Home Server build

tipperary

I am looking at building a dedicated home server, and looking for some advice! The server will be required to:
(a) Host approx 2TB of general media files - I have two HDDs that can be used (one 2TB and one 3TB). Data could be accessed by up to two or three machines at a time.
(b) Function as a DVBlink server, with four satellite (DVB-S2) tuners and two terrestial (DVB-T2) tuners. This could be recording up to three programmes at once, while streaming another one or two programmes live.
(c) Host a CCTV surveillance system. I am currently using ispy, which has three ipcams linked to it. This stores all captured footage on the HDD.

I have a HTPC at the moment which effectively functions as a server - it has all of the tv tuners and all media is also stored here. I have an old laptop running as the CCTV surveillance system. The HTPC has a Pentium G640, which would fine if running just as a HTPC, but can be overwhelmed at times.
I have come to the conclusion that I am better off building a dedicated server and installing DVBlink on it, rather than using the HTPC. I am hoping somebody here can advise me on a good value build that will serve my needs. I have built the HTPC and another PC before, so I have no difficulties building the system myself. The system will need to be powerful enough to do the tasks above, while having a low power usage as it will be running 24/7.
In terms of an OS, I am not very familiar with linux, but would be willing to give it a go unless there was major benefits in going with windows.

1. What is your budget? [€400]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Home Media Server]

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [No]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [HDD and tuners. I also have two 2GB DDR3 1333MHZ sticks, but at least one of them is defective]

5. Do you need a monitor? [No]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [No]

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [No]

8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Credit Card/Laser]

9. When are you purchasing? [hopefully in the next month or so]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [N/A]

Any help greatly appreciated!

Johnboy1951

I wonder if the present hardware would easily function as the server ....

The HTPC has a Pentium G640, which would fine if running just as a HTPC, but can be overwhelmed at times.

What overwhelms it?
Would it be overwhelmed if not outputting to TV?

I don't know about the CCTV systems load .... but you say old hardware is capable of running it ..... would it really be a large load on the HTPC hardware?
Would a CPU upgrade to that be all is needed?

You could then get a client box for the man TV replacing the HTPC.

As an example I presently have an old P4 with 1GB ram running Openelec as a server with dual Sat and Dual DTT TBS tuners.
It has tvheadend as backend and provides output to three TVs as well as recording.
I have tested it outputting 5 HD channels and recording two, as well as other combinations.
The CPU use barely broke 50%.

So my own 'take' is that tuning and serving over LAN to client devices has low resource usage, as the old P4 is well capable apparently.
Again, I have no real idea what load the CCTV function might add.

Just some thoughts .......

ED E

Seems like IO might be the key here. Whats the disk utilization like?

Id be setting up a RAID0 scratch array for live CCTV and TV feeds, then save them to a redundant array where required.

Serephucus

I'm thinking the same as ED here. You might not even have to go RAID, but just stage everything to their own hard drive before moving them to a more secure location (something with redundancy/backup).

TheDoc

I put together a HTPC that has exceeded my expectations, cost me sub €400 time of purchase.

I'll dig out the post I shared on another thread here and put it here(when I find it)

Though the CCTV and Tuner requirements a bit niche and not sure if my build covers that. Although I know there was Tv stuff available in mine, I just don't use it.

tipperary

Hi there, thanks all for your input. The current system is using separate HDD's for each of the different tasks. One HDD has all the media stored on it, and I have a separate HDD for recorded TV. The OS is on an SSD. The CCTV is currently on a laptop so that isn't affecting the HTPC performance.
Perhaps as Johnboy has suggested I might be able to just upgrade the processor that I have to something more powerful, and see if that fixes the various issues that I have with the system at the moment.

ED E

First step is definitely to determine the bottleneck. Give it a worst case load and check whats maxing out. If the CPU is pegged to 100% go that route.

tipperary

Thanks all for the input. I have done some further testing and it seems that it's actually not the processor thats causing the problems. It seems to be more of a software issue. I am going to relocate the existing HTPC and use it as a server. I plan installing windows 8 on it. I will then get a new HTPC unit, which will just be running Windows 7 with WMC and Media Browser, and feeding an xbox 360 extender. The new HTPC can then be much smaller and more efficient. I presume one of the boards with an integrated celeron chip, or a NUC should suffice?
Hopefully the clean install on what will now be the server will help it run more reliably.
Thanks again for your help everyone, I reckon you've saved me quiet a bit of cash!