Current Build

Over two years ago, I wrote a blog entry that outlined my objectives in embarking on the MediaServer8 project;

- Centralised storage for media files
- Time Machine Backup Server
- Work File Storage
- Snatching
- Media Playback
- Whole House Audio
- Live TV Distribution / PVR

At the time, I had an unRAID  NAS system for file storage and Plex serving and was contemplating a move to Windows Server 8. Now, I've got pretty much all of the above set up in a single machine, and more.

I've been interested in whole-house a/v since we started planning our renovation over 12 years ago and I've been through system after system, technology after technology. Some worked well, some not at all. However, all were defined by a lack of unity. I could have a great HTPC system but it wouldn't integrate well with whole house audio or lighting control or mass storage or whatever.

If I was building again...

If I was re-building my unified whole house media server today, I think I would be using the following core components;


Gigabyte 990FXA-UD7 Motherboard
This is a step up from the UD5 currently in my system but crucially replaces the PCIe x1 slot with a full-length slot. This would allow me add an additional PCIe graphics card and therefore a 3rd client system with GPU passthrough.

AMD FX8350 Black Edition 8 Core Processor (4.0/4.2G)
This is the CPU I have right now and have no problems with it whatsoever. It's running the base unRAID / Xen OS plus multiple guest VMs with ease. Very impressed.

A Productive Weekend

I got some more time this weekend to play with the MediaServer8 box and to address a few issues;

I expanded my array from 6TB storage to 11TB with the addition of a 4TB parity drive (Seagate NAS), a 4TB data drive (HGST) and an additional 1TB WD Green. My case is now full with 12 drives, 10 dedicated to the array and 2 for TV timeshiftimg and storage.

With 4TB in place as parity, I'm set to gradually replace all my 1TB drives meaning I'll be able to get up to 32TB with my current set up.

I transferred the replaced 1TB parity to act as parity in my old 32 bit Xeon unRAID server which is now packed with 500GB drives. It's acting as a backup of critical data such as work files etc.

While I had the system out on the bench, I took the opportunity to do a spot of re-cabling, tidying up some unsightly runs and fixing an issue I had with power intermittently failing to my satellite tuner cards. (turned out that it was a poor molex adapter where pins were not seated correctly - what a crappy standard that is!

My Next Case...

So it's time to start saving the pennies. I've found what I think is the ideal case for my unRAID set up.

The Cooler Master HAF STACKER 935 is two stacked cases -with the ability to add on even more. With the default config, it has the potential to hold 20 x 3.5" drives plus a 2.5" (using a 5-in-3 in the 5.25 bays) and with an additional 915 unit, could be pushed to an insane 29!

Here's a a somewhat lengthy but detailed unboxing and review video that gives a good idea of this units potential;

System Power Consumption

Following a question over at unRAID forums, I popped a Watt meter onto the system and have the following readings;

• 250W at boot
• 160W no VMs running, unRAID array spun up
• 120W no VMs running, unRAID array spun down
• 160W VMs running, unRAID array spun up
• 135W VMs running, unRAID array spun down
• 240W Heavy Usage  (2x Live TV  & One recording in progress, 2x Music Zones active, some general data access from array)

The system is averaging around 160W, peaking at 240W. Considering my previous unRAID ran at a constant 160W for data storage only, I'm pretty happy with this as I've folded in at least two additional machines to this rig.

Virtual Machines running on unRAID 6

More Case Mods

Following the little bit of case surgery previously noted, the migration of my production unRAID server to MediaServer8 required a little more gentle persuasion.

With unRAID version 6 beta 4 available, I thought it was time to transfer all my data from my old dual Xeon system. I had 8x 1TB data drives in the old server plus 1TB parity and 500GB. However, MediaServer8 currently only has 8 motherboard SATA connectors (plus a 2x port PCIe hard that's running recording and timeshiftimg drives for ArgusTV/MediaPortal).

So I needed to remove 2x data drives from my array. This is not such a big deal as I plan to upgrade drives to 4TB units over the coming months. I duly copied the data from the drives with least data and removed them from the array.

I ran a parity check on the old server and with all well, removed all the HDs. I downloaded unRAID 6b4 and, having saved my config directory, reformatted my MediaServer8 USB key, installed unRAID and copied back my config directory.