Why should I install a local HDD?

[mr-b]

Hi

I've installed my C-200 successfully and am just getting to grips with the basics. However although the wiki pages are very informative, they don't seem to cover the "Why" of doing various things.

There seem to be so many different things that are possible that I'd really appreciate some basic recommendations (and reasons) to stop me going down paths that I may later find were a waste of time/money.
My main goal is to make the PCH as easy to use as possible for the family.

For example, why should I consider installing an HDD in my PCH? What benefits does it give me? (All my videos are stored on my GigE-connected PC). Would a USB-attached HD work as well?

[espresso]

Hey Mr-b,

You don't really need to install a harddisk it depends what you're looking for the C200 to do for you.

You're saying that you're Data is on a network and USB, then you can browser both of these from the C200 without a harddisk and play your movies and music.

If you install a harddisk then you can have for example on the C200 an ftp server running, install jukeboxes (like Oversight or YAMJ), run NFS and Samba shares, even make your C200 as a Media Server.

it all depends what you're looking to achieve.

I have installed a harddisk on mine and installed Oversight http://code.google.com/p/oversight/ which is a very nice jukebox and it presents my Video in a nice way rather than a file mode one.

Hope this helps,
Espresso

[medictrode]

I had the same question for about a week after I got the PCH A-110. I am glad I got another 1TB drive because it made the PCH a better machine all around. For one you can use it as an FTP server. You can do a workaround to make an external drive mount for FTP but its a pain..

Also,you will have more storage in general no matter what size drive you buy. You can also use an external,or the internal for that matter as a backup for all your important files,Movies,Music and whatever. I think that's the most important thing of all,and be able to access that information from anywhere without having a dedicated computer constantly running.. These are just a few reasons,and my opinions. I say go for it,its really not that much money for drives these days....

[Willem53]

(01-10-2010 12:02 PM)mr-b Wrote:  Hi

I've installed my C-200 successfully and am just getting to grips with the basics. However although the wiki pages are very informative, they don't seem to cover the "Why" of doing various things.

There seem to be so many different things that are possible that I'd really appreciate some basic recommendations (and reasons) to stop me going down paths that I may later find were a waste of time/money.
My main goal is to make the PCH as easy to use as possible for the family.

For example, why should I consider installing an HDD in my PCH? What benefits does it give me? (All my videos are stored on my GigE-connected PC). Would a USB-attached HD work as well?

Well it's all about how you want to bring the content to the C200
all on the PC streaming to the C200... works fine if the network doesn't interfere with the display quality of HD.
Alternatively you can use a USB drive that you load on the PC and then take to the C200... perfect display of HD
next level is a internal HD the C200 now get a server role and runs services for the benefit of management from your PC, no need to take your USB drive to the PC and load as that USB drive is now a network drive.

[mr-b]

(01-10-2010 12:11 PM)espresso Wrote:  Hey Mr-b,

You don't really need to install a harddisk it depends what you're looking for the C200 to do for you.

You're saying that you're Data is on a network and USB, then you can browser both of these from the C200 without a harddisk and play your movies and music.

If you install a harddisk then you can have for example on the C200 an ftp server running, install jukeboxes (like Oversight or YAMJ), run NFS and Samba shares, even make your C200 as a Media Server.

it all depends what you're looking to achieve.

I have installed a harddisk on mine and installed Oversight http://code.google.com/p/oversight/ which is a very nice jukebox and it presents my Video in a nice way rather than a file mode one.

Hope this helps,
Espresso

As before, the primary goal is for my PCH to be as easy to use as possible.

Currently, my library is on a remote PC server and 'shared' using both SMB share and myihome. These 'sharing' methods are both req'd, AIUI, since the PCH can't access all types of video files over multiple folders using one sharing method and so it fragments the library. The net result is that ppl have two entry points for browsing for content, and so the PCH is hard to use.

I really don't want to have to buy yet another big drive for the PCH and then have to maintain yet another copy of all the content on it. My PC server already has a couple of big drives backed up onto more big drives - so I'd rather just keep it all on there and just use the PCH as a client.

The Oversight jukebox sounds interesting though. Does it overcome the above issues?
(I had a quick read of the description though and it talks about downloading content to an internal hd so I guess it might not be).

[mr-b]

(01-10-2010 12:11 PM)espresso Wrote:  Hey Mr-b,

You don't really need to install a harddisk it depends what you're looking for the C200 to do for you.

You're saying that you're Data is on a network and USB, then you can browser both of these from the C200 without a harddisk and play your movies and music.

If you install a harddisk then you can have for example on the C200 an ftp server running, install jukeboxes (like Oversight or YAMJ), run NFS and Samba shares, even make your C200 as a Media Server.

it all depends what you're looking to achieve.
...

As before, the primary goal is for my PCH to be as easy to use as possible.

Currently, my library is on a remote PC server and 'shared' using both SMB share and myihome. These 'sharing' methods are both req'd, AIUI, since the PCH can't access all types of video files over multiple folders using one sharing method and so it fragments the library. The net result is that ppl have two entry points for browsing for content, and so the PCH is hard to use.

I really don't want to have to buy yet another big drive for the PCH and then have to maintain yet another copy of all the content on it. My PC server already has a couple of big drives backed up onto more big drives - so I'd rather just keep it all on there and just use the PCH as a client.
The library currently consists mainly of ripped DVDs and various mpg/avi files of home-ripped VHS tapes/downloads of TV.

The Oversight jukebox sounds interesting though. Does it overcome the above issues?
(I had a quick read of the description though and it talks about downloading content to an internal hd so I guess it might not be).

[Drowsy]

I never got Oversight to run, sure i could specifiy the remote location of my NAS, but it wouldnt let me insert a username or pass to gain access to the NAS ;/

[espresso]

(01-10-2010 01:42 PM)mr-b Wrote:  As before, the primary goal is for my PCH to be as easy to use as possible.

Currently, my library is on a remote PC server and 'shared' using both SMB share and myihome. These 'sharing' methods are both req'd, AIUI, since the PCH can't access all types of video files over multiple folders using one sharing method and so it fragments the library. The net result is that ppl have two entry points for browsing for content, and so the PCH is hard to use.

I really don't want to have to buy yet another big drive for the PCH and then have to maintain yet another copy of all the content on it. My PC server already has a couple of big drives backed up onto more big drives - so I'd rather just keep it all on there and just use the PCH as a client.
The library currently consists mainly of ripped DVDs and various mpg/avi files of home-ripped VHS tapes/downloads of TV.

The Oversight jukebox sounds interesting though. Does it overcome the above issues?
(I had a quick read of the description though and it talks about downloading content to an internal hd so I guess it might not be).

Mr-B,
I didn't really get why two entry points... I think if you have MyIhome, and you have you're PCH connected on the network, you go to the network icon when choosing sources, should see you're "MyIhome" server name, and then see all the content that's been publish on MyiHome...

I have all my Media on my NAS, nothing on my C200... and before I added a Harddisk, I could browser and play all my content from there (My NAS is a DLNA server as well so it got directly detected from the Network ICON from source selection)...

To answer your question, yes Oversight needs a harddisk and it's very easy to use and setup... YAMJ on the other hand doesn't need a harddisk and it's a nice jukebox (maybe a bit harder to use though)... You don't need a big harddisk to get the Apps installed... An old 2.5" should do the trick...

---

(01-10-2010 01:52 PM)Drowsy Wrote:  I never got Oversight to run, sure i could specifiy the remote location of my NAS, but it wouldn't let me insert a username or pass to gain access to the NAS ;/

the 1st thing you need to do, from the setup of the NMT go to network and create an SMB share there... It should ask you for a username and password.
Then in oversight, you would add this share name in your watch path and voila simple as that
checkout the link below
http://code.google.com/p/oversight/wiki/...gOversight
and read Source on a NAS for detailed steps

[mr-b]

(01-10-2010 02:27 PM)espresso Wrote:  Mr-B,
I didn't really get why two entry points... I think if you have MyIhome, and you have you're PCH connected on the network, you go to the network icon when choosing sources, should see you're "MyIhome" server name, and then see all the content that's been publish on MyiHome...

I have all my Media on my NAS, nothing on my C200... and before I added a Harddisk, I could browser and play all my content from there (My NAS is a DLNA server as well so it got directly detected from the Network ICON from source selection)...

To answer your question, yes Oversight needs a harddisk and it's very easy to use and setup... YAMJ on the other hand doesn't need a harddisk and it's a nice jukebox (maybe a bit harder to use though)... You don't need a big harddisk to get the Apps installed... An old 2.5" should do the trick...

---

RE: two entry points - since myihome doesn't show ISOs you have to use a SMB share for those (another entry point).
And as for why not just use SMB, well I understand that http is a lot faster than SMB, and also my libraries are in multiple folders i.e. not a single share, and PCH doesn't honour shortcuts in shares (whereas myihome has this rather odd concept of additional 'watch' folders, but it does allow you to have add multiple folders to your library).
It'd be all be much easier if PCH supported ISOs on myihome.

RE: An old 2.5" should do the trick...
I do have an old 20GB one but it's IDE and the PCH is SATA only?

[espresso]

(01-10-2010 02:47 PM)mr-b Wrote:  RE: two entry points - since myihome doesn't show ISOs you have to use a SMB share for those (another entry point).
And as for why not just use SMB, well I understand that http is a lot faster than SMB, and also my libraries are in multiple folders i.e. not a single share, and PCH doesn't honour shortcuts in shares (whereas myihome has this rather odd concept of additional 'watch' folders, but it does allow you to have add multiple folders to your library).
It'd be all be much easier if PCH supported ISOs on myihome.

RE: An old 2.5" should do the trick...
I do have an old 20GB one but it's IDE and the PCH is SATA only?

Ahhh now it makes sense on your 2 entry points !
Yes, it has to be SATA, I should have said an old SATA 2.5"!
But trust me having a jukebox will have a dramatic difference on how you view your media...

All the best Mr-B
Cheers,
Espresso

[mr-b]

So will a jukebox solve the two entry points problem?
If so, are there any pointers to a list etc.?

Going back to my original point, this is where I really need a "voice of experience" to give some specific guidance, as I'm sure I can't be the first person to hit these stumbling blocks.

[espresso]

Mr-B,

I have ISOs that play perfectly fine from Oversight! (Oversight will effectively be using SMB, as you need to map 1st the folder than contact all your media and then it scans it)

Espresso