2010-12-25, 02:44
I've posted a few threads here with regards to this, and am now a few steps further on, so will start a small thread that may help others, and hopefully help me tweak my set up.
I have added some questions if anyone would like to throw some advice I would appreciate it.
So this is the kit:
Case
Coolmaster Centurion 590
Mobo
Intel Mobo DG41TY
PSU
Atrix Extreme Power 650W (650T)
RAM
2 x Kingston 2Gb Ram 800Mhz DDR2 Ram
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.66Ghz Processor
HDDs
750GB (Holding the OS, Win 7)
2x 1.5TB
2x 2TB
1x 1TB
1x 320GB (This will likely become my cache drive, before files are moved to their proper location. Or I may just dump it.)
I found that the OS drive needed to be on SATA port 0, as when I swapped it to port 4, the PC didn't boot into Windows, so if anyone has this issue, check the connections maybe.
The drives were a mix of external Sata drives, and external USB drives that I have now removed the drives from to fit to the server. Only the 320GB drive is not sata, its IDE. (OLD!)
The plan is to add another 2TB drive as backup, and run FlexRaid to protect the data. I would like to replace the smaller drives with 2TB drives if and when money allows, or space becomes a premium.
I have a Movies # and a TV Shows # folder on each drive, and share these folders over SMB to my Acer Revo running Live. This was very easy to set up using this guide: http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=450134&postcount=1 and have had no issues yet with this.
I would've liked to split the server and have drives A,B and C for TV Shows and D,E,F for Movies, but as I am recycling already full drives, I have no easy way of moving everything around yet.
The mobo only has 4 SATA ports so I can't hook up all of the drives yet, so I plan on buying this expansion card asap:
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/supermicr...oller+Card
and...
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/3ware-cbl...kout-cable
Also, I need a 2 more 4in3 cages, and advice on how to hook up the fans. There is a rear fan connected to the mobo, and the CPU fan. On the HDD cage there is another fan, connected to the PSU. I have 1 more fan connector free on the mobo, but plan to add another case fan, and 2 more cages which will both have fans.
How do I wire all of these?? Special fan connector splitter? Answer: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/184672 or this sexy bit of kit: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/138706
Recommend a good quiet case fan? Answer: Does this seem too cheap to be any good? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/138590
I have added Ember, Couch Potato, Sickbeard etc to the server, as this is going to act as my downloader too. I may need advice on getting Sickbeard/Couch Potato to properly pull files, rename properly (TV Show SxxExx) and move to correct folder on the correct drive with NFO.
Is it possile for Ember to "watch" my files, and automagically scrape any new additions?
- I've spent ages scraping and getting everything 'just right' so want to keep it that way, but without a lot of manual input. Ember also only adds the URL of trailers, whereas I prefer to download best quality available as streaming is not always perfect.
Why wont Ember download them for me?
I will up some pictures soon, showing my meagre efforts at cable management?! To finish off, a few more questions I am yet to fully research:
I can monitor core temps using a desktop widget, how can I easily monitor case / HDD temps?
I cannot get the Win 7 server to WOL. I have checked all the settings, told the network card to stay powered, enabled WOL in bios, added WOL to XBMC and given the MAC address of the server (found in XBMC settings area) yet still, once asleep, it will not be woken by XBMC.
How is this best acheived?
I will try to add some more details and pictures soon.
Thanks and merry christmas.
Paul
I have added some questions if anyone would like to throw some advice I would appreciate it.
So this is the kit:
Case
Coolmaster Centurion 590
Mobo
Intel Mobo DG41TY
PSU
Atrix Extreme Power 650W (650T)
RAM
2 x Kingston 2Gb Ram 800Mhz DDR2 Ram
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.66Ghz Processor
HDDs
750GB (Holding the OS, Win 7)
2x 1.5TB
2x 2TB
1x 1TB
1x 320GB (This will likely become my cache drive, before files are moved to their proper location. Or I may just dump it.)
I found that the OS drive needed to be on SATA port 0, as when I swapped it to port 4, the PC didn't boot into Windows, so if anyone has this issue, check the connections maybe.
The drives were a mix of external Sata drives, and external USB drives that I have now removed the drives from to fit to the server. Only the 320GB drive is not sata, its IDE. (OLD!)
The plan is to add another 2TB drive as backup, and run FlexRaid to protect the data. I would like to replace the smaller drives with 2TB drives if and when money allows, or space becomes a premium.
I have a Movies # and a TV Shows # folder on each drive, and share these folders over SMB to my Acer Revo running Live. This was very easy to set up using this guide: http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=450134&postcount=1 and have had no issues yet with this.
I would've liked to split the server and have drives A,B and C for TV Shows and D,E,F for Movies, but as I am recycling already full drives, I have no easy way of moving everything around yet.
The mobo only has 4 SATA ports so I can't hook up all of the drives yet, so I plan on buying this expansion card asap:
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/supermicr...oller+Card
and...
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/3ware-cbl...kout-cable
Also, I need a 2 more 4in3 cages, and advice on how to hook up the fans. There is a rear fan connected to the mobo, and the CPU fan. On the HDD cage there is another fan, connected to the PSU. I have 1 more fan connector free on the mobo, but plan to add another case fan, and 2 more cages which will both have fans.
How do I wire all of these?? Special fan connector splitter? Answer: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/184672 or this sexy bit of kit: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/138706
Recommend a good quiet case fan? Answer: Does this seem too cheap to be any good? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/138590
I have added Ember, Couch Potato, Sickbeard etc to the server, as this is going to act as my downloader too. I may need advice on getting Sickbeard/Couch Potato to properly pull files, rename properly (TV Show SxxExx) and move to correct folder on the correct drive with NFO.
Is it possile for Ember to "watch" my files, and automagically scrape any new additions?
- I've spent ages scraping and getting everything 'just right' so want to keep it that way, but without a lot of manual input. Ember also only adds the URL of trailers, whereas I prefer to download best quality available as streaming is not always perfect.
Why wont Ember download them for me?
I will up some pictures soon, showing my meagre efforts at cable management?! To finish off, a few more questions I am yet to fully research:
I can monitor core temps using a desktop widget, how can I easily monitor case / HDD temps?
I cannot get the Win 7 server to WOL. I have checked all the settings, told the network card to stay powered, enabled WOL in bios, added WOL to XBMC and given the MAC address of the server (found in XBMC settings area) yet still, once asleep, it will not be woken by XBMC.
How is this best acheived?
I will try to add some more details and pictures soon.
Thanks and merry christmas.
Paul