Split backend

[dagar]

Is it possible to have the backend server functions split amongst multiple physical systems?

i.e. (in MythTV speak)

MBE:
SageTV server service
Storage Array

SBE:
2xPVR500
1xPVR250
1xBDA
1x1394

Is this possible? And if so, is it a kludge and/or a visable issue (UI or otherwise) to the client (aka WAF )

[Opus4]

You could have network encoders controlled by the central server, or you could have the server software controling the encoders and storing the recordings across the network. Either way creates a lot of network traffic, as the server has to stream the media through itself to a client and/or to/from the storage location. It also requires 2 systems to always be on isntead of one. But, if it _has_ to be done that way on your systems, I think it should work. Just make sure the network can handle the traffic.

- Andy

[stanger89]

What are you trying to accomplish (sorry I don't know MBE/SBE)

[dagar]

Sorry ... Stanger too many TLAs swimming around

MBE=Masterbackend (has the Wiz.bin and runs the Sage service in my example)
SBE=Slave backend (runs whatever else; could be multiple SBEs in a Myth system; but for me it is for tuner count)

---
It's a port count issue; as in PCI expansion bus port count. I'm in process of finalizing my rebuild requirements and documenting it. The MBE will also be my new (replacing the old) fileserver misc net svcs (DND/DDNS/DHCP/WINS/NTP).

I can't support 3 PCI Hauppauge cards (2x500 + 1x250), 1 BDA and a RAID controller and have any room for future expansion (non-USB2).

Hmmm. I'll have to do a mockup on the net-encoder and what is required for it to function. Any recommendations (linkage or otherwise) on testing it (with a PVR250)?

[stanger89]

To answer your question then, yes, you can run encoders in other PCs, however (I don't know how Myth works) the SBEs in Sage's case are totally mindless, ie, it's not a distributed system, it's master/slave. What you would do is:

MBE:
SageTV + (for optimal performance) RAID/BDA card, and as many tuners as possible. The RAID/BDA cards will be the highest bandwith cards.

SBE:
SageTV as an encoding server with more tuners
or
Multiple copies (one liscense per PC though FWIW) of SageRecorder with more tuners.

If you run Gigabit between the xBEs then you should have no network issues. Probably shouldn't with 100tx but Gig-E is so cheap now .

FWIW, I'm using Stealths HDNE with an Aver A180 in the box I'm typing this on, my SageTV server is in the other room, and my Client is in a 3rd different room.

[dagar]

Great gouge! Was exactly what I am looking for Will need to get a second SageTV lic.

[salsbst]

Are there performance/bandwidth issues to consider when evaluating the choice of [SageTV as a n-tuner encoding server] vs. [SageRecorder * n as dumb tuners]?

If there are three machines in the picture...
a) a file server
b) an encoding server
c) a SageTV server
...would the encoding server be able to write files directly to the file server without moving the data through the SageTV server?

[dagar]

Is it possible to keep the show info with either method?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by dagar

Is it possible to keep the show info with either method?

They would still be SageTV recordings, so they will have associated show info. (The info gets 'lost' when you start moving recordings to non-SageTV recording dirs.)

- Andy

[insomniac]

I remember my first split backend...

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by salsbst

Are there performance/bandwidth issues to consider when evaluating the choice of [SageTV as a n-tuner encoding server] vs. [SageRecorder * n as dumb tuners]?

If there are three machines in the picture...
a) a file server
b) an encoding server
c) a SageTV server
...would the encoding server be able to write files directly to the file server without moving the data through the SageTV server?

If I understand the question correctly, I'm told that network encoders (of any kind) always write directly to the storage location, so they don't go through the server during the record process.

I guess that makes sense, since the record process sends the data directly to the disk, not through SageTV.

- Andy