Block vs File Storage

[Taddeusz]

Does anyone know whether SageTV performs better or worse recording and playing back from block storage vs file storage (e.g. directly to the file system vs using a file share)?

Just curious if there is any difference as block storage is more versatile from an access perspective.

[gcamp0730]

I have recordings on both types of storage and haven't noticed any appreciable difference. The only thing I've noticed is that if I haven't used my network storage in a while there can be a pause when accessing the list of recordings (I presume it's the storage drives spinning up or something like that). But after that initial pause the actual playback seems to be normal.

[MattHelm]

File share uses some extra resources even when on the local machine, but I only had issues once, and a registry tweak fixed that.

[gcamp0730]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

File share uses some extra resources even when on the local machine, but I only had issues once, and a registry tweak fixed that.

Do you recall the tweak that fixed it? I might be able to clear up some resources.

[stanger89]

And what the issues were?

[BobPhoenix]

The issue I remember when using File share was that I had to have a network cable plugged in at all times when recording even though the share was local. If I unplugged the network cable either from the switch or the network port on the computer the recording would stop and an error is generated. The tweak for that was to setup a local host connection if I remember correctly but it has been a long time and it never worked 100% for me when I used it so I just never bothered to try it again the last time I rebuilt my servers.

But that may not be what MattHelm was referring to.

[MattHelm]

I knew someone would ask. It's been too long to remember.

I do know it was something mainly in W7. With the tuners on the network, the shares on the network, plus some backups I was doing across the network, I got errors. I think it was OK until I tried the backup across the network, and that's when I ran out of whatever this setting was.

It was something that uses like 50K of RAM for each "count", and for some weird reason, on W7 they set that number lower than any other version of Windows. There is no way I can remember it now. A simple trip to regedit fixed it. I set it on all my servers, and never looked again.

I'll double check at home. I might have kept a link.

[stanger89]

Was it network throttling?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948066

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Was it network throttling?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948066

Nope, this was something that used RAM for each connection, and in the days of 1G RAM, it would make since to restrict usage. I think it was a TLA, but I looked at my "Windows tweaks" links, and I don't see it. Sorry.

[MattHelm]

Hah, I stumbled across a message I sent a friend about networks settings. The one I needed to change was:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
IRPStackSize=50 (decimal/Dword, 50 is max)

After setting that, I had no network issues at all. I set this on all my "server" machines. (I just run normal Windows 7 Pro for my servers)

[valnar]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

Hah, I stumbled across a message I sent a friend about networks settings. The one I needed to change was:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
IRPStackSize=50 (decimal/Dword, 50 is max)

After setting that, I had no network issues at all. I set this on all my "server" machines. (I just run normal Windows 7 Pro for my servers)

I have no idea what that does, and I'm not having any problems, but I love me some tweaks. I read the default is 11. I set mine to a conservative 30.