Windows Home Server Confusion

[sportera]

I have been running a full Windows single version of SageTV on my HTPC for some time now with XP OS, lastest 6.3 version, and using SageMC as front end. I recently bought a SageTV Clent license to test.

Now I want to network all TV's in the home with existing PC's, adding extenders where needed. I want to move my HTPC tuner cards and large hard drives to my Windows Home Server PC, connect all (5) DTV house receivers, and turn into a Home Media Server.

Questions:

1. What is the difference between the new SageTV Home Server edition and the full version I now own? I can turn on the "server" function in my HTPC version, so what else does the new Home Server edition give me?

2. If I purchase a copy of SageTV Windows Home Server, can my existing HTPC full verison be converted to a Clent version?

3. Or better yet, can I "trade" my already purchased full version for (1) SageTV Home Server license or (2) additional SageTV Client licenses?

Seems to make more sense to locate all DTV receivers in a closet with server and network all home TV's. I just need to know more about the new Home Server SageTV edition and how to "not lose money" already spent on existing SageTV software.

[crmartin]

1. What is the difference between the new SageTV Home Server edition and the full version I now own? I can turn on the "server" function in my HTPC version, so what else does the new Home Server edition give me?

2. If I purchase a copy of SageTV Windows Home Server, can my existing HTPC full verison be converted to a Clent version?

3. Or better yet, can I "trade" my already purchased full version for (1) SageTV Home Server license or (2) additional SageTV Client licenses?

Seems to make more sense to locate all DTV receivers in a closet with server and network all home TV's. I just need to know more about the new Home Server SageTV edition and how to "not lose money" already spent on existing SageTV software.

I just went through the change from Sage on a XP to Sage on WHS, and here is what I found.

1. Seems functionality of the two systems is identical. The advantage I found of running on WHS is I can have one box running 24/7, and it includes the advantages of WHS. Plus the box that is running WHS can be a lower power PC consuming fewer watts.

The main advantage for me is the automatic back up feature of WHS for my PCs, and I get one noisy PC out of my living room.

You will need a Sage client of some sort to configure Sage, since there is no direct interface on WHS.

2. I used my regular Sage license in WHS. It even takes the upgrade license key I had to purchase when going from ver 4.x to 6.x. I entered the ver 4.x license key and I got some bad message, then I entered the upgrade key and it said I was licensed.

When setting up Sage on WHS, I configured one 500 Gb drive outside the WHS drive pool, then formated it with 64k clusters. I use this just for Sage recorded TV, then I use the WHS managed drives for photos. I followed what several other forum users had done but, I'm not sure how Sage acts if you use a drive configured into the WHS managed drive pool.

[oaamaas]

Originally Posted by crmartin

When setting up Sage on WHS, I configured one 500 Gb drive outside the WHS drive pool, then formated it with 64k clusters. I use this just for Sage recorded TV, then I use the WHS managed drives for photos. I followed what several other forum users had done but, I'm not sure how Sage acts if you use a drive configured into the WHS managed drive pool.

I've had experiences with SageTV using WHS managed drives for recordings - some occasional stuttering, more stuttering in periods, lead me to move the recordings to drives outside the pool. Lots of videos and DVD rips (import directories) still reside on the managed drives, though. Absolutely no problems with this setup.

[PGPfan]

Originally Posted by crmartin

You will need a Sage client of some sort to configure Sage, since there is no direct interface on WHS.

You can use the built-in Sage client directly on the WHS machine (I do it via Remote Desktop), but you have to install Java on the WHS machine otherwise it won't load.

-PGPfan

[inlvnv]

Originally Posted by sportera

Questions:

1. What is the difference between the new SageTV Home Server edition and the full version I now own? I can turn on the "server" function in my HTPC version, so what else does the new Home Server edition give me?

No difference in the two versions other than the way it is installed. WHS version comes in msi format that you copy to whs software addin folder, then install from whs console. I purchased media center license to activate the whs version, per the Sage, and whs version comes with one free placeshifter license. So I'm guessing, if you installed whs version and used your existing media center license, you'll gain an additional placeshifter license. Settings can be changed either from your sage client on your client pc, or you can remote in to whs and bring up the sage media center.

My setup is similar to above posters, in that I have a recording drive formatted as 64k cluster separate from whs managed/pooled drive. Any shows I want to keep, I move them to managed drives and remove from STV. WHS and STV, you get the best of both worlds in one box.

[Grant]

I have a copy of Windows Home Server but I haven't set it up yet. How do you setup a seperate drive just for STV? I thought WHS will take any drive you put in and add it to the pool.

Grant

[PGPfan]

Hold whatever drive you want to use out of the WHS machine. Go ahead and setup/install WHS. THEN, add the Sage drive but DON"T allow it to add it to the storage pool.

-PGPfan

[sportera]

Thanks guys. This helps alot, especially the drive part. I'll have to look more into that as I move my big SATA drives from existing HTPC to server.

Keep posting any new tips on using SageTV in a Windows Home Server environment.

[mustangcoupe]

I am trying to evaluate SageTV.... I installed it on my WHS box, I do not own or have any extenders or TV cards so I am evaluating it with placeshifter, sage client and ripped DVDs.

I am getting a few errors when trying to play DVDs I have ripped. In placeshifter I get Error (-19) There is no MediaPlayer that can playback the selected file or a black screen with no video playing.

In Sage Client I get error 9-3,0x80070057) THERE WAS A PROBLEM ACCESSING THE FILESYSTEM FOR PLAYBACK. I thought it might be a problem with the import directory as it was listed as \\localhost\videos so I changed it to \\servername\videos but this was not the case.

Any ideas as to getting this to worK?

Thanks

[Opus4]

Placeshifter cannot play DVDs.

And, maybe the client doesn't have permission to access the path. If you changed the import path after it was imported, make sure the video details lists the paththat the client has permission to access. If not, try removing the import paths & rescan so no videos are listed, then configure the import paths for the correct path & rescan.

- Andy

[sportera]

In a Windows Home Server configuration, can you set "priorities" and/or "# of receivers allowed" for scheduling TV recordings?

I'm in the middle of setting this all up in our home and I can already see my daughter tying up all 5 receivers (to be moved to WHS closet) as she just loves to schedule stuff on different channels. She and my son will have a client PC (or extender) in their bedroom to free up my home theater which is getting harder and harder for me to use when I WANT TO.

I see when you set up each client you setup each tuner you will use on the client. Is this the only way to accomplish what I want to do?

[oaamaas]

Originally Posted by mustangcoupe

In Sage Client I get error 9-3,0x80070057) THERE WAS A PROBLEM ACCESSING THE FILESYSTEM FOR PLAYBACK ... Any ideas as to getting this to worK?

Some ideas: Is the logged in user on your client PC defined as a user on the WHS machine? Can this user (the client PC) also access the shared "videos" folders - the user must be granted rights using the WHS console (user account - properties - shared folder access). Do NOT use the standard user manager for this - only use the WHS console! Also - when you added content to the import folder: Did you address the share as "\\server\videos" and not by mistake as "D:\shares\Videos". The latter will give you problems with the WHS drive extender and it's ability to balance the storage (you might end up reinstalling like I did).

Originally Posted by Grant

I have a copy of Windows Home Server but I haven't set it up yet. How do you setup a seperate drive just for STV? I thought WHS will take any drive you put in and add it to the pool.

You do not have to wait to physically add the drive. Once added it will reside in the "Non storage hard drives" section of the WHS console with status "Not added", exactly as it should. Do not add it as "server storage" in WHS console - instead use the standard disk manager and assign a drive letter (like you normally would in a windows setup). Then use that for video recordings directory in Sage.

[crmartin]

I see when you set up each client you setup each tuner you will use on the client. Is this the only way to accomplish what I want to do?

I'm not sure if this is how you are thinking about the clients, but when setting up a tuner on the client, you are really configuring the tuner on server. The tuners reside on the server. Then you should be able access recordings from any of the clients. But, if someone is watching LiveTV, then it ties up a tuner, and the tuner needs to be released before another client can access that tuner.

For manual recordings, if there are more shows being recorded than you have tuners than Sage will prompt on whether you want to schedule over the existing recording schedule. If there are conflicts from a favorites set of recordings then you can view conflicts. There are different priorities depending on how the recording was scheduled, manual recordings get first priority. Anyway, I think it is all covered well in the User's Manual.

In general I find it easier to schedule all recordings either manually, or with a favorites list, then I only watch recordings and I can let Sage help manage the tuner priorities.

This all is diverging from WHS confusion to general Sage confusion.

[sportera]

Originally Posted by crmartin

I'm not sure if this is how you are thinking about the clients, but when setting up a tuner on the client, you are really configuring the tuner on server. The tuners reside on the server. Then you should be able access recordings from any of the clients. But, if someone is watching LiveTV, then it ties up a tuner, and the tuner needs to be released before another client can access that tuner.

Thanks! That clears up my tuner setup confusion. Unfortunately it doesn't help me with a "recording junkie" daughter. I can see now, with (5) TV's in the house, I'm going to need at least (6) receivers which still only gives me (1) free receiver for recording shows if all TV's are being watched.

Can I "turn off" or "lockout" recording on a client, or remove from all menu access?

[crmartin]

Originally Posted by sportera

Can I "turn off" or "lockout" recording on a client, or remove from all menu access?

Typically the recordings will reside in a "recordings" directory which will reside on the server. The clients then can schedule recordings on the server, or view recordings on the server.

There are ways to customize the client user interface, so you could keep a certain client from scheduling recordings on the server. I've had no reason to get into that level of customization.