Questions about my set up with devices:mini's/apple tv/ and more

[j2048b]

I currently bought a used tv 40 gig and i also bought 2 used mini's:

1-1.83 ghz
and
1-1.66 ghz

now my questions:

I plan to put the 1.83 downstairs as the htpc, and now i have an tv as well, to use downstairs.

does it even make sense to place both into the theater? I ask because the mini with plex should be able to do everything plus some more then the tv, correct?

The second mini is going upstairs in the master bedroom as the htpc, for the same reason as the downstairs one,

basically going to hook them all up to the aebs through wire so i can see and use all of my drives on the mac pro and externals along with another device (UnRaid server, i will be building!) for movies, music, and everything else.

I also have a Yellow machine NAS

(not sure how i want to use this yet? any suggestions?)

(http://www.tomsguide.com/us/review-p400t,review-593.html)

or

(http://www.geek.com/articles/xyzcom...-machine-terabyte-storage-appliance-20050930/)

it is capable of doing everything, switch,router,NAS, firewall, and a lot more.

Now my questions are these:



1. as stated above, is the apple tv (hacked or course) even worth it to include sense i will be running an intel mini up and downstairs?

2. what should i use the yellow machine as? I was figuring just a huge time machine to back up my min's (2) and my mac pro?

It is slower due to ide drives, so i did not want to try to use it as a NAS server to serve my music and movies.
(i might get sata to ide adapters for sata drives),

2a. or should i set it up as something else?



3. how should i set it all up because i need to be able to share all computers and access each drive.


I will also be setting up an UnRaid server to serve all my movies/music and everything, i just want to be able to see it all from each computer,

The UnRaid server will have everything pointed to it for playon, p3smedia server/my plex apps, and itunes and everything!

I will also be using my mini's with windows xp pro for the wife and vmware 3

I know it is long and full of stuff but i need advice for set up, and the answers from people more knowledgeable than me!!


thanks

(also) have 2 ps3's that will be running for blu ray players/movie stuff/games

 

[j2048b]

any help at all?

any one with any advice for this setup?

thanks

 

[GottaLoveApple4]

I'd say use it like so:

Use the yellow machine NAS as a backup for the two Mini's and your Mac Pro as well as the firewall/router for your setup. Next, run the NAS as an iTunes server for the two mini's running plex in the bedroom and downstairs, as well as the apple tv. I would use the apple tv in a different room then the mini though since it is kind of pointless to have both. The ps3's can be used in other rooms as well if needed, but if there are no more rooms then put them with the mini's for the blu-ray/gaming.

Sounds like it's going to be an awesome setup. Have fun putting it together!

Edit: sorry didn't see that you didn't want the Nas as an iTunes server, so instead just use your mac pro as the server to share the media with the ps3's/mini's/apple tv. Also, I'd use the aebs as the router instead of the Nas and just connect the Nas to that for the time machine backups.

 

[j2048b]

I'd say use it like so:

Use the yellow machine NAS as a backup for the two Mini's and your Mac Pro as well as the firewall/router for your setup. Next, run the NAS as an iTunes server for the two mini's running plex in the bedroom and downstairs, as well as the apple tv. I would use the apple tv in a different room then the mini though since it is kind of pointless to have both. The ps3's can be used in other rooms as well if needed, but if there are no more rooms then put them with the mini's for the blu-ray/gaming.

Sounds like it's going to be an awesome setup. Have fun putting it together!

Edit: sorry didn't see that you didn't want the Nas as an iTunes server, so instead just use your mac pro as the server to share the media with the ps3's/mini's/apple tv. Also, I'd use the aebs as the router instead of the Nas and just connect the Nas to that for the time machine backups.

Technically the two links i provided, stated not to use the yellow machine as a server to stream music and the such due to the slowness and that you cannot have two instances streaming at the same time, so in that case, this is where the unraid server comes into play!

the thing i see as the bad thing is this is not equiped with gigabit ethernet so it will be slow compared to my AEBS, but i need a huge time machine set up so i guess i can extend everything and put the aebs downstairs and hook the mini/ps3/laptop/ airport extreme and run a wire from it to the yellow machine, correct? will it still back up everything if i am hooked through the aebs to the yellow machine? or do i need to be hooked up directly to the yellow machine?

or do i need an 8-10 port switch or what ever they are called?


and also use the yellow machine as the firewall/router correct? there are 8 hook ups for wired lan, so that will allow me to hook up:

ps3>upstairs
mini>upstairs
unraid server>upstairs
aebs> downstairs =3 more ports=mini/ps3 downstairs/airport extreme for itunes out side in the back yard/ garage!
mac pro
apple tv if needed, maybe in the garage to stream my p90x and stuff!!

how awesome is that!


that sounds like a plan!

should work out nicely.