Server + HTPC Consolidation

[Pitchucold]

Hi Guys,

I have a HTPC Running on Windows 8 and powered by Core2duo CPU + Intel Dg33FB + Zotac 520 Graphics card. I use it mainly for movies . It is serving good. It is still in Zebronics tower case. It has some 2+ TBs on it.

I also have a Home server HP EX495 Mediasmart server (headless unit). It has 4 bays and i have used only 2 Bays with 2 TB each. I was using this server mainly to feed music for my Sonos ZP90 paired with Topping Amp + JBL Control 1.

Just to save on power and abruption disruptions due to power cuts, i keep the Server switched off most of the times. For some reason i could not get the wake up on lan work on the server.

Question i am debating is, Can i buy a case with 6-8 Internal HDD and consolidate everything into HTPC + Server and sell off the HP EX495 server with a 2 TB system disk on it?

I use the server mainly for streaming music to Sonos and store movies, videos and Pictures. Windows 8 offers folder duplication and pool drives as well.

Any suggestions or thoughts guys ? And any case recommendations ? I am going to place the HTPC in the same cabinet as Audio equipments. I am OK with Tower Cabinets with 6-8 3.5 HDD with less noise and neat ventilation.

REgards,
Prasanna KV

 

[asliarun]

Instead of "a case with 6-8 Internal HDD", why don't you get a SAN? They will give you a good solution for all your storage needs, and you can then get your HTPC to read from it. Everything that you said is standard SAN feature. Plus you can easily add/remove HDDs and RAID them for data protection.

Then you can get rid of your other server.

 

[talespin]

Right, Sell your server(assuming its a good configuration consuming decent amount of power), the money you will save on electricity bill can be put somewhere else.

Go for low power consuming HDD(you just need for media storage and no day to day operations)?

 

[Pitchucold]

Hi Asliarun,

Thanks for response. I dont want two boxes, i want to consolidate it to one. My server is almost like a SAN as I use NFS. Consolidating it to HTPC would give flexibility and also storage. I guess It would serve SONOS with Wake up on LAN as well.

Hi Talespin,

yeah I am planning to give HP EX495 MEdiasmart Server with 2 TB for Rs 22 K-25 K as it is loaded with Partition magic and Avast Home server 3 years license with 2 GB RAM (upgraded from 1 GB to 2 GB).

I actually WD green Drives on the server.

regards,
Prasanna KV

 

[dheerajjotwani]

Clear ur pms. Cant send u replies

tapped on Note II cdma

 

[sam9s]

Instead of "a case with 6-8 Internal HDD", why don't you get a SAN? They will give you a good solution for all your storage needs, and you can then get your HTPC to read from it. Everything that you said is standard SAN feature. Plus you can easily add/remove HDDs and RAID them for data protection.

Then you can get rid of your other server.

I think what you mean is NAS and not SAN, san is targeted towards a different type of storage ....

 

[asliarun]

I think what you mean is NAS and not SAN, san is targeted towards a different type of storage ....

Yes, thank you! I meant to say NAS. Use SANs in my work environment so keep getting this mixed up.

 

[yourekaiche]

you can then get your HTPC to read from it. Everything that you said is standard SAN feature. Plus you can easily add/remove HDDs and RAID them for data protection.