Recording & transcoding Engine

Purpose

• Runs mythtv back end
• Runs all transcoding jobs.
• Creates “.nfo” files for use b XBMC

Configuration information

• Intel E8400, 2GB RAM, MSI mobo
• Knoppmyth R5.5
• 1 disk drive, using under 25GB.
  
• 2 digital tuners
• Firewire connection to cable box (Motorola DCT-6200)
• Gigabit networking
• Powers down when not needed to record or transcode.

Power consumtion

• Idle: 55 watts
• Busy: Peaks at 80 watts
• Hourly average: 21 watts

Front end

Purpose

• Plays recordings, music, photos, etc.
  
• Watch TV using Hulu
  
• Remote controlled, "appliance" experience
  

Configuration information

• Asus Revo R1600 (Atom processor, ION LE graphics)
• Windows XP
• XBMC & “DSplayer” for hardware assisted playback in XBMC. All recordings read from the Storage platform – does not need the recording engine to play back shows.
• Hulu desktop & Flash beta 10.1 for hardware assisted playback.
• Eventghost for remote control
• Powers down when no one is watching any shows.

Power consumtion

• 20-25 watts when on
• 0 when suspended
• Hourly average: 2.5 watts

Storage Platform

Provides all storage for recordings, photos, music, etc.

Hardware configuration

• Dlink DNS-321 NAS
• 2 “green” drives for a total of 3.5TB of storage.
• Connected to the same gigabit switch that the recording engine is connected to.

Configuration information

• EXT2 file system on both drives. EXT3 is supported by the NAS, but is much slower.
• Exports shares via CIFS/Samba.
• Drives spin down 15 minutes after inactivity.

Performance

• Confirmed to handle 4 hidef streams recording while 1 hidef stream is playing.

Power consumption

• Drives spun down: 8 watts
• Drives spinning: 15 watts
• Hourly average over a 5 day period: 11.2 watts