[Stn.]

Hi guys.
 
Here's the deal. I need to stream music throughout my house from multiple computers, although I may just dump all the music to a drive or server connected to the internet. That's it. No videos neccesary, simply music.
 
Here is the setup of my downstairs, thanks to MS paint.

 
I also need a way of playing the music in the PC 2 room, PREFERABLY PORTABLE.
 
My budget is $500 with a tiny bit of lenience. This budget includes the external drive for both computers to dump to.
 
Can you help me?

 

[Submarinesailor]

HP's version of the Windows Home Server boxes may be what you are looking for. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002N8A0A2/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=pc
This is an HP EX490 that falls just within your budget. Here's what I use it for, out of the box, no fiddling around with fancy addins:
1. Itunes server for all my PC's
2. Automatic backup for all the PC's
3. Video streaming
4. Picture repository
 
Easy to use and you'll get a streaming system with a bunch of useful additions.
 
I actually have the EX495 with 6TB. I rip DVD's to folders on the box and point my Windows Media Center to the networked folder. Instant movie library!

 

[Hybrys]

That's damn expensive for just media streaming, especially when there's no need for 4 USB ports, 3 hotswap drives, and WiFi isn't needed, because you can set it up right beside your router anyway...  >_>
 
The way I see it, you have two reliable and cheap options.  NAS-based solutions, basically a harddrive you plug into your router, or just a USB harddrive you plug into a computer, then share to both computers.
 
NAS Storage:
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=39668&vpn=WDH1NC10000N&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD%20Retail&promoid=1068
 
Basic NAS, plug it in via power, and then via Ethernet to your router.  Bam, appears on the network.
 
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34475&vpn=LS-CH1.0TL&manufacture=Buffalo&promoid=1068
 
This is another nice option.  1TB out of the box, but supports hosting a Printer or expanding it's size with a USB harddrive.  Works the same way as the Western Digital.  Power, Ethernet, and it appears in your network area.

 

[Stn.]

I've got an old computer,
 
256Mb RAM
160GB HDD
Intel Celeron D @ 2.8GHz
 
I'm thinking of setting that up with an external drive to be a NAS.
 
Is there a way to setup this old computer into performing the same tasks as the HP product, i.e. backups, and still have the NAS capabilities? Will Windows Home Server, which is what the HP is based off of match the features the HP has?

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

I've got an old computer,
 
256Mb RAM
160GB HDD
Intel Celeron D @ 2.8GHz
 
I'm thinking of setting that up with an external drive to be a NAS.
 
Is there a way to setup this old computer into performing the same tasks as the HP product, i.e. backups, and still have the NAS capabilities? Will Windows Home Server, which is what the HP is based off of match the features the HP has?

I would honestly suggest just doing manual backups unless you work with sensitive information or media.  (IE: Invoicing at home, or advanced photo editting)  I rarely have to backup my stuff more than once every 3 months, and putting that cycle on a daily/weekly routine would run down a harddrive much quicker, nevermind bringing your network to a standstill.
 
You can easily setup an old computer to be your network storage.  Just setup whichever OS it came with (Hopefully Windows XP), and set your security settings as low as possible.  (As long as you don't use the computer to browse, there's no reason it shouldn't be that low.)  After that, just share the root of the external harddrive with read/write privs, and you're set.  I can write you a tutorial if you'd like.
 
To be perfectly honest, though, if that's the route you're going to take, I'd just get the Buffalo.  It'd cost almost the same as an external HDD, but it would be no fuss setup, vs the potential for disaster using a Windows OS, and consume MUCH less power.  (For an old Intel, I'd hazard a guess of ATLEAST $50 a year less power)

 

[Stn.]

I appreciate the quick reply.
 
I didn't consider the power usage... No need to write a tutorial, I know how, it's just having a home server is a much better toy than a basic NAS! I guess the cheapest cost in relation to electricity for a home server would be if it were running on the cheapest netbook I could find. It wouldn't be too much more than the Buffalo NAS and it could serve as well, a server rather than just a storage device. Although then an external drive, or at least an enclosure for one of the spare drives I have would be needed.
 
I think I may experiment with the old Intel just because I already have it. Turn it on in the morning, turn off when I go to bed to save a little juice. Potentially wouldn't even need a monitor for it. I'm getting rid of my gaming rig which must pull double what this old build would anyways.
 
Now, about software/OS. I have a neighbor who works as the IT at a school board and I assume could quite easily get me a copy of Windows Home Server. Is this the most feature rich option, that my computer could handle? Is there a more functional distro? I'm looking at what provides the most function without having heavy requirements.
 
And away from the server talk, I'll also need speakers, which as I said the most portable the better, for the room that will be playing the streaming music. I know my budget is low for an audiophile setup, but what can i get with ~$300?

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

I appreciate the quick reply.
 
I didn't consider the power usage... No need to write a tutorial, I know how, it's just having a home server is a much better toy than a basic NAS! I guess the cheapest cost in relation to electricity for a home server would be if it were running on the cheapest netbook I could find. It wouldn't be too much more than the Buffalo NAS and it could serve as well, a server rather than just a storage device. Although then an external drive, or at least an enclosure for one of the spare drives I have would be needed.
 
I think I may experiment with the old Intel just because I already have it. Turn it on in the morning, turn off when I go to bed to save a little juice. Potentially wouldn't even need a monitor for it. I'm getting rid of my gaming rig which must pull double what this old build would anyways.
 
Now, about software/OS. I have a neighbor who works as the IT at a school board and I assume could quite easily get me a copy of Windows Home Server. Is this the most feature rich option, that my computer could handle? Is there a more functional distro? I'm looking at what provides the most function without having heavy requirements.
 
And away from the server talk, I'll also need speakers, which as I said the most portable the better, for the room that will be playing the streaming music. I know my budget is low for an audiophile setup, but what can i get with ~$300?

Another idea is an ITX nettop.  I recently put together a setup for someone else on the forum here, I'll copy paste it here.
 
Windows Home Server offers very few extra features that you can't get elsewhere.
 
'Centralized Backup', you can do this manually unless you want day to day backup.
'Health Monitor' is useless, since it probably won't cover the antivirus/firewall you use.
'Headless Operation' can be easily replaced by a much more powerful program called VNC.
 
Also, it's based on Vista, and no-one wants Vista on their computer.  There's a V2 coming out soon too.  (Source)
 
I'm not really a speaker guy, so you might want to do a search or start another thread.
 
Copy/Pasted
 
Budget HTPC:
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34657&promoid=1068 - Case ($46 CAD)
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=52826 - Motherboard and Processor ($120 CAD)
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23266&promoid=1068 - Hard drive ($48 CAD)
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22390&promoid=1068 - RAM ($28 CAD)
 
Total: ~$250
 
This setup is actually amazing for the price.  You get an Atom processor, very power efficient, a gig of RAM, a decent looking case, and a 500gb hard drive.  For video, it has an HDMI out, able to transmit HD content no problem.  Onboard WiFi for the ultimate low-cable media centre solution.  It has an optical AND coaxial SPDIF output, and can take a low-profile PCI-E card if you want to install a sound card.
 
You would need someone technically handy to set it up for you, and an operating system.  (Probably the same one you're on right now.)  But, after setup, it should be a breeze to use.
 
Options:
 
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42349&promoid=1068 - DVD Burner with Lightscribe ($26 CAD)
 
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=45545 - Bluray/DVD/CD reader ($70)
 
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=48186&promoid=1068 - 1TB hard drive ($74 - $48 = $26 CAD more)
 
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=49591&promoid=1068 - 2TB hard drive ($126 - $48 = $78 CAD more)

 

[johnas]

Check out Vortexbox.org it works great as a headless media server. I run it on a lower spec'd computer with good results. Doesn't require a lot of Linux knowledge, many options configurable via web browser.
 
Quote:

Now, about software/OS. I have a neighbor who works as the IT at a school board and I assume could quite easily get me a copy of Windows Home Server. Is this the most feature rich option, that my computer could handle? Is there a more functional distro? I'm looking at what provides the most function without having heavy requirements.
 
 

 

[Submarinesailor]

Windows Home Server from your friends MSDN would work fine. **disclaimer - buy it if you like it**
I installed it on my old Dell GXsomething or other and played around with it before splurging on the HP box. The only thing I'd suggest is to get at least 512k of memory installed.
The MSDN version of the software is exactly the same as the retail version. There's only one release except for OEM's adding extra stuff on top of it.The HP software has a lot of bells and whistles that aren't really necessary.
There are a couple of third party mods for WHS for power savings. Everything you want to know about WHS is at http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.php?/index
 
Speaker opinion: Klipsch Promedia 2.1  are great! http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/promedia-2-1-overview/   $150 for THX quality
I owned them before I upgraded to the 5.1 system. 

 

[Submarinesailor]

Also - WHS is based on Windows Server 2003.  Sometime soon it'll be based on Server 2008. ETA is TBD.

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

Also - WHS is based on Windows Server 2003.  Sometime soon it'll be based on Server 2008. ETA is TBD.

In theory, Win Server 2003 is from the Vista family, and Win Server 2008 is from the Win7 family, despite being from different years of their products.  And I used to hate Win Server 2003.

 

[eucariote]

Quote:

And away from the server talk, I'll also need speakers, which as I said the most portable the better, for the room that will be playing the streaming music. I know my budget is low for an audiophile setup, but what can i get with ~$300?

One very portable option are wireless speakers but I don't know if their sound would be very good.  Another option is apple airport express ($80 refurbished) which pipes music from any computer with itunes and a network connection with a wireless router to upwards of 6 of these things in any room in the house.  There is an analog output plug and optical for bit-perfect communication of audio files.  I use the latter option with a good dac going to a stereo with speaker wire going to several rooms and control my music from any computer / laptop in the house.  You can also control itunes on any networked computer with an ipod touch/iphone if you have one of those.  For the best sound quality for the $ I'd get a dac from one of the computers or an airport express feeding a stereo (get something old, cheap and good from craigslist if needed) with wires going to decent bookshelf speakers in different rooms in the house.