Storage options for Mac Mini Plex box

[Vinniefish]

I'm not sure I understand the first question. I am streaming 1080p *.m2ts files that are direct Blu-ray rips with no re-encoding, so if you are concerned about performance it'll be just fine. I have my EX485 connected to my router via gigabit ethernet. All of the clients viewing the media are on the network via wireless N (AEBS). It works great but YMMV as per usual with wireless.

I have not used the feature that you mention, having the server consolidate the media. It gives me the willies just thinking about it.

What are you using to play the .m2ts files, I have found that playing straight blu-ray rips on the current gen mini will cause stuttering at super high bit-rates. I currently use plex and have the most success with mkv in the 10-15 GB range, those never seem to drop any frames but the .m2ts files that are in the 40 GB range constantly drop frames.

I did pick up the ex495 and have started transferring my media to it. I set up the iTunes server but don't like the way the songs show up in iTunes, it is only a list and doesn't include album artwork, so I am probably going to move my library to the MSS and point itunes to that and see if I get a better result that way.

 

[iMouse]

Other World Computing has some very nice external redundant drives or empty drive enclosures where you can buy or re-use your own disks.

They have RAID 0/1 enclosures and a few are combo NAS devices that can be placed on your network.

Honestly, with high definition video, that leg of your network between the NAS and the mini better be gigabit. I hit my router's threshold pretty quickly with it being only 10/100. Otherwise, look for a FireWire 800 RAID 1 solution.

 

[brentsg]

What are you using to play the .m2ts files, I have found that playing straight blu-ray rips on the current gen mini will cause stuttering at super high bit-rates. I currently use plex and have the most success with mkv in the 10-15 GB range, those never seem to drop any frames but the .m2ts files that are in the 40 GB range constantly drop frames.

I did pick up the ex495 and have started transferring my media to it. I set up the iTunes server but don't like the way the songs show up in iTunes, it is only a list and doesn't include album artwork, so I am probably going to move my library to the MSS and point itunes to that and see if I get a better result that way.

I use Plex. I haven't had anything stutter yet unless my server was doing something at the same time as I was watching the movie. I have 170 straight HD rips, just checked. I've got the 2.2GHz mini.

I couldn't care less about album artwork in iTunes so I've not messed with that one bit.

 

[reebzor]

I've heard good things about the OWC enclosures. Once I get some extra cash I'm gonna buy the 4 bay one and fill it with 4x2tb drives in raid 5 for 6tb of usable space. I feel like that would be the best investment for me at least.

 

[brentsg]

I've heard good things about the OWC enclosures. Once I get some extra cash I'm gonna buy the 4 bay one and fill it with 4x2tb drives in raid 5 for 6tb of usable space. I feel like that would be the best investment for me at least.

Try to buy an enclosure that supports E-SATA. Then down the road, if you decide to setup a full server you can slave the enclosure off a server that properly supports port replication.

 

[apatel87]

Take a look at this thread a little ways down in this forum for an idea of what people are using to store there ever growning media content library.

I have a home built NAS that runs unRAID, a server OS. I have been running it for quite a while now and really like it. You can read up on it at the link above or via the unRAID wiki or ask questions in the unRAID forum.

Hi, I havent had a chance to completely read through the wiki at the unRaid website but it seems as if this will be the way to go for me since I have an old Sony PC lying around. My question for you is that I understand that a lot of people connect this computer to the router and stream the shares to all their computers. Unfortunately I dont think I have a good enough router (I think I need a gigabit router, right?). is there any way that I can just connect the PC unRaid setup to my mac mini and have it look like an external drive connected to the Mac Mini?

 

[apatel87]

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Also is there any way to connect an external enclosure like this (http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch_v3.asp?scriteria=BA25291) and use software on my mac mini to maintain redundancy. again sorry for the noob questions but I am trying to figure out what would be best for me. thanks.

 

[reebzor]

Also is there any way to connect an external enclosure like this (http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch_v3.asp?scriteria=BA25291) and use software on my mac mini to maintain redundancy. again sorry for the noob questions but I am trying to figure out what would be best for me. thanks.

That enclosure only has esata. So your answer is no, unless you were to buy an esata to usb adapter, but I have no idea how well they work. Link

 

[prostuff1]

Hi, I havent had a chance to completely read through the wiki at the unRaid website but it seems as if this will be the way to go for me since I have an old Sony PC lying around. My question for you is that I understand that a lot of people connect this computer to the router and stream the shares to all their computers. Unfortunately I dont think I have a good enough router (I think I need a gigabit router, right?).

You do not need a gigabit router. Up until about 3 weeks ago I was running my entire network with a 100MB router as the connection point.

is there any way that I can just connect the PC unRaid setup to my mac mini and have it look like an external drive connected to the Mac Mini?

[/quote]
You can do this, you just have to manually set an IP address on the unRAID system. You can search the forums for people who have done this to get an idea on how to do it.

Also is there any way to connect an external enclosure like this (http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch_v3.asp?scriteria=BA25291) and use software on my mac mini to maintain redundancy. again sorry for the noob questions but I am trying to figure out what would be best for me. thanks.

You could connect anything you like to the network or your Mac Mini and then use something like Carbon Copy Cloner on your Mac to make a copy of the data you want. There are things (rsync) built into unRAID that you can use also, but it is a little more complicated and a subject left for later should you decide to go that way.

 

[Maks]

I've started to look into this and I think I'm going with a Synology NAS. This will not only allow me storage for my Mac Mini HTPC, but to also use the NAS w/Time Machine to backup all 3 of my Macs without having to waste money on a Time Capsule or time screwing around with a homegrown solution.

 

[Tsurisuto]

I've started to look into this and I think I'm going with a Synology NAS. This will not only allow me storage for my Mac Mini HTPC, but to also use the NAS w/Time Machine to backup all 3 of my Macs without having to waste money on a Time Capsule or time screwing around with a homegrown solution.

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm leaning towards the newly announced Synology DS410, I'm just waiting for some reviews.

http://www.synology.com/enu/products/DS410/index.php

 

[Consultant]

I keep all files on PowerMac as server, serving via gigabit ethernet.

 

[keeper]

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm leaning towards the newly announced Synology DS410, I'm just waiting for some reviews.

http://www.synology.com/enu/products/DS410/index.php

DLNA/UPnP Media Server
PS3/Xbox 360 Support
Supported Audio Format: verified: AAC, FLAC, M4A, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, PCM, WAV, WMA, WMA VBR, WMA PRO, WMA Lossless
Supported Video Format: 3GP, 3G2, ASF, AVI, DAT, DivX, DVR-MS, ISO, M2T, M2TS, M4V, MKV, MP4, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MTS, MOV, QT, SWF, TP, TRP, TS, VOB, WMV, XviD, RV30, RV40, AC3, AMR, WMA3
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iTunes Server
Supported Audio Format: MP3, M4A, M4P, WAV6, AIF6
Supported Video Format: M4V, MOV, MP4
Supported Playlist Format: M3U, WPL

Does this suggest you don't need a media server for ATV?