Network Encoding (Client vs Recorder)

[szgeeks4hire]

I have a question about network encoders.

Here's my setup

Media PC #1
=========
PC with PVR 350 connected to TV set
Running Sage TV (today)

Video Server PC #2
==============
2 PVR 250 (1 for direct feed cable - and one tied to a cable box)
Running Sage TV (today)

They are independent machines right now.

Question: Can the first PC (Media PC) capture using the Video Service PC's capture cards using the network encoding feature?

1) Does the 2nd PC need to run SageRecorder instead of Sage TV?
2) Should PC 1 run sage Client?

Can Sage TV run on both machines - and one use the other?

Thoughts?

Steve

[JasonJoel]

1.) Yes, 2nd PC would run Sage Recorder, configure the PVR250 as a network encoder.

2.) No you can continue to use Sage TV for recording/live tv viewing just as you do now.

Jason

[szgeeks4hire]

thanks for the reply. So the first PC will then be the "cental controller" of the system - with 3 tuners at its disposal. But if I am logged in to the 2nd PC can I use SageClient to control the first PC. In other words, can I have the following:

PC 1
Sage TV with direct PVR-350 (and two PVR 250s networked)

PC 2
Sage Recorder on 2 PVR 250s
And Sage TV Client


the other option I see is to keep the two sage TV systems running and share the video stored by the 2nd one as a "library access" the only problem is the scheduling then.

Will this work?

PC 1
Sage TV with direct PVR-350

PC 2
Sage TV on 2 PVR 250s
Sage TV Client controlling PC 1

Thanks!

[carlgar]

First question I would have is why are you currently using 2 different computers? Is this for your convience or to work around the former problems of having 350 with 250's in the same box.

No, Sage TV cannot be peer to peer connection. To have both computers work together as one, requires the client/server combination.

I would keep the Video Server as the sage server because it has 2 cards in it.
I would use sage recorder on the Media PC #1
You would also need Sage Client on the same computer as you have Sage Recoder to views programs and access the SageTV server.

[Opus4]

I orginally posted this to your other thread with the smae question before I saw this one... oh well. It is probably pointless now, but here it is:

Yes, #1 can use #2's encoders by using SageTVRecorder on #2 as network encoders. You would also then use a client on #2, that would then connect back to the server in #1 to get its content. By having 2 copies of SageTV server, you prevent them from talking to each other & sharing content between the 2 machines... unless that is what you want.

Oh -- I might have reversed the numbers for how you want to set it up, but I'm sure you can get the idea.

See also: Setting up Network Encoders

- Andy

[JasonJoel]

Yup. Sounds right to me.

If you want encoders in both machines AND want to watch recordings on both machines you need:
1. Computer #1 with Sage TV installed
2. Computer #2 with Sage Recorder installed, with the card set up as a network encoder (see Opus' link for some instructions)
3. Computer #2 with Sage Client installed to watch the recordings on that machine.

Then, from Sage TV *or* Sage Cleint you can control all recording schedules, file deletions, and watch anything in Sage. It is essentially one big ssytem that way.

Hope that helps!

Jason

[szgeeks4hire]

thanks to all for replies.

regarding the storage (disks):

If PC #1 has PVR-350 and Sage TV
- assume that video is stored to its local disk
If PC #2 has 2 PCR-250 and Sage Recorder
- should video be stored on local disk (PC 2) - then watched over network
- or should video be stored on network drive on PC 1?

My thought is that I want to ensure that the "write" is best - thus store it locally on PC2.

Steve

[fidget]

Originally posted by JasonJoel
Yup. Sounds right to me.

If you want encoders in both machines AND want to watch recordings on both machines you need:
1. Computer #1 with Sage TV installed
2. Computer #2 with Sage Recorder installed, with the card set up as a network encoder (see Opus' link for some instructions)
3. Computer #2 with Sage Client installed to watch the recordings on that machine.

Then, from Sage TV *or* Sage Cleint you can control all recording schedules, file deletions, and watch anything in Sage. It is essentially one big ssytem that way.

Hope that helps!

Jason

This is my exact setup. I have a PVR-350 in the computer that is connected to my TV set. I run a copy of the client to drive the TV via the output of the PVR-350 and a copy of the recorder so I can use the -350 as a network encoder. My copy of SageTV is running on my server PC (along with 3 PVR-250s).

[carlgar]

All of the videos will be stored on the SageTV server system. If you have 2 instances of Sage Recorder running on PC #2, it will increase the network traffic.
In addition if someone is viewing a program using the sage client another program will be streaming across the network. The sage client can play a local video from the video library but this is not where normally recorded programs are stored.

The videos have to be stored on the SageTV server system because it checks the directories when it starts up. If it cannot find expected videos and deletes the information concerning the recording. If sage finds videos without the recording information it put the videos in the video library.

[fidget]

Originally posted by carlgar
The videos have to be stored on the SageTV server system because it checks the directories when it starts up. If it cannot find expected videos and deletes the information concerning the recording. If sage finds videos without the recording information it put the videos in the video library.

I thought that was fixed with the 2.0 release.

[carlgar]

really? It may be I am still running 1.4, but had not heard of it being fixed.

[Opus4]

Yes, I believe it was supposed to be updated not to delete missing network files so quickly. But, I don't remember how long it will wait before dumping them, if ever.

It sure might be best, however, to install the server on the machine with the most encoders.

- Andy

[fidget]

Originally posted by Opus4
It sure might be best, however, to install the server on the machine with the most encoders.

- Andy

If nothing else, this will reduce the amount of network traffic generated.