New XBMC setup project
#1
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Hello folks,
I am new here and just registered to post my question, so please be nice to me if I didn't post my issue the right way.

I was planning to setup XBMC in the following way (see picture below). I was planning to buy an ATV 3 in the near future (as soon as the jailbreak is released) and setup the infrastructure like in the picture.
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The NAS should provide the media sources and the Apple TV should access those via xbmc client. I was planning using the Logitech Harmony remote to control all the given devices from one remote. Is this configuration possible? And if it is, can I also play the xbmc media from within an external source f.e. an iPad on UMTS network (ofc if I enable the appropriate ports on the router) so I can watch the videos on the go via the iPad (or any other device)?

Thanks for your answers, sectune.
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#2
Yes, to all questions. I have a similar setup with an unRAID server providing media to four XBMCs across the house (unRAID is just a server running Linux like a NAS - I have two XBMCLive PCs, one Windows PC I use as my test bed, and an AppleTV2 for the bedroom).

Main living room and theater downstairs have Harmonies set up. I haven't programmed my Harmony on my AppleTV2, but I've heard it can be done. Not sure how great it is, but I just use my TVs remote and it works just fine.

iPad, if Jailbroken, can run XBMC and I believe there is an option to allow AirPlay (or whatever it is called) to work on the AppleTV XBMC when it is running - but once more this isn't something I've tried yet (I just got the new iPad on Friday and haven't had much of a chance to use it... my wife, however, certainly has Smile; in other words I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to pry it from her hands to test that out for you).

I'll follow this thread, as everyone has to start somewhere and the more help you can get the better.
(2012-03-19, 15:48)brimnac Wrote: Yes, to all questions....

I apologize, as I read your question wrong. Only regarding "... on the go." I wouldn't recommend opening your streaming ports or things like that, personally, and I'm not quite sure that is something you can do. My apologies for the first post and the bit of misinformation; someone may have a better understanding of that than I do.

It may or may not be possible, but it is something I stay away from doing. I'm very security oriented and do not like having my internal network accessible from the outside, so your mileage may vary depending upon your comfort level.
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#3
Regarding streaming media from external network.
(2012-03-19, 15:48)brimnac Wrote: It may or may not be possible, but it is something I stay away from doing. I'm very security oriented and do not like having my internal network accessible from the outside, so your mileage may vary depending upon your comfort level.

Thanks so much for your quick feedback. Now I just need to relax and wait till the new ATV is jailbroken Smile It would be nice to know though if it is possible to stream the media from my home network to any device (whether inside the home network or not) as I am often on business trips and it would be a breeze to just access my media from any hotel et cetera. I could live with the security concerns if xbmc supports this Smile
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#4
If the computer in your set up is a desktop (or mainly stationary) I would highly suggest a wired connection to your network...you just cant beat the speed...if you dont think you can do a wire through your house you should look into powerline networking http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-network.htm I have a wired connection throughout my house...speeds much better than a wireless router could handle and no visible wires anywhere...this also may be a nice option for your other components too, not sure on the lay of your house tho.
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#5
Sectune,

I have a similar setup running in my house... I use wired connections using homeplug (https://www.homeplug.org/home/) as I mainly stream HD content and ATV2 struggles when using wireless.

I have built my own Linux NAS box but there are a number of good open source projects that require little technical knowledge to set up. One that you may be interested in that also provides VPN connectivity for securely accessing your content externally is Amahi Home Server (http://www.amahi.org/).

One thing to consider (a must really) is setting up a MySQL database on the NAS so that you have a central database of all of your media so that it can be accessed by any of your XBMC clients. Also, with Eden you can use Path substitution to centrally store the Thumbnails. (There are number of FAQs and threads on the forum about setting up MySQL & Path Substitution).

I am not sure where you are located but Logitech have released a new remote in the US that can be controlled via an iPhone or Android device (http://www.logitech.com/en-us/remotes/un...rmony-link). I use a Harmony 1000 remote in my Living room and the Harmony Link in my Home Theatre.

All in all, what you are trying to achieve is very doable!

Enjoy...


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#6
Thanks a lot for the info vicbitter. Now just need to gather the money for the devices and the knowledge from the wikis, can you maybe hint me to a good place describing MySQL and/or Amahi Home Server for the external access?
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#7
Here are a couple of links that may be of use:

For setting up XBMC with MySQL
http://lifehacker.com/5634515/how-to-syn...-the-house

For external access to an Amahi Home Server
http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/IPSec_VPN
http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/OpenVPN

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#8
I like everything except for the ATV idea. I don't like the idea of having to Jailbreak. SUre, it may work, but as soon as Apple has a softwware update, it breaks jailbreak and then you're without a media library until it's jailbroken again
Server: Synology Diskstation 1511+ with 8x WD Red NAS 3TB drives, DSM 5.2
Main HTPC: Home Built i3, 8GB RAM, Corsair 128GB SSD, nVidia 630GTX, Harmony Home Control, Pioneer VSX-53, Panasonic VT30 65" 3D TV, Windows 10, Isengard
Bedroom HTPC: Zotac-ID 41 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Rii micro keyboard remote, Samsung HW-E550, Sony 32" Google TV, OpenElec 6.0 beta 4
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#9
(2012-03-22, 21:55)patseguin Wrote: I like everything except for the ATV idea. I don't like the idea of having to Jailbreak. SUre, it may work, but as soon as Apple has a softwware update, it breaks jailbreak and then you're without a media library until it's jailbroken again

You don't update then - you install a package to prevent this. Works fine without keeping up with Apple's updates.
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#10
Thanks a lot for the links vicbitter, will definetly give them a read, hope it's not too complicated for a newbie like me Smile
As far as the jailbreak goes - I have a little experience there from my other Apple devices at home, preventing the update won't be a big problem for me though, just hoping there is a jailbreak for atv 3 coming anytime soon.
In case the atv 3 won't be jailbreakable - can someone give me some hints at other boxes which run smooth playing 1020p video? I want to avoid building my own media box just for the xbmc client. Anyone got some nice hardware which can run xbmc (I don't mind installing linux or some different software on that thing as long as it runs flawlessly). The box should just boot directly to the xbmc interface and that's it, don't need any further perks beside xbmc as long as everything runs fast.
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#11
If the ATV 3 isn't an option then there are a number of HTPC Atom/ION based systems that are relatively inexpensive (although not as cheap as the ATV 3)... Such as the Xtreamer UIltra (http://shop.xtreamer.net/products/Xtream...EBONE.html)

There is a great open source project OpenELEC.tv (http://openelec.tv/) that creates an extremely light-weight optimised Linux OS running XBMC. It is really easy to install and requires zero linux knowledge. I use OpenELEC in my Home Theatre as I wanted 1080p and I can't fault it. Try the daily builds if you want XBMC Eden.

Another distribution is XBMCbuntu which is more along the lines of a traditional Linux distro and is also worth considering depending on your requirements.

Based on your comments, however, I would go for OpenELEC.tv...

Just yell if you need any further help on setting up your environment... Sometimes the forum threads on setting up various aspects of XBMC (like MySQL) look more daunting than they actually are.

Enjoy!
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#12
Just saw this link on another thread... It is an excellent wiki that will get you set up in no time running multiple instances of XBMC...

http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW..._libraries




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#13
Thanks a lot for the support. I think all my questions are answered now. Thanks for your time vicbitter and others ofc too, you helped me out a lot Smile
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