Sage for WHS as Client?

[Naylia]

Hey guys,

Does anyone know if it is possible to have SageTV for WHS act as just another client on the network and not be the primary SageTV server? I want to use placeshifting but the hardware I will be using for the WHS is not the best for transcoding. I have another PC that will have significantly more horsepower and be better suited to the transcoding which I would like to keep as the main Sage server in the house.

[Beefcake550]

In this scenario, I would run Sage for WinXP on this machine even though it's running WHS.

Actually, let me understand... you have 2 machines one currently running Sage as a main server, but I don't know the OS and it's better for the transcoding. Now, you have another machine that is running WHS and you'd like to also run SageTV as a client?

What exactly are you planning on having to transcode. In sageTV land, all decoding of the video is done on the client side (unless using placeshifter or soemthing like the webserver plugin).

If the above is true, I would say try running SageTV client for WinXP on the WHS machine.

Good Luck....

-Brian

[gplasky]

WHS is a modified version of Windows 2003 Server. I believe you could use it as a client AFTER adding all the DirectX stuff, appropriate decoders, etc. It's not designed as a media machine but you could. (But when you have issues it will be much harder to troubleshoot.) So why don't you also run as a client on the new machine you want to make the server? Just leave your WHS out of the SageTV loop altogether. Or maybe run comskip on it and just use it as storage.

Gerry

[Naylia]

Ok, going to elaborate more. This is all still theoretical in my head.

3 Computers
- 1 Family Room HTPC for Blu-ray Playback (E8500, Vista)
- 2 WHS (Athlon XP 2400+) - still headless
- 3 Laptop using Placeshifter

The WHS is at the bare minimum to handle placeshifting of it's processor. It is a bit of a pain to use. However, since it's a PC on the network I'd like to be able to set it up to record tv. It has a full ATX board, so plenty of space to add tuners. Shows would then be watched on other clients, not on the WHS itself.

I want to retain Computer 1, the more powerful dual-cored PC as the one that is in charge of placeshifting duties. It also has tuners.

Can I subordinate the SageTV for WHS to Computer 1 so that Computer 1 is the "server" in the house?

If the above is true, I would say try running SageTV client for WinXP on the WHS machine.

This might work. Didn't realize that I could just get away with installing the client software on the WHS box. Thought it had to be the full version.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by Naylia

Ok, going to elaborate more.

3 Computers
- 1 Family Room HTPC for Blu-ray Playback (E8500, Vista)
- 2 WHS (Athlon XP 2400+) - still headless
- 3 Laptop using Placeshifter

The WHS is at the bare minimum to handle placeshifting of it's processor. It is a bit of a pain to use. However, since it's a PC on the network I'd like to be able to set it up to record tv. It has a full ATX board, so plenty of space to add tuners. Shows would then be watched on other clients, not on the WHS itself.

I want to retain Computer 1, the more powerful dual-cored PC as the one that is in charge of placeshifting duties. It also has tuners.

Can I subordinate the SageTV for WHS to Computer 1 so that Computer 1 is the "server" in the house?



This might work. Didn't realize that I could just get away with installing the client software on the WHS box.

The only way to make a PC the SageTV server is to install the SageTV Media Center software on it and stick the tuners in it. With that being said you COULD purchase another copy of SageTV Media Center, Make your computer 1 the main SageTV server and install the second copy on the WHS machine and configure that as a network encoder. You will need at least 1 tuner for computer 1. Maybe a HDHR if you have one.

And technically the client software is already installed on your WHS server. Just start it up. I use mine occassionally to make a quick config change.


Gerry

[Naylia]

Excellent...now the only thing question is:

For the WHS to have tuners that are shared, does that require the full version of SageTV or just the client version?

[gplasky]

If you want to use it as a network encoder you'll need another full version of SageTV.

Gerry

[jessecoffey]

It sounds like for what you want to do you should just upgrade the WHS machine.

The price of a AMD x2 combo is about the same price of a SageTV server license.

I bought a cheap am2 rig (x2 3800, cheap mobo, 2gb ram) for 100 bucks about 2 months ago and im sure you can find simliar deals now. From then on you can just run the server off of the WHS machine and install the client on your HTPC.

[Naylia]

Good thought Jesse. Since I haven't purchased any software yet, then I could just buy the one client license instead. It's always sad to throw away hardware though. Without even shopping around I saw a Athlon X2 @ 2.3Ghz w/ a Biostar 6150 onboard video motherboard for $85 and then throw in another $35 for 2GB of DDR2. That's pretty tempting.

Anyone have any thoughts on recommended specs for placeshifting from WHS?