graphedit .

Hmmm... I probably read the question too fast. I don't use ripped DVDs over a network, so DVDs should be left out of my comments. I'm sure stanger knows more about that part than I do. I believe most, if not all, other media is currently streamed via the server to the client.

- Andy

Yeah, I'm sure you're right about the rest though, because I know you can play MPEGs on a client that can't directly access the recording directory.

dhersey,

Just to add to Andy's comments:

3) How stable are client/server implementations?

Well consider that even SageTV standalone (especially if you're running the service) is a client/server implimentation itself, so if you're running that, you should have a good idea of the stability. In fact, I'd argue the client/server setup is morestable than a monolithic one, that because in a client/server setup you can (if you're screwing with decoders/filters/drivers/etc) crash the client without having any effect on the server/recordings.

FWIW, my main interface, my HTPC, is a pure Client, I run SageTV on my media server, which is headless in a back room, the only time I touch the server (through RDP) is when I upgrade some software. I just checked system log on the Server and it looks like it's been up for about 45 days right now (I have restarted Sage for updates since then though).

4) Is Windows 2003 a stable server platform compared to XP Pro or are there driver issue, particularly with PVR150/PVR500

[dhersey]

couple more questions.

1) Does the server require a sound card to be installed? If it's truely a server function (nobody watching TV on it) doe sit have a problem recording without one? I'm out of PCI slots and I don't want to use a PVR-USB. This particular machine has 3 PCI slots (I have 2x PVR-150 and a SB Audigy 2). I'd like to install a PVR-500 in the third slot.

2) Does the video card have an impact on server performance in this type of setup? I'd like to repurpose the DVI video card thats in this machine and replace it with something a little older. Maybe like a 440MX. Is Sage using 3d processing for anything? Even if it's using it for menus I would not expect that to impact performance.

Thanks again

[nielm]

nope, nope -- assuming you never play back any video at all ever on the server
(although I have never tried it, so YMMV)

[stanger89]

Nope and nope, the UI doesn't even have to run on the server.