Linux, Windows 7 or WHS ?

[RonnieHafoss]

I am planning a new SageTV server build for my home and I will be using the HD 300 as extenders for every TV.

Which software route would you recommend for a new SageTV server build - WHS v.1, WHS 2011, Windows 7 or Linux ?

I am currently running a WHS v.1 which holds all digital content in my household and have several pc´s with both Windows 7 and Linux (Ubuntu).

I could probably use my current WHS v.1 server but I am not sure if the server has enough power for the task (Atom 1.6 GHz machine).

I am looking for a fast and stable solution which SageTV would support for years to come.

Please send me your thoughts ?

[jptheripper]

how many hd300s?
comskipping?
how many simultaneous streams?
hd or sd?
etc..

[ChaOConnor]

Hi, welcome! The atom on your WHS server may run SageTV fine, but that's about it. So as soon as you start getting into ComSkip, plus watching something, plus recording, you'd be stutter city.

The hardware can be modest, but how much are you looking to spend? At a minimum you need a beefy 2 core processor, but ideally a 3 core or 4 core would be better.

Are you going to build the server from scratch?

OS wise, unless you're very Linux savy, stay away from that for Sage. It's a great product, but it's not going to be as easy to work with as the Windows version. I personally just went from WHS to a Win7 build for Sage TV and I really like it. Still testing multiple HD records, but I suspect it will be better than the WHS was.

Good luck!

- Cha

[RonnieHafoss]

Originally Posted by jptheripper

how many hd300s?
comskipping?
how many simultaneous streams?
hd or sd?
etc..

I´m planning to use 5 HD 300 extenders and also comskipping with 3-4 simultaneous HD streams.

[RonnieHafoss]

Originally Posted by ChaOConnor

Hi, welcome! The atom on your WHS server may run SageTV fine, but that's about it. So as soon as you start getting into ComSkip, plus watching something, plus recording, you'd be stutter city.

The hardware can be modest, but how much are you looking to spend? At a minimum you need a beefy 2 core processor, but ideally a 3 core or 4 core would be better.

Are you going to build the server from scratch?

OS wise, unless you're very Linux savy, stay away from that for Sage. It's a great product, but it's not going to be as easy to work with as the Windows version. I personally just went from WHS to a Win7 build for Sage TV and I really like it. Still testing multiple HD records, but I suspect it will be better than the WHS was.

Good luck!

- Cha

Thank you for the answer.

Yes I will be building the server from scratch, probably with a Core i5 quad core Sandy Bridge processor.

Why did you switch from WHS to Windows 7 ?

[jptheripper]

Originally Posted by RonnieHafoss

I´m planning to use 5 HD 300 extenders and also comskipping with 3-4 simultaneous HD streams.

If this is true, win7 with at least a quad core.

[RonnieHafoss]

Originally Posted by jptheripper

If this is true, win7 with at least a quad core.

Ok - thanks. I will probably choose a core i 5 Sandy Bridge running on Windows 7.

[davephan]

I don't recommend WHS, if you care about the ability to recover your system quick. WHS cannot be imaged. Windows 7 and Linux can both be imaged. If you don't want to buy imaging software, download Clonezilla, it's free. You can recover your system back to a point in time if something bad happens.

I've been struggling with the Linux version, trying to get it installed. I recommend the Windows 7 version over Linux. Windows 7 is very easy to install and setup.

Get a quad-core, about 3 gig or faster. The fast quad will run Comskip faster.


Dave

[ChaOConnor]

Originally Posted by RonnieHafoss

Thank you for the answer.

Yes I will be building the server from scratch, probably with a Core i5 quad core Sandy Bridge processor.

Why did you switch from WHS to Windows 7 ?

Basically what Dave said above. I want to be able to recover quickly, and frankly WHS really wasn't meant to do all that I pushed it to do. At least with Win7 I have more universal support on things like drivers, etc.

[RonnieHafoss]

Originally Posted by ChaOConnor

Basically what Dave said above. I want to be able to recover quickly, and frankly WHS really wasn't meant to do all that I pushed it to do. At least with Win7 I have more universal support on things like drivers, etc.

Yes, that makes sense. Thanks again for your input.

[RonnieHafoss]

Originally Posted by davephan

I don't recommend WHS, if you care about the ability to recover your system quick. WHS cannot be imaged. Windows 7 and Linux can both be imaged. If you don't want to buy imaging software, download Clonezilla, it's free. You can recover your system back to a point in time if something bad happens.

I've been struggling with the Linux version, trying to get it installed. I recommend the Windows 7 version over Linux. Windows 7 is very easy to install and setup.

Get a quad-core, about 3 gig or faster. The fast quad will run Comskip faster.


Dave

Thank you Dave for your advice.

I have decided to build my server with a quad core Core i5 and OS will be Windows 7.

Best regards
Ronnie

[RonnieHafoss]

Originally Posted by davephan

I don't recommend WHS, if you care about the ability to recover your system quick. WHS cannot be imaged. Windows 7 and Linux can both be imaged. If you don't want to buy imaging software, download Clonezilla, it's free. You can recover your system back to a point in time if something bad happens.

I've been struggling with the Linux version, trying to get it installed. I recommend the Windows 7 version over Linux. Windows 7 is very easy to install and setup.

Get a quad-core, about 3 gig or faster. The fast quad will run Comskip faster.


Dave

By the way Dave - I can see that you run an UnRaid server, have you been happy with UnRaid and would you recommend it ?

[wayner]

I was running my server on WHS but that has now become my backup machine and I use Win 7 as my server. Recovering the Sage server is a big issue as well as I have had weird problems on WHS such as very slow response that could only be fixed by reinstalling the OS which is a major PITA.

One other thing to think about is to install your OS on an SSD - I am in the process of moving my OS to an SSD.