Dugie’s Pensieve

I saw this today; and it certainly has potential – and kudos.  It looks like Microsoft is releasing “fixits” (via a MSI file) for common problems/workarounds documented in KB articles.

For example, to enable the DVD Library in Windows Vista [previously] you had to hack the registry (Which led to fine guides from Delicate Genius, Kyle and James) based on the info in KB 930526 – but now more!!  =)

Well, KB 930526 has been updated, and now includes a wizard to make the changes automatically for you (via a MSI file)

So now it is as simple as, download it, run it, and be done with it (or add it to your build script or build kit)  

Anyway, after a bit more research, I found the the “Fix it for me blog”; so far there only appear to be a couple of entries, but lets see how deep this rabbit hole goes :)

I love my Home Server, and I love my Media  Center.  Perhaps I love them more than any warm blooded male should. 

But regardless, I firmly believe that these two "appliances" should be able to co-exist easily on the same box.  (and although two motherboards in a single case is cool - it’s like imitation alcohol, it’s not the same)  So until there is a Home Media Center Server, the closest I’ll get is with Virtual Machine technology.  =)

Paul (my partner in crime) has done the research and testing, and published his findings.  You can read all about it in his post "Combining Vista Media Centre & a Virtual Windows Home Server" and a heavily edited snippet of his article is below:

I realised how much power the Home Server was chewing; 44c in the daytime and my green power rate at 21c at night. This was costing me about $400/yr in power bills - it had to go.  The most obvious was using the other 24/7 machine, a Vista Media Centre.

I used VMware Workstation 6.5 as I had it.  The first results were awful, woefully slow, rendering the machine unable to even record TV shows. Turns out the extra SATA slot is for RAID, and due to firmware / drivers, IRQ’s went through the roof consuming 60% CPU time. A two channel PCI SATA card fixed this problem.

Virtual machine config was easy… <snip> …Once the install is finished, install the VMware tools, run Windows Update, and activate your Home Server.

TCP Offload also caused issues. The registry keys for XP didn’t fix it, but the advanced settings for the network adapter did. TCP Offload disabled on the host and now I get the same network performance anywhere. This is not a fault with VMware, but does seem to be a common compatibility issue with many network adapters, my onboard nic being one of them.

There are some other tricks that can help… <snip> …Now I have access to all my data, a large file store, regular backups, a quiet media centre and a single box that only chew’s 85w. Performance is acceptable, but not amazingly snappy. I think it’s an acceptable compromise.

This is light a snippet, so head over to Paul’s Blog for all the info and technical goodness.  I have new hardware and some downtime over the Christmas Holidays, and I’ll be doing the same with my Media Center as well.  I’ll keep you posted.

It’s no big secret, I don’t watch [live, if any] Television — I haven’t done so for 3 nearly 4 years now, it’s an inefficient use of what very little spare time I have.  When I want to wind down (or wind up), it needs to be short, sharp and on my schedule.    ….but then again, I don’t listen to the radio either, or read printed newspapers.  Instead I prefer a web browser and podcasts. 

I do struggle with mainstream media; it’s like persisting with bad coffee, after a while it’s just easier to go without it.  Alas I’m getting off topic.

I was reading a post  on Seth’s Blog, and the following snippet really hit home with me:

TV is over. If people are interested, they’ll watch. On their time (or their boss’s time). They’ll watch online, and spread the idea. You can’t email a TV commercial to a friend, but you can definitely spread a YouTube video. The cycle of ads got shorter and shorter, and the most important ads were made for the web, not for TV. Your challenge isn’t to scrape up enough money to buy TV time. Your challenge is to make video interesting enough that we’ll choose to watch it and choose to share it.

Uh-huh, I agree Seth, you nailed it nicely buddy.  The media tide is turning, exciting times ahead!

I’m well into the process of migrating my Windows Home Server from "commodity whitebox hardware" over onto a laptop.   Primarily to reduce the about of [active] power I’m burning, and secondly reduce the noise.

I’ve a little more testing to do around storage; Do I persist with USB2 harddisks, or look at eSata — eventually I might move to a laptop with the new super sexy atom chipset.

Then again I might not.

Eventually, I’m looking at moving my Home Server into a virtual machine; perhaps along with my media center, maybe even on the same host - but that will require USB TV tuners, and usb support.  =)

But right now, I needs a home server up and running again, and ghastly old whiteboxes are so 1990’s =)

TTFN

Following up from my last Home Server post, here is a list of all the tools, bits, photos and prices that I used to build my replica arcade machine to hide my Home Server - all for under $500 AUD.

Here’s the list of materials I had to buy, prices included where I have them:

• +1 premade X-Arcade controls - 250
• +1 1L tin flat black easy coat - 24.72
• +2 tins 310 gm plastic cote flat black spray paint @11.00 ea - 22.00
• +2 pack disposable rollers and paint tray - 8.98
• +1 pack of 2 zinc hinges - 3.10
• +1 pack of 2 magnetic door catches - 6.98
• +4 lengths 1.8m x 42 x 19 dressed pine - @2.19 ea - 8.80
• +2 sheets 1800 x 900 x 12mm MDF panel for the sides @ 21.00 ea - 41.00  
• +1 box 1000 screws, gypfast 6-18×30mm - 14.98
• +2 lengths of 1200 x 600 x 12 MDF for front and back panels
• +1 sheet 600 x 1200 Perspex - 34.00
• +3 lengths of big ass pine plank
• +4 castors
• +1 pack of 100 screw caps
• +1 pack 4 metric drills
• +1 set Logictech X-230 2.1 speakers

To see the tools and photos of the cabinet assembly download my PPTx Slide Deck, that I presented at the December Usergroup in Brisbane.  There we go, that’s everything.  Go forth an pimp your home server!

All previous updates #: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

For those who came in late, here is the story so far:  I have built a Microsoft Home Server, in an arcade machine. 

Since second-hand arcade machines are both rare and reasonably expensive in Australia, I have built this arcade machine completely from “the ground up“.  Just for kicks, I did it with a self imposed  budget of $500 AUD just like this:

• Google the different types of cabinet and find dimensions
• Sketch the outline onto timber, and armed with only my trusty jigsaw cut out the panels
• Install a reinforced timber shelf to hold the 21″ monitor
• Fix the side panels together
• Attach the first lot of panels and then the last lot of panels
• Put in the false floor, power board
• Paint it, and plug in all the cables
• stick on all the decals, perspex monitor cover
• Mount the hardware (essentially just left over drives and a spare motherboard I had lying around)
• …and install Home Server

The whole project took a couple of weekends, cost just under the $500, and as you can see came up nicely.   …and plays old arcade games too!  See Virtualization has a use in the home as well :)

Tomorrow, I will post the breakdown of all the costs, tools, and equipment that I used.  And next week, I’ll post the complete picture gallery and commentary. (as a ppt slide)

All previous updates#: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, photos.   

First of all, a warm welcome to all my new blog readers who are exclusively for the content on the Arcade Cabinet - I’m glad that you are enjoying the show  :) 

The cabinet is complete, with only the 6ft decals on each side to be done - it looks so *naked* without them.  The silly part is, I’m having a tough time deciding what I should use.  So until then, Optimus Prime takes the first watch.

Even without installing Home Server just yet, I’m really happy with the result.  Currently I’m running heavily modified version of XP Media Centre.

UPDATE:  Home server is installed and working sweet.  It feels sooooo good to have everything backed up. 

It allows me to play arcade games (using MAME), and watch TV and Movies whilst sitting (and drinking scotch) on the deck.  There is something quite enjoyable about watching classic movies on an arcade machine!  I even use the arcade machine as a juke box. 

I think BBQs these holidays are going to be a lot of fun.  So far I’ve spent ~$478 of my [self imposed] $500 AUD budget, and the build has taken about 16 hours.   This excludes waiting for the paint to dry and the 4+ hours I spend playing arcade games and watching tv/movies.  =)

The cabinet is ‘finished*‘.  Now that’s just the cabinet, not the project. …I say “*” because I’m sure it will never be truly finished, I’ll always find “just one more thing” that needs to be made better.  Only this morning, I was thinking I should change the layout of the keyboard draw. :)

Anyway, the cabinet is painted (and looking good).  The false floor is in.  Tonight, I pick up the UPS, HDD cage mounts, and spare Cat 5e sockets.  Although there are still a couple of cosmetic fixes, everything is very functional.

…so functional I spent a couple of hours testing some old favorites last night.  I was warned that might happen :)

For this photo, I took the front panels off, so you could see inside.

Once the UPS and drives cages are in, I’ll take a photo of the finished product both with and without front panels.

Ahhh, it feels good.  The mounting bracket for the monitor is in, and the last of the panels are done.  I’d forgotten just how heavy those old 21″ monitors are!

Next is wiring up the cabinet with ethernet cables, some logitech speakers, keyoard, power boards and stuff.  Once that is done, I’ll have to rip it all out again, so I can paint it.  I’m still deciding if I want to paint it “Windows Ultimate Black” or “Windows Home Server Blue”

But, it’s raining here is Brisbane again, so I’m not sure if I’ll get a chance to paint it today.  On a side note, why does it only ever rain when I want to paint!?  Great weather all week, and rain on the weekend.

I must keep going, hopefully I’ll have another update tomorrow.

I spent an hour this afternoon putting a few more panels on my arcade machine.  Tomorrow afternoon I’ll fit the monitor bracket, slide rails for hardware, and most of the cabling.

I’m planning Saturday to fit the last of the panels, and paint the cabinet with undercoat.  Depending on the weather, and a bit of luck I might even get a chance to put on the final coat of paint.

So far I’ve spent ~$410 of my $500 AUD budget:

+ $247.95 on the pre-made arcade controls
+ $105.80 on timber
+ $58 on assorted finishing bits for the cabinet

I’ve got ~$90 left, which should be enough to finish things nicely.

Once the cabinet is together and painted, I’ll start the install of Home Server.  When that’s underway, I’ll post a full breakdown of costs and all the item that I bought.

It’s taken me about 9 hours to get this far.  That includes, all the setting up, cutting, etc, and 2x trips to Bunnings.  One to buy all the timer, and another to buy replacement drills for the one I broke =)

I’ll post more on the weekend.