Trouble with new SageMC install

[popcorndog]

First off, this is a new SageTV install on a Windows Home Server (configured for 64k clusters) loaded with Hauppauge 150, 1250, and 2250 TV Tuners. I am accessing the server thru 3 HD200 extenders. Everything is running thru a gigabit D-link switch. I have been using ther setup successfully for about 3 weeks without issue testing various recording and watching senerios. Everything seemed to be working and very stable.

I just recently installed SageMC 6_3_9_full into the SageTV directory after backing up the original install files per the instructions. I then set up each of the three HD200 extenders for SageMC and configured them with comskip enabled when SageTV is on. Also performed other minor configurations such as screensaver to pictures, moving menus, etc...

Everything seemed to be working fine for the first day or two and then I had a lock up of the HD200. Rebooting the system did not resolve the lock-up. I inspected the server, and SageTV was working on the server thru the Sage MC interface. I rebooted the server and then tried the HD200 again. Success - the HD200 was operating properly running SageMC. A day went by and then a different HD200 froze in a similar fashion. Checked the server and the same result. Rebooted and the HD200 was working properly again. A day went by and again, one of the HD200s froze - same senerio to restore it.

Any idea as to what could be causing this odd behavior? I noticed you can set up a debug file, but I am not sure what that would tell me as I am very new to Sage.

I may go back to the original SageTV install if I can't figure this one out.

[MeInMaui]

Try increasing your java heap size to 1GB or so. The combination of SageMC and multiple extenders drives up the resources required. The easiest way to change the heap size is to download and use babgvant's registry setting utility from the download area. Otherwise you'll have to edit the registry by hand.

Aloha,
Mike

[popcorndog]

Thanks for the quick response. I will give this a try tonight. I just want to clarify one thing. We have only run one HD200 unit at the times the problem occured. I do not leave the other two HD200s "on", although they remain plugged in. Wouldn't the server only see the "on" HD200 extenders, those which are connected? Trying to determine if the 3 HD200s is the same issue as the problem I am seeing. What else will be effected by the Heap Size change?

[popcorndog]

I set the Heap size to 1000 as the registry tool you recommended states the Max Java Heap is in megabytes. When you try to restart Sage, you get an error "Could not create JVM. Please reinstall Java Runtime Environment 1.4" I checked the Java settings and version 1.6.0_14-b08 is installed. I moved the number down to 100 and Sage TV launches, but performs slowly. Am I doing something wrong here?

[PiX64]

are you running the upgraded version of JVM? if not try that.

how much total system memory do you have? if you only have a gig, then you could def. have problems if your setting yoru heap size to 1GB

[popcorndog]

I have 2Gig of memory on the server. 25% is devoted to my on-board graphics processor, which I needed for testing bluray playback. I could probably reallocate the 25% back to the system. Does comskip utilize the graphic processor or solely the CPU?

I will try to upgrade Java today.

[PiX64]

From what i remember comskip uses strictly CPU as it is analyzing the file that SAGE creates. It also has a "play nice" feature which will force it to be an extrememly low priority in processing not causing any recording/playback issues.

2GB should be plenty if you truly had 2GB. If you are allocating .5 GB to your graphics card, windows won't use it for anything but graphics (i think). Setting your java heap size to 1GB when you have only 1.5 GB to play with may potentially cause problems. Windows alone takes quite a bit of ram to run, so yeah, i would try this

1) update java
2) bump the heap size down to 768 to see if it helps
*EDIT*
3) Decrease amount of system memory allocated for graphics. I have a card with 256 onboard and it works fine..
4) potentially add more ram if the above 2 steps fixed your issues.

~Mike

[popcorndog]

The Java version is the most recent version. I will try to reinstall Java.

[PiX64]

Your right it is...sorry i mis-read your post stating the java version...

~Mike

[popcorndog]

Ok

Stopped SageTV service
Uninstalled Java
Rebooted
Stopped SageTV service
Reinstalled Java build 1.6.0_14-b08 (latest download)
Rebooted
Changed bios to only use sideport memory for onboard graphic controller
started sage
checked task manager to see memory availability - total 2GB - Available 1.17GB
shut down sage
edited the registry setting for java heap size, set to 850
started sage successfully
task manager shows total available memory of 1 GB

I will test and monitor over the next couple days - error usually occurs only once per day. Thanks for the help in the meantime.

[PiX64]

no problem...report back and let us know if your issues are resolved..if not, then we will keep working on it.

[popcorndog]

I have been using Sage over the HD200 extenders for the last 5 days without issue.

I have not stressed the system by running more than one HD200 at a time, but will do so this week. While using the HD200, the total server memory does drop to only 300MB available of the 2GB. I am curious to see if running multiple HD200s will cause an issue, which may mean I need additional memory if I continue to use SageMC. I'll post again once I have put more stress on the system.

Thanks for everyones help.