[TriLUG] anyone want a freevo system?

[John Turner]

What I am planning is this:
- linux server in closet with 1-3 bttv tuner cards recording shows that 
the family wants to watch, the server also stores mp3, DivX, mpeg2, 
jpegs, etc. The idea is any media (audio, video, photos) that might be 
shared would be on this server and accessible via NFS or Samba

- client machine is a Via EPIA system (mini-itx) running Freevix (port 
of Freevo to EPIA). It has no hard drive or flash and maybe not even a 
CD/DVD (kids seem to break them fast). It boots over the network and 
runs the OS from RAM. All media files are mounted

Freevo/Freevix works fine for the clients. What I haven't found yet is 
a nice server system for scheduling the recordings, but MythTV seems 
like an option for this. I also want to be able to convert some of  my 
DVDs for access either as MPEG2 or DivX (mainly thinking kids stuff 
here). And at times I might want to moved over shows from the Tivo 
(mpeg2 files).

I have tried all the media formats listed with Freevix and they work. 
So the problem now is just getting a server system setup that doesn't 
require full time babysitting.

John

On Wednesday, June 18, 2003, at 11:19  AM, Magnus wrote:

>
> On Wednesday, June 18, 2003, at 11:09 AM, Greg Brown wrote:
>
>> I am interested in this as well.  My ultimate vision of a PVR also 
>> includes the ability to store the bulk of the data on a server which 
>> will house a bunch of large disks.
>
> Yeah IMHO a PVR should have only a small disk to use as a buffer.  Or 
> a lot of memory instead.  PVR should be a cheap "toaster" that you can 
> put on every TV.  Central file server should have all video & music 
> files.  PVR may have a small solid state disk (64MB flash?) to boot 
> Linux and get the Freevo software going quickly, but everything else 
> should work over the network.
>
>> The idea of some kind of flat-screen, diskless media playback machine 
>> is in the nirvana realm as far as my playback vision goes, but it 
>> sure would be sweet.
>
> And doable, I think.
>
> Cost of entry is high though due to high cost of components to build a 
> set top box that can compress video streams in realtime to NFS while 
> at the same time decompressing a stream to the TV.  That's a lot of 
> CPU horsepower.  You won't get that out of a Pentium 100 found in the 
> trash.
>
> --
>
> C. Magnus Hedemark
> "From the Fury of the Norsemen please Deliver us, Oh Lord"
> <PGP.sig>