Technical advice requested

[andrewducker]

Thanks to johnbobshaun's incessant recommendations I finally got around to modding my XBox into a Media Centre.

And it kicks arse. Plays all sorts of files that refused to work with the previous setup, streams things direct from a share on my windows PC rather than needing proprietary software to run. Very smooth, and very easy to use. I'll have to pick up a remote control for it, as the controller isn't the easiest method of playing/pausing, but other than that it's very cool.

My question is - what's a good network storage solution that will work with it. It uses SMB, so anything that supports that is good. But I'd also like something reliable, preferably that supports RAID so that I can swap out drives when one fails. The Buffalo Terastation looks like a decent option that could also be used for backup - but I'd appreciate some input from anyone that's played around with this kind of thing in the past...

Comments

[robhu.livejournal.com]

For comedy value you could use another XBOX running Linux (this is what I do at home). You could do RAID 1 on that (it supports 2 IDE drives) with 2x 500GB disks (60 pounds each).

[andrewducker]

I think I'd rather have something dedicated, with minimum knowledge necessary. My unix knowledge is both minimal and 13 years old. If I had a handy linux geek in the area to set one up and answer support questions I might be tempted, but lacking one I think I'll go the appliance route :->

[robhu.livejournal.com]

Honestly it's not hard to do. Setting up SMB/Samba only takes a few minutes.

The RAID setup would be a bit more tricky but not hard given the people on your LJ list. I do a lot with RAID, so I could just give you the few commands you need to make it work.

OTOH you would then need to know a bit about how to check if the RAID array is OK etc...

Personally I love Linux on my XBOX. It's like a little server in my living room.

[dreema.livejournal.com]

i think there's something called freeNAS that turns an ordinary pc into a dedicated NAS box. Kind of like smoothwall turns a pc into a router, no effort, works straight off the cd.

I downloaded it, but never got around to trying it.

In terms of NAS boxes, i've used a very early quantum snap server, used to have a 15gb disc in it, single, i upgraded it to an 40, and a 3com OCNAS which is something similar. The Snap interface is pretty good, provides a good set of services, new one is supposed to be even better.

You should get in touch with nathan, i think he's got one of the terastations, or something similar, does raid over two discs.

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's not like you know anyone that uses Unix everyday, cos they'd just be far to geeky for you to hang out with. I hear they all have beards & wear jesus sandals.

[kurosau.livejournal.com]

Did you mod it all on your own, or use someone's online tutorial? Because I've been thinking I should do that, but I haven't done any research on the issue.

Also, there's an Xbox DVD controller that might make it easier to use.

[andrewducker]

The remote control is on the way from ebay.

And I used someone's tutorial - turned out to be fairly easy though. Luckily they also handed me a bag with the three bits of kit I needed (USB key with some files, a memory card with a hack on it, and a Splinter Cell disk).

[johnbobshaun.livejournal.com]

Hooray! One of us! One of us! Gooble gobble!

I recommend grabbing a copy of MAME for it too.

As for network drives, I hear very good things about the Linksys NSLU (affectionately called the Slug).

[robhu.livejournal.com]

Perhaps this is what you want (cheaper than a Buffalo) http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=327810&utm_source=komplett&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=wof

Also you might want to consider a Linux distro that turns an ordinary PC into a NAS box. You wouldn't need to know any Linux, it's all admined via simple web pages. I would suggest OpenFiler.

[andrewducker]

Oooh - that looks darn perfect. I want an appliance that's small and can be stuck in a corner, and that does RAID as well. I'll pick one up if nothing else comes up once I've moved flat and checked my finances...

[robhu.livejournal.com]

Glad to be of service :-)