[aklug] Re: Home Media Server - Remote Linux Install

Thanks Jon:

I have an old Dell Dual P3 that was a UAF Workstation (SCSI HDDs, EIDE =
Card,
very heavy very robust). It has 512MB of RAM and the thing is a loud, =
old
dinosaur. I have had it running Ubuntu Linux for five or six years. It =
ran
Redhat before that. I have been using it as a quasi domain =
controller/file
server. =20

I am trying to do something with more storage and a smaller footprint.
These machines seem to fit that bill and consume less energy. I would
really like to stay with the whole file server idea and just use the =
Home
theater system or Wii to access the media across the network. I would =
like
to RIP my DVD collection and play it across the network to my TVs.

Like yourself, I have no broadcast television in my home. I threw out =
the
TVs four years ago. Three years with absolutely no TV. We have only =
had
new TVs with DVD players for the last year. I really don't see the need =
to
feed the cable TV or Dish Network people my hard earned cash.

Thanks Again,
Robbie

-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Bradley [mailto:weatchu@gmail.com]=20
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 5:47 PM
To: Robbie Soares
Cc: AKLUG
Subject: Re: [aklug] Home Media Server - Remote Linux Install

I can't say anything directly to your request, but I can tell you a
bit about how I have things setup.

Basicly I took an old machine AMD Duron 1.3ghz, some ram, I think its
close to 512megs, and a Nvidia GeForce 5200FX (which is an old card)
but it has tv-out. its composite (analog stereo type connector), but
I got a free 32" crt TV off of craigslist.

So, it works pretty good, I use XBMC (http://xbmc.org/) which used to
be the Xbox Media Center, but these days doesn't really run on an Xbox
anymore as far as I understand. The distro is slackware, so I had to
compile EVERYTHING. That took a long time, and isn't easily
upgradable at all. My point I guess, is why spend that money, on a MS
supported box, when you can use any machine?

The Boxee Box looks good for something that already has linux on it,
all though it only does HDMI. I actually bought an ASUS O!play too,
but about a year ago, somebody ran off with the remote for it. That
has an 'open' telnet port, to access and change all the linux file
system, which I tried to find a way to program a generic remote for,
but it wasn't clear, like say 'lirc' would be, so this is why I got
the AMD machine together.

I believe it would work with a TV-card for cable services too, I been
without TV for a long time, so I don't miss it. Its all torrent TV
for me.

My $0.02 for you :)

Jon.

On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 5:32 PM, Robbie Soares <akdrums@alaska.net> =
wrote:
> I am wondering if anyone on the list has installed Linux on one of the
"Home
> Media Server" machines. =A0I am looking at either the HP EX490 or the =
Acer
> Aspire easyStore AH342-U2T2H Home Server. =A0These servers are built =
with MS
> Windows Home Server Edition installed but I like the Linux platform. =
=A0I am
> leaning toward the Acer Machine but I am not well enough versed in the
> remote installation procedures for ANY distribution of Linux. =A0These
> machines have no video outputs on them so you can't connect a monitor
> directly to the unit. =A0They use Windows Remote Desktop or their own =
remote
> access software.
>
>
> Any assistance on this would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
> Robbie
>
>
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Received on Thu Jan 13 18:04:36 2011